We love Vera Wang, she of the quiet, beautiful wedding dresses, the lavender ribbons, the chic clothes that are actually - OMG - wearable. She who knows that pretty is not a sin. She who peeks almost hesitantly from behind the scenes of yet another gorgeous runway show, and then designs an affordable line for Kohl’s that embodies the same philosophies.

We’re about to nominate her, however, for our 2009 Bigger Than Martha Award, given to a celebrity becoming ubiquitous enough to risk overexposure.

(more…)

What? Santa didn’t bring what you really wanted? 

Then go get it for yourself. This is important: If you are going to make one winter investment it must be a sturdy, gorgeous pair of booties.

Whether you chose black, purple, red or white, they are the best way to dress down a fancy outfit or spice up a pair of jeans. We know we can’t all afford the gorgeous Manolos and Jimmy Choos, but they are still fun to look at for inspiration. 

(more…)

‘Tis the season for everyone to offer their nominees for best dressed/worst dressed  women of 2008. At WowOWow, as well as pretty much any best-dressed list worth its salt, Michelle Obama gets the most nods. The poor woman will never be able to walk out the door again without having her clothing scrutinized.

But her enthusiasm for new, emerging American designers is great for the fashion industry.

(more…)

It’s the question on every designer’s mind: What will Michelle Obama wear for the inauguration ceremony, and then the inaugural balls? There hasn’t been quite this much buzz about dressing a first lady since Jackie O. stepped foot into the White House in 1961.

So WWD.com, the online incarnation of Women’s Wear Daily, asked some top designers to sketch their vision of an inaugural gown for Michelle Obama. Unfortunately, since WWD is a subscription-only site, we can’t show you the sketches, but here are a few choice descriptions, with a scattering of similar looks from the designers’ recent collections:

(more…)

Twilight is the hot new teen movie, a modern-day vampire flick minus any pale, scary old men in black capes. The two stars, Bella and Edward, played by Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson, manage to steam up the screen without all of the traditional fashion frills you associate with the living dead.

In case you’re out of the Twilight loop (it was also a best-selling book), the tale is of a 16-year-old girl who moves to small-town Oregon and winds up falling in love with a vampire. So normal, right? In the film, Edward, the good and so-gorgeous-it-hurts undead guy, keeps three other evil bloodsuckers from ravaging Bella in a dramatic ending.

Too bad author Stephanie Meyers didn’t exactly make Bella or Edward the most stylish kids in town. Vampire movies of the past are replete with fashion-forward looks that have vamped up the scene - from Bela Lugosi’s black-cape-and-white-tie Euro-slick looks to the campy Edwardian attire for Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in Interview With a Vampire.  

(more…)

Who’s the hottest designer going? Thakoon Panchigul - his dresses adorn celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, and helped glam up Michelle Obama on election night.

Where will he reveal his next collection? Target, on Christmas Day.

(more…)

Fashion has gone a little tweedy for fall. Those of us who have always loved the whole English country manor thing will no doubt be pleased.  Style conscious women - who otherwise would not be caught dead in tweed - will want to take note of the fact that this fall’s tweeds have been greatly updated.

While you will still find plenty of frumpy tweeds for fox hunting with the hounds, the new breed of trendy tweeds pack a greater fashion punch.  Tweed popped up in Valentino’s fall collection with some bling-embellished jackets and dresses.  Peter Som showed tweed coats in his fall line, one of them in black sparkle for evening.

Photos by Evans Caglage, Fashion at the Park, NorthPark Center, Fall 2008

(more…)