Derek Lam, a native of San Francisco, began his fashion career in 1990 after graduating from
Parsons School of Design. After twelve years spent at the highest levels of American fashion as a designer at Michael Kors, Lam launched his eponymous label in 2003.
Derek’s vision for his label is to create clothes that are both luxurious and wearable, with a feminine but unfussy beauty about them. His touch is especially sophisticated: modern but never cold, fantastical but always rational. He skillfully manages the combination of refinement and sensuality, with exceptional fabrics and highly perfected detail. He strives to make fashion that is timeless in its elegance: to offer one clear example, Lam is known already for cutting the most perfect trench. “I am interested in what it means to live a contemporary life,” says Lam. “I always consider what will work for women at this moment, and to me this moment is about luxury without formality. Even at their most feminine, my clothes are not precious or staid.”
Lam has received abundant recognition within the fashion industry. He won the CFDA Perry Ellis-Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear in 2005, and was a winner of the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Prize in 2005. In 2007, he won Accessory Designer of the Year at the 2007 CFDA Awards. His work was exhibited at the Kennedy Center’s “The New China Chic” exhibition in 2006, and at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibit of significant New York fashion. His deep engagement and creative dialogue with the worlds of art and architecture led to the inclusion of his design in the Neue Galerie’s monograph on Egon Schiele, whom Lam considers an inspiration.
A must see – Lam’s New York Fashion Week Fall 2011 collection!
The collection, which opened and closed with wrap looks, featured high-impact fabric plays, colorblocking, shots of lamé and embroideries. There’s much to be said for professional self-awareness. Even on the front end of her still-new collaboration with co-designer Yvan Mispelaere, Diane von Furstenberg possesses it in abundance, which is why she opened and closed her fall show with wrap looks. As she also knows the value of constant motion, those were tweaked for newness: the first, a gaucho jumpsuit spin on the house classic; the last, a divine sequined diva gown. Both strong takes, for sure. But then, von Furstenberg and Mispelaere were inspired by strong women they consider “American Legends,” specifically Millicent Rogers, Diana Vreeland and Gloria Vanderbilt. Before the show, von Furstenberg said that meant runway explorations of “rodeo, editor in chief and society lady.” The emphasis was definitely on the first part of the equation, showing up in bold Aztec patterns, major fringe and all sorts of gaucho accents. More clearly citified inspirations were revealed in some smart coats, sportif layerings and racy printed pajamas “like the ones I used to wear to Studio 54,” von Furstenberg offered. Those prints were just part of the fabric interest; the collection also featured high-impact fabric plays, colorblocking, shots of lamé and some interesting, young embroideries. While at times the visual bravado veered toward excess, at its best — for example, a jacket, shirt and pants in a mesmerizing mix of blues or an inventively bejeweled column — it delivered a sassy take on chic.
Backstage at Diane von Furstenberg RTW Fall 2011
Diane von Furstenberg was inspired by the “American Legend”, ala Diana Vreeland, Babe Paley and Gloria Vanderbilt, women who makeup artist James Kaliardos explained “looked super put together but with simplicity.” Kaliardos for MAC opted to leave foundation out of the picture and instead focus on a perfect red lip, achieved by lining lips with Cherry liner and Runaway Red lipstick, both items available in fall. Eyes were lined on the top and bottom with MAC’s Keep Your Cool black metallic powder, which was applied wet and smudged to a point at eyes’ outer corners. Hair was styled by Orlando Pita and pulled back in low pony tails with a side part and a slick texture at the front, showing finger grooves from hair that was scraped back. Pita used products by Let’s Jam by Soft Sheen Carson as well as Control hair spray by T3, a brand on which he continues to collaborate.
Diane Von Furstenburg is a legend in her own right and in the world of fashion. She is so amazing! She makes her own fabrics and always has the most amazing and intricate of patterns. I love her work!!!
Back Stage Pics-
Here is a video of one of my favorite DesignersDiane Von Furstenburg. Let’s take a look at her NYC Fall 2011 Fashion Week Collection.
My absolute fav. Christian Siriano!!! His collections are
fierce!
Take a look Backstage at Christian Siriano’s Show!!!!
Christian Siriano showed mostly black and grey looks, with a lot of sheer pieces and his signature use of volume! What’d you think of those sharp black heels?
Runway highlights from Christian Siriano Fall 2011 Collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Extensive Coverage of EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF runway shows including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Perry Ellis, Nicole Miller, Cynthia Rowley, G-Star RAW, Derek Lam, Tory Burch, Max Azria, Diane von Furstenburg.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
1. My team and interns.
2. Red Bull, coffee and Vitamin Water.
3. Moisturel Lotion.
4. Belinda’s song “Dopamina.”
5. Fruits and vegetables.
6. Palladio Rice Papers.
7. Five separate alarm clocks.
8. Slippers.
9. Foam boards and push pins.
10. An end-of-day walk by the Hudson River to relieve stress.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
1. Stock up on Emergen-C, Sudafed, and Purell.
2. No hand-shaking at the model casting. Not trying to be rude, just hygienic!
3. Fill up the Starbucks cards for moments-notice intern coffee runs.
4. Schedule something fun to do at night. All work and no play is gruesome.
5. Clarisonic facial brush to keep your face clean & fresh for unexpected photo ops.
6. Make sure laundry is delivered and you’re prepared with plenty of clean socks and underwear.
7. Don’t underestimate the therapeutic, calming power of an hour on the stationary bike.
8. Buy lottery tickets…because you never know!
9. Keep doing what you know how to do. Head down, fashion-forward, and a sunny disposition.
10. Clean up! Nothing is worse than coming back to a messy office after a fashion show.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
1. Pizza delivered from Otto. My design team and I order at least three for lunch during castings.
2. Snacks between breaks to get us through the day — gummy bears, popcorn, apricots and raw almonds when we need to feel healthy.
3. My iPad — I read several newspapers on my way to work.
4. Vitamins and Oscillococcinum. I had a cold last Fashion Week, so I’m prepared this season.
5. We have a boom box in the design area to listen to music during a long day of fittings.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
1. A life outside of fashion.
2. Music playing at all times.
3. Jo Malone oversize candles in my office.
4. The treadmill for at least 30-40 minutes in the morning to clear my head and get the blood flowing.
5. Coffee and more coffee.
6. Yoga, yoga, yoga — how I balance mind with body.
7. The BluePrint cleanse. Being clearer gives me so much more clarity.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their must-haves. (Luckily, none were as picky as Van Halen, who reportedly insisted all brown M&M’s be removed from their pre-show snack bowl.) First up: Vera Wang.
1) A glass of milk every day – to help calm down stress.
2) The night before the show I like to take a long hot soak in the bath…if I make it home from the studio!
3) Post-show lunch at Barneys with my gal pals.
4) Purell and breath mints in my design studio.
5) A stapler for my Polaroids.
6) A trash can for throwing out all the bad picks.
7) Extra studio lighting so that everyone looks good.
8) My ritual of a Cuban dinner the night before the show.
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Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
Just as rock stars have riders for their concert venues, designers have certain mandatory items on their “must” list each fashion week. We asked some of our favorite New York names for their essential items.
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