Last night Fashion Group International called out great names from the fashion, architecture, beauty, and entertainment world--these individuals were celebrated for their contributions to our culture and called, 'The Alchemists' for their abilities in their chosen field. Among those individuals celebrated were, Francisco Costa, Christopher Bailey, Carla Sozzani, Franca Sozzani, and Christian Louboutin for fashion, Bobbi Brown for beauty, Phillipe Stark for architecture, Natalie Massenet from Net-a-Porter for corporate leadership, Harvey Weinstein for entertainment, Bill Mccomb from Liz Claiborne Foundation for humanitarianism, Harold Koda from the Fashion Institute for the Oracle Award, and John Paul de Joria from Paul Mitchell for sustainability. Check out our gallery below for pictures from the event. (Plus, look how happy Karl and Anna are together).

Being bored to death with fashion is almost as trendy as being obsessed with fashion. Or at least that is the impression we get from LookOnline's Marilyn Kirschner's report on Fashion Group Internationale's Fall/Winter 2008 Audio Visual Trend Overview.. FGI’s Fashion Director Marylou Luther narrated the presentation and afterwards the "best eyes in the business" weighed in on the report including Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President, Bergdorf Goodman; Michael Fink, Vice President – Women’s Fashion Apparel, Saks Fifth Avenue; Ana Maria Pimentel, Senior Accessories Director, Harper’s Bazaar; and Jane Larkworthy, Beauty Director, W. The Special Guest Moderator was Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director, InStyle.
The general consensus formed around the frustration with the fall season. Not only were the looks lacking in cohesion or direction but the focus on "it" procuts from bags to shoes had everyone sighing. Hal Rubinstein asked “What are we watching?” “What are we looking at? “What are we selling”?
Thankfully Marilyn helped us focus in on what might work best for fall , she tells us that you can start stocking up on black and purple garments, prints (particularly winter florals), coats (a category which is now very much focused on statement pieces), jackets (structured, cutaway, swallowtail, peplumed, boyfriend) pants (wider in New York, narrower in Europe), blouses (often bow tied at the neckline and worn with a skirt or tailored pants): skirts (there is literally a “hemline for every age”): knits (particularly the knitted coat); evening (cocktail lengths outnumber full-blown gowns); embellishment (everything from safety pins and staples, to sequins, holograms, feathers); fur (from savage to super-chic); accessories (the “fundamental ornamental for fall is the necklace”); shoulder bags (slung diagonally across the body).