The Council of Fashion Designers of America welcomed its newest members yesterday during a party at New York's Four Seasons restaurant. The 31 recent inductees—including Alexander Wang, Christina and Swaim Hutson, Erin Fetherston, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Chris Benz, Jenna Lyons, Lyn Devon, Koi Suwannagate, and Maria Pinto—were welcomed by CFDA president, Diane Von Furstenberg, who promised "I am your mother, mentor and leader."
The topic of conversation ranged from saving the garment district—as many of the young designers produce the majority of their collections in New York—to memories of childhood design projects. Alexander Wang remembered copying a Versace shoe for a fifth grade papier-mâché project, Albertus Swanepoel draped fabrics on dolls' heads as a child, and Irene Neuwirth started making her first jewelry with oven-baked Shrinky Dinks. Click here to see the photo gallery.
[CFDA, WWD]
Source: Getty

Rihanna appears in Vogue Italia's September supplement.
Alexander Wang continues to grow with sunglasses and an expanded T collection.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen — legitimate designers.
Is premium denim on the outs?
Matthew Williamson under the microscope.
Is Ashley Olsen ditching The Row and Elizabeth and James? Say it ain't so.
Zac Posen is moving his Spring 2010 show out of Bryant Park.
Hermes denies that Jean Paul Gaultier is leaving.
Joy Gryson launches handbag line with MCM.

The sexy scene at the NYC Sex and the City casting call.
Why would Alexander McQueen sell this fabulous home?
Ashley Olsen is surprised she didn't end up like Britney Spears.
Jeremy Scott's disco-tastic Adidas kicks.
Former Burberry pouter Rosie Huntington Whitely strikes a pose for Miss Sixty.
A new book is coming out with lengthy designer interviews from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, and John Galliano--it's called "Influence" and it, well, happens to be co-authored by the Olsen twins. You can pre-order it on Amazon and watch a video interview with the authors, right here. It could read like the vortex of all tabloids.
It's no surprise that of the Arcadia Group titles, Topshop is doing well but Topman, we are happy to hear, is also growing steadily in spite of the economy. The men's section at Topshop is famed for being rather anti-climactic (not that everything from Zara to H&M isn't just the same) but perhaps with double digit sales growth, that will change.
Australia's denim brand Nobody is teaming up with Hollywood's Cafe Wa s to make t-shirts that help water conservation. The t-shirts read "Nobody Wa s Thirsty" and proceeds will go to the non-profit charity:water. And all the way uptown...God's Love We Deliver held a dinner to celebrate designers who performed great acts of community service. Anna Wintour, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, and Tory Burch were all there to talk about the organization and their charity efforts.
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books, charity, Anna Wintour, Topshop, Ashley Olsen, Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch, news, Donna Karan, Christian Louboutin, John Galliano, Mary Kate Olsen, Nobody, God's Love We Deliver, Topman, Arcadia Group
Alberta Ferretti is counting on California with a 4,500-square-foot space on Melrose Avenue that will house the designer's entire set of lines. It carries the Alberta Ferretti collection, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, accessories, footwear and Alberta Ferretti Girl. And in a reverse commute of Ferretti's, Michael Kor's opens a boutique in Milan
Elizabeth and James, the surprisingly decent brainchild of fashion tots Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, is branching out into footwear. Sadly they have struck a deal with Steven Madden Ltd to do the line.
The Guardian has a delightful round up of 50 years of Milan Fashion.
Wearable technology. Still trying to make that happen.
The winners of the Make Your Mark in Fashion competition in Britain, Mia, used second hand clothing sourced in Malawi to create new fashions. Awww yay!
Because its totally possible to transcend the unhip essence of tying a noose around your neck by with ironic names and edgy designers. Might we suggest that really being cool means owning your own style not going garishly over the top?
Calvin Klein still believes that talent and hard work are what make you a success in fashion. Really? Tell that to the political animals over at Gucci Group huh?
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