September 29, 2010

MBF TrendTalk iPhone App Update!





After much acclaim, we decided to "up the ante" and give you a version "2.1" of our blog -- MBF TrendTalk. 

So whether you already have version 1 or have not yet downloaded our app, click here to download the new and improved version of MBF TrendTalk so you can always keep up-to-date with the latest news of the fashion industry. With enhanced features like sharing a post via Twitter, Facebook, or by e-mail, it is an absolute must for fashion enthusiasts and professionals. And of course, -- it's gratis!

image via: NY Times

Considering we are based in New York City, the New York Times' "I Logo New York" submissions had us some good laughs. As readers from all over the world are invited to submit their own spin off of the iconic logo, the ideas vary from food, real estate, love, art, and technology. Take a look; it will be sure to give you a smile!

September 20, 2010

MBF Exclusive: Future of Fashion Video

Earlier this month we were invited to speak at "Take 5ive" a monthly event -- hosted in NYC by WIN-Initiative -- which brings together professionals from various creative industries.

This month’s event was hosted by
Take 5ive’s Hans Neleman; Chrissy Reilly emceed a packed Win Headquaters.

Manuela Fassbender, creative director was one of 10 guest speakers.

Each speaker is given 5 minutes to discuss any topic of their choosing.

This evening's selection of speakers was organized by social media marketing & business trending specialist, Karen D'Silva.

Speakers came from diverse industries -- from photography to beer brewing.


They included:
Stanislava Georgieva, photographer
See what Manuela presented here...


About Take 5ive
Take5ive brings together leaders in the creative industry in a forum of sorts. Typically, 10 speakers are split between artists and creative professionals. Past guest speakers have included creative consultant Stella Kramer and Allegra Wilde,tech people Dripbook founder Alex Wright as well as app developers and representatives from Adorama and Sony. Artists participating are split between commercial and fine art.

September 14, 2010

Fashion Week Round Up

I don't know about you, but there is something exciting and refreshing about this year's New York Fashion Week. The most obvious difference is the new location; shows are held uptown at Lincoln Center and no longer at Bryant Park. But the overflow of special events, different forms of presentations, numerous rising designers, and the influence of the digital world have all created something uniquely new in today's ever changing fashion.

There is so much going on, so we bring you a few snippets of what we have been up to this past week, as well as brief summaries of what we are seeing. We warn you that this is a heavy post filled with photos and videos to accompany the write-ups, but we guarantee that you will love what you're reading!

So as we mentioned earlier, after 17 years, Bryant Park is no longer the hub of New York Fashion Week. And with 98 shows and presentations this season, up 80 from last year, everything is bigger and better in the new home that is 30 percent larger than that of Bryant Park.  Moving away from exclusivity, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, the first fashion director of NY Fashion Week, is also making it a goal to make Fashion Week more available to the masses and plans to create a year-round fashion presence at the center. 

photo via: NY Times

But in case you didn't make your way up to the Lincoln Center, nearly all shows were part of a live-streaming network this year. Using everything from Facebook and Twitter, to Conde Nast's Style.com live-stream, AOL's Stylist.com, or FirstComeFashion.com, anyone from anywhere was invited take part in the latest fashion shows.

photo via: NY Times

Burberry went above and beyond anyone else though, allowing customers to see the show on a live-streamed broadcast and then immediately making it available to order the merchandise as the models strut in it. The company promises its customers that their orders will be shipped within seven weeks, versus the normal four to six month wait. 

photo via: NY Times

Tom Ford, however, went on a completely different route, opting for a private and intimate setting similar to that of the old-time couture shows of the 60's. After six years of absence, Mr. Ford invited 100 guests to a special presentation at his men's store on Madison Avenue with Terry Richardson as the only photographer permitted to take pictures. All of the 32 models were as individual as she could be, including Julianne Moore, Beyonce Knowles, Emmanuelle Seigner, Lauren Hutton, Rita Wilson, Rachel Feinstein, Marisa Berenson, Daphne Guinness, Lisa Eisner, Farida Khelfa, Lou Doillon, as well as a few supermodels, including Joan Smalls, Liya Kebede, Amber Valletta, Daria Werbowy, and Stella Tennant. Mr. Ford narrated the show, calling out each woman and then giving a lively, detailed description of her outfit. Unlike every other designer, Mr. Ford will hold back all photos of the collection until December when he will make them available on his website along with a mini-film of the show. The clothes will be in stores in late January or February. 



Last week, Custo Barcelona presented his spring summer 20011 show at Lincoln Center. We were fortunate to attend the show and brought you some photos from backstage. 




Inspired by musical festivals, there was a discovery of new textures and volumes as the girls walked down the runway in feathers, shiny embroidery, and bold shots of neon and mixed graphic prints. 

                          

This Monday, we attended Auralis' spring summer '11 fashion show hosted by The Green Shows. The Puerto Rican designer Auralis Herrero called her vision for this spring "Urban Tropical", presenting a runway of clothes inspired by her childhood in the Caribbeans mixed with the spirit of her current hometown, New York City. The collection was absolutely perfect for the hot summer days and we especially loved the silk series. Auralis' mission to create fashion without leaving a carbon footprint means all her pieces are made from organic, sustainable, or recycled fabrics with low-impact processing.


Before the show started, we got to meet Belinda Pasqua, the founder behind The Sway handbags. Her bags were not only stylish and fashion forward, they were made using hand crafted techniques and with overstocked leathers and recycled fabrics. 

And last but not least, we close out today's post with some of our favorite images from last Friday's Fashion's Night Out. It was much more extravagant than the last, and we hope that for those who were able to make it, had a blast.

