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!
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog highlights their must-see picks for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!
Some of the more than 250 designers participating in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week have already begun to descend upon Lincoln Center, the event’s primary home. Thursday signals the official start, so in preparation we’ve created a guide to some of the must-see shows. Check back in tomorrow for more Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week coverage.
Thursday
9 a.m. – Nicholas K
The week begins with Nicholas K at 9 am Thursday. Nicholas K stands for Nicholas Kunz, a woman who took her experience at places like Calvin Klein and DKNY creating a line that conceptualized classics like the leather jacket and morphed them into never-leave-the-home-without items.
11 a.m. – Richard Chai
He does both men’s and women’s and he’s already done a spin-off of his line for Target, TopMan and a charity line for Barney’s. Richard Chai believes in the basics, and he’s got casual covered.
Friday
2 p.m. – Rebecca Taylor
A more youth-orientated Diane Von Furstenberg (who’s also on our list), New Zealand-born Rebecca Taylor proves its possible to wear floral frocks year-round.
7 p.m. – Cynthia Rowley
Not only does she do womenswear and menswear but beauty products, handbags, bicycles, sewing patterns, hosiery, and much more.
Saturday
11 a.m. – Jill Stuart
Jill Stuart is a fashion week icon who applies her eye in womenswear to her homes. On the runway, she favors risky fabrics.
6:30 pm – Maisonette 1977
Jane Ibrahim is the name behind the brand, which plays with colors, patterns, turning draping into an exhaustively well-executed art form. She’s undeniably bold, and we’re excited.
Sunday
10:30 a.m. – Timo Weiland
Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein are sure to delight, as they have already created a yoga-meets-pop music video entitled “The Watch” to showcase their clothes.
4 p.m. – Diane Von Furstenberg
Her prints and patterns and wrap dress revolutionized womenswear all those years ago. Today, the designer continues to derive inspiration from nature’s patterns.
Monday
5 p.m. – Pamella Roland
Simple but refined, Pamella Roland’s wares are versatile.
6 p.m. – Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson’s simple, elegant, and for-all-occasions dresses are fundamental to many closets.
Tuesday
11 a.m. –Vera Wang
Vera Wang transformed the dreaded wedding dress into moving white art. She’s also enamored with silks and shiny materials of which she drapes and creates beautifully.
2 p.m. – Hervé Léger by Max Azria
The bandage dress is constantly being reincarnated in each and every piece. One dress makes 1,000 pieces.
8 p.m. – Narciso Rodriguez
You can’t attend a red carpet event without seeing his work. Let’s see where it begins.
Wednesday
10 a.m. – Michael Kors
The titan of fashion always presents a solid show in New York.
6 p.m. – Anna Sui
She’s fun and funky and has been for years. She built her brand on East-meets-West appeal.
Thursday
10 a.m. – Ralph Lauren
and
2 p.m. – Calvin Klein
Both Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein are the quintessential American designers, who have played mentor to multiple generations of design stars. Fashion Week would not be complete without these two.
8 p.m. – L.A.M.B.
Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. collection combines rocker with chic. We’re curious to see how her collection has grown this year.
BEHIND THE SCENES-RICHARD CHAI
A behind-the-scenes view of the Richard Chai show at New York Fashion Week 2011. All photographs by Alexandra Cheney.
The week begins with Nicholas K at 9 am Thursday. Nicholas K stands for Nicholas Kunz, a woman who took her experience at places like Calvin Klein and DKNY creating a line that conceptualized classics like the leather jacket and morphed them into never-leave-the-home-without items.
11 a.m. – Richard Chai
He does both men’s and women’s and he’s already done a spin-off of his line for Target, TopMan and a charity line for Barney’s. Richard Chai believes in the basics, and he’s got casual covered.
Friday
2 p.m. – Rebecca Taylor
A more youth-orientated Diane Von Furstenberg (who’s also on our list), New Zealand-born Rebecca Taylor proves its possible to wear floral frocks year-round.
7 p.m. – Cynthia Rowley
Not only does she do womenswear and menswear but beauty products, handbags, bicycles, sewing patterns, hosiery, and much more.
Saturday
11 a.m. – Jill Stuart
Jill Stuart is a fashion week icon who applies her eye in womenswear to her homes. On the runway, she favors risky fabrics.
6:30 pm – Maisonette 1977
Jane Ibrahim is the name behind the brand, which plays with colors, patterns, turning draping into an exhaustively well-executed art form. She’s undeniably bold, and we’re excited.
Sunday
10:30 a.m. – Timo Weiland
Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein are sure to delight, as they have already created a yoga-meets-pop music video entitled “The Watch” to showcase their clothes.
4 p.m. – Diane Von Furstenberg
Her prints and patterns and wrap dress revolutionized womenswear all those years ago. Today, the designer continues to derive inspiration from nature’s patterns.
Monday
5 p.m. – Pamella Roland
Simple but refined, Pamella Roland’s wares are versatile.
6 p.m. – Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson’s simple, elegant, and for-all-occasions dresses are fundamental to many closets.
Tuesday
11 a.m. –Vera Wang
Vera Wang transformed the dreaded wedding dress into moving white art. She’s also enamored with silks and shiny materials of which she drapes and creates beautifully.
2 p.m. – Hervé Léger by Max Azria
The bandage dress is constantly being reincarnated in each and every piece. One dress makes 1,000 pieces.
8 p.m. – Narciso Rodriguez
You can’t attend a red carpet event without seeing his work. Let’s see where it begins.
Wednesday
10 a.m. – Michael Kors
The titan of fashion always presents a solid show in New York.
6 p.m. – Anna Sui
She’s fun and funky and has been for years. She built her brand on East-meets-West appeal.
Thursday
10 a.m. – Ralph Lauren
and
2 p.m. – Calvin Klein
Both Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein are the quintessential American designers, who have played mentor to multiple generations of design stars. Fashion Week would not be complete without these two.
8 p.m. – L.A.M.B.
Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. collection combines rocker with chic. We’re curious to see how her collection has grown this year.
Fashion Zing 