coutorture --

The Blonds Fall 08 Fashion Show

coutorture — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:45:02 -0700

One of the only breaks we took during fashion week, where we decided to just sit down and watch, was at The Blonds Fall 08 fashion show. Most of America will think of Betsey Johnson as the wild and crazy show to watch, but the true fashionistas know that lesser known, downtown labels like The Blonds really know how to pack the punch. The Fall 08 show, held at the Prince George Ballroom, revealed a collection inspired by the movie Legend (Naturally, we included the famous unicorn apology scene below). The theme safely queued up The Blonds penchant for flamboyant, embellished, glamorous costumery and gave this season an extra push towards unicorns, rainbow colored gemstones, and big hair (nothin' wrong with that). The more traditional garments in the collection could easily be worn to an elegant black tie occasion, and the most wild in the collection, at the best clubs in New York City. If your a Blond girl, you'll have a little bit of both thankyouverymuch.

Phillipe and David Blond launched the label just four years ago. Each piece in their collection is handmade and one of a kind. As wild as some of their pieces are, we aren't surprised that the collection gets snatched up quickly. The thing about people who like to wear outrageous garments with extra special details is that they aren't exactly the type to, well, share. Funnily enough, Phillipe Blond started his design career working for Los Angeles based label DDC Lab, known for a utility-based aesthetic that doesn't exactly involve bedazzled corsets (though he was an illustrator, so perhaps that was the, ahem, draw) or club-ready clothing. David Blonde was a windows man for ten years in New York City. Now, the two are wholeheartedly The Blonds and bring that persona from Fashion Week, to the drafting table, to the dance floor, and back.

The Blonds Fall 08 Fashion Show

Coutorture original editorial, backstage at The Blonds Fall 08 show

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

New York Fashion Week: Our Coverage

coutorture — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:09:38 -0700

We're gearing up for New York Fashion Week over here, which kicks off, officially, this Friday. Of course, that means there are about a million shows starting tomorrow, because New York is bursting at the seams with designers. So, pardon us while we dig out those wireless sticks and charging devices. We're not the sort to plan outfits on these occasions, it's more a matter of sticking with basics and focusing on the equipment and planning required to cover the shows. After all, if a model falls on the catwalk and no one video taped it, did it happen? In the meantime, we thought it helpful to give you the rundown of our coverage this season. If you're as serious about your fashion as we are you'll likely want to plan your viewing strategies in advance, and this will make it that much easier.

Video: We've three cameras floating about this season which means videos of tent shows and a slew of offsite shows. The latest you'll see them on our video page is the morning after the show has taken place. Sometimes you'll find them up late that evening. Videos reveal so much more than runway photos (i.e. the way the garment moves) and so, despite it nearly breaking our backs, we're pushing for more videos than ever before. This, you won't find anywhere else.

Network: We'll be posting our usual Coutorture Community Must Reads in both the morning and evening and, in addition to that, we'll round up posts in the network that deal specifically with New York Fashion Week so that you can hear the impressions and musings from hundreds of bloggers talking about the shows. Think of it as a filter for the best of the best when it comes to fashion in the blogosphere.

Written Content: We'll all be plugged in and running around and, more or less, sparing you our analysis of the fashions coming down the catwalk. What we will give you are quick postings about the energies backstage, about the fabrics, the colors, the straight facts of what's happening on and off site. We'll keep it short, simple, and to the point.

Photos: Creative: For each day of fashion week we'll be bringing with us one of four talented photographers. They are: Justin William Lin, Shannon Sinclair, Jonathan Melamed, and Robert Malmberg. These fine guys and gals will accompany us backstage, front of house, and in those mad dashes from one show to another. They will capture, each from their own vantage point, the moments and happenings that you won't find on Getty. Which, well, brings us to that...

Photos: Runway: We'll be uploading the shows just as soon as the images as released to us. Without getting into the particulars, just know that a lot of catwalk images are going to be moving through this site. If you've forgotten to refresh the page, or stopped to eat lunch (it's all about sustenance), check our photo page and you'll see a thumbnail for every show that's come through the front door.

After that...London. But let's start with this behemoth, shall we? Bookmark us and stay tuned, it's going to be one crazy week.

Alice Ritter and Trovata in La Belle Dame sans Merci

coutorture — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:40:18 -0700

In today's exclusive Coutorture editorial we've pulled garments from the Spring 08 collections of Alice Ritter and Trovata. The two brands, though seemingly dissimilar, are on common ground in terms of their contemporary style and appeal to twenty-something's with a penchant for smart casual dress. From Ritter, we've covered her Spring 08 collection as well as her Fall 08 presentation during New York Fashion Week (it was one wild party). In our video, we spoke with Ritter, who attributes the Fall 08 season to have been influenced by legendary rougue Serge Gainsbourg. From Trovata, we popped into the showroom to shoot Fall 08, an exclusive Coutorture editorial that made us want to move upstate and start a family (only kidding!). It, as always, had an East Coast prepster aesthetic that pulled at our Cape Cod-loving heartstrings. The two brands appear again in today's editorial, La Belle Dame sans Merci, so, consider yourself an expert.

How Did New York Fashion Week Begin?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:15:00 -0800

As we prepare for Fashion Week, we can't help but wonder where the idea came from.
Girl-Woman-Fashion-Brains introduces us to the event's founder and circumstances surrounding it's creation. Test your knowledge of Fashion Week history and learn new facts with our Fashion Week History Quiz.