Naomi Campbell celebrating the night with her girls
 photo via: WWD

Opening Ceremony Parisian Flea Market
photo via: Opening Ceremony

Alexander Wang with his crew at his OC flea market booth
photo via: Style.com

Devon Aoki puts on her poker face at Valentino
photo via: Refinery 29

Anjali and Naeem Khan sing Jai Ho at Bergdorf's
photo via: Refinery 29

Anna Wintour and blogger Tavi Gevinson at Barneys
photo via: Zimbio

Designer duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren at Saks Fifth Avenue
photo via: WWD

Despite the economic instability, September is off to great start and we are excited about the energy and celebratory spirit that is moving in the fashion industry. We hope you enjoyed this post and stay tuned for our next update!

September 8, 2010

Fashion's Night Out

photo via: Jak & Jil

We just wanted to remind you that there are only two days left till the second annual Fashion's Night Out!

As there are literally thousands of NYC festivities scheduled for this Friday, we break it down for you and give you a short list of some of the most promising. 

Barneys invites you to shop and mingle with fashion icons: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Daphne Guinness, Julie Gilhart and Simon Doonan. Meet the designers: Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, and Rodarte. Participate in fabulously demented activities: Ping-Pong, Karaoke, Drumming, Musical Chairs, and more. Greet and meet with fashion icons: Island Records' Chris Blackwell, Johnny Rozsa, and more! Amazing exclusive clothing and accessories: Special edition FNO Alexander Wang McQueen scarf and more. 

Saks will be fashion's ultimate party. Celebrity and designer appearances include Donna Karan, Viktor & Rolf, Charlotte Ronson, Zac Posen, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas and Sergio Rossi's Creative Director, Francesco Russo as he unveils the new 'Cachet' pumps, exclusively at Saks. 

Opening Cermony hosts a French flea market staged in the lobby of the Ace Hotel. Inspired by the famous Les Puces deSaint-Ouen market in Paris, the French flea market concept coincides with the launch of France as O.C's country of focus for 2010-11. Brands will have their own flea market booths with exclusive items and designers will be present to meet fans and enjoy the festivities. Participating brands include agnes b., Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders, Collette, Deyrolle, Joseph Altuzarra, Keds, Laudree, Patrik Ervell, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, and more. 

Personal appearances from 9-10pm by designers Jason Wu and Monique Pean with Joan Small. Celebrity Christina Ricci will also make an appearance. From 8-9pm, catch designer L'Wren Scott spinning her favorite tunes as our guest dj, and designer Nicholas Kirkwood sketching his favorite designs. Military-inspired custom stenciling by the designers of Current Elliott. A menswear trunk show hosted by designer Devon Scott. Exclusive limited edition black leather messenger bags available by Proenza Schouler available for $225, and exclusive limited edition buffalo horn earrings by Monique Pean available for $295.

From 6-11pm, reality stars, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, with cameras, bring the country to Fifth Ave. with a General Store. Get a 10 minute reading with astrologer Susan Miller for $25; benefits Housing Works. Launch of Atelier Swarovski collection featuring Karl Lagerfeld. 6-9pm Fekkai, Marchesa and Olivia  Palermo have a Red Carpet moment that you can share on Facebook/Twitter. 7-9pm Bendel illustrator, Izak, signs one of a kind "green" totes for $100; proceeds go to charity. 8:30-10:30pm model Erin Wasson presents her jewelry collection LOWLUV.

Housing Works Thrift Shops kicks off the month of Fall Preview events at our Chelsea flagship! Each of our ten New York City based shops host a Fall Preview event throughout the month. We re-stock our thrift shops with the best designer fashion, unique furniture, and rare artwork finds and sell them for a fraction of the price to benefit the largest AIDS services organization in the nation.

Scoop NYC and EDUN have partnered up to treat you to an evening in honor of Africa. Meet Ali Hewson at the EDUN pop u p shop while sipping Tusker Premium Lager. Jaleel Bunton from TV on the Radio will be spinning and we'll also have a special performance by South Africa's BLK JKS. EDUN/Scoop NYC encourage you to join Ali and bike it for the night! Ride a bike to the event and EDUN will feature those with the best bike style on their blog! The first 100 EDUN shoppers will receive a free gift and the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck will be giving out free scoops to the first 200 Scoop shoppers!

Diane von Furstenberg takes Fashion's Night Out to the digital universe with The DVF and HP Experience Lounge, a multimedia event that will transform the DVF boutique and gallery into an interactive fashion playground. Hosted by Refinery29.com, the evening will feature cutting-edge fashion installations, complete with a 'Fall Favorites' photo booth featuring DVF items curated by Refinery20.com editors on display for shoppers to utilize when browsing their most-desired DVF looks. Photos can be printed, posted to Facebook or streamed live into the loung on social feed monitors, allowing guests to engage with the fashion community and interact with DVF. Computer terminals and touch screens will feature up-to-the-minute news about FNO from around the city, and around the world.

rag & bone is teaming up with fellow Mercer Street retailer 3.1 Phillip Lim to co-host a street party featuring delicious food and a live DJ. Inside the store, designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville will be on hand to help SoHo shoppers style their Fall looks. Special guests include Revlon's Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman who will perform mini-makeovers, and one of Revlon's Global Ambassadors.

Join Jessica Alba and Andre Leon Talley downtown at Ralph Lauren Soho for champagne, shopping, and a stylish performance by Grammy nominated singer Janelle Monae. Monae's 360 degree concert from the oversized loft windows will have guests dancing in the street to her soulful musical musings in honor of Fashion's Night Out. 

We hope everyone here in the city takes advantage of this fabulous shopping event. If you have any recommendations, we'd love to hear from you too! 

And let's not forget, this is a global initiative with 15 other countries and dozens of cities across the US coordinating their own festivities!
 
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