The "Next Step" for Fatima Lopes may be stepping down

The Portugese designer Fatima Lopes may have called her winter 08/09 collection the Next Step because she was hoping to enter the big ring of well-known designer. Lopes showed her collection on February 23, the first official day of Paris' Fashion Week. Any collection shown on the first day will most likely be seen by fashion-crazed students (like me), international journalists that don't speak French (or English) and a few B-list Parisians starlets.
Lopes describes her collection as a very structured, elegant futuristic style with a nod to the 40's. I thought it was like the visual equivalent of a teacher scratching her nails down the chalkboard. The stage lights faded to black then shot neon pink headlights on the first model to walk on the runway. Poor models. Only half of them remembered to pose long enough on the runway, and as a result were yelled by the photographers trying to capture the perfect pose for their bosses. Three dresses fell off the models shoulders, and as a result flashed the audience (only intentional nudity is accepted. Otherwise it means the clothes are a poor fit!) . To my horror only two looks were applauded by one dapper young man who was probably trying to be nice. I truly felt bad for Lopes.
However, there were a few bright moments in the show. The high waisted skirts were right on target, and they had a few looks that reminded me very much of Miuccia Prada's darling lace numbers in Milan. The picture above is one of Lopes' safer looks. It isn't bad, but it shows nothing new. I looked for one of Lopes' more typical looks online, but her show didn't even make style.com. There were only a few photos found on Yahoo of her show.
Even though this show was somewhat helter-skelter, you have to admire anyone who has enough backing and support to be one of the few designers selected to be a part of Paris Fashion Week. However, I pray she veers away from the futuristic and focuses more on her so-called tribute to the 40s. The helmut-like headbands were a little too much.

Let the Games..er shows... begin!

Paris Fashion Week is finally here! Right now I am heading to the Westin Hotel off of Rue de Rivoli to "prends un cafe" and watch journalists and fashionistas trickle in to Fatima Lopes' show. Maybe I'll get a seat, who knows. But I'm not really worries since this designer isn't well known. ModeaParis is the official Paris Fashion Week site and can give you details about the week. Curious what the actual schedule is? Or plan on being in Paris to catch a show? Check this out!

The History of Fashion Week

1660
Louis XIV promotes haute couture with the Fashion Dolls. These dolls were life-size mannequins wearing the current fashions.
The royal court and its seamstresses would analyze and take apart the garments to make their own version of the gowns.




1700s
Marie Antoinette appoints couturier Rose Bertin the Minister for Fashion. Bertin is famous for creating Marie Antoinette’s elaborate court dresses.

1804
Francoise-Marie Leroy is made the new Minister for Fashion when Napoleon crowns himself Emperor.

1858
Charles Worth is the first to sew labels on his clothes and to show customers the outfits on live models. This Englishman is considered the father of haute couture.

1868
Worth and his sons create an association of couture houses called The Chambre Syndicale De La Confection Et De La Couture Pour Dames Et Fillettes. The house’s purpose is to prevent couturiers’ designs from being copied.




1903
Ehrich Brothers specialty store holds the first American fashion show in New York City to attract middle-class female customers.

1910
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, the mother of chic, opens her first shop in Paris. Chanel was first known for using jersey materials, which were originally used for men's underwear, to make skirts and dresses for women.








1910
Department stores like Wanamaker’s promote their own fashion shows.



1914
Edna Woodman Chase, a Vogue editor, hosts a charity called the Fashion Fete to benefit the war-relief effort. Some consider this one of the first “real” fashion shows.



1920s
Fashion shows go mainstream. Flapper girls strutted down the runway in both boutiques and department stores. Shows took place during tea time or at lunch and were considered more theatrical than today’s shows. Shows had ethnic and costume themes. A few even had narrative commentary.


1943
Eleanor Lambert creates “Press Week” in New York since America was in the middle of World War II. Fashion editors were not able to fly over the Atlantic to attend the Paris shows, so Lambert got the idea to boost the American economy and fashion market with her version of fashion week. As a result, Vogue and Elle started to wean off the French fashion obsession and feature more American designers.

1950
Fairchild publishes How to Give a Fashion Show. Around the country, PR women purchase the book to learn how to give the shows their bosses are increasingly asking for.

1960s
American designers start showing their collections in art galleries, Soho lofts, and chic hotels.

1961
London Fashion Week is created.



1990s
The “Big Six” Supermodels – Christy, Linda, Claudia, Naomi, Cindy and Kate – dominate the runway. These women brought attitude to the runway and used their personalities, along with their great looks, to book shows. Linda Evangelista’s infamous comment “I don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day” sums up their earning power.


1990
At the Michael Kors Autumn/Winter show, chunks of ceiling plaster fall on models and editors alike due to the booming bass. This is when Fern Mallis, the Council of Fashion Designers of America executive director, gets the idea to organize all the shows in one centralized location.




1994
CFDA puts on the first Olympus Fashion Week in Bryant Park.



1995
Sao Paulo Fashion Week is created. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen regularly struts the runway to help boost her home country’s status as a fashion show player.

2001
Olympus Fashion Week is bought by marketing company IMG, who changes the name to Olympus/Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

2005
Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo is created. The show is supported by the Ministry of Economy, the Fashion Trade and Industry. Designers, material and apparel manufacturers join together to sell Japanese fashion to the globe. However, some critics complain that the show is too westernized with its models and designs. Some locals wish the show would show true eastern beauty and fashion.

2006
In September the Spanish Association of Fashion Designers decide to ban models that have a BMI lower than 18 from walking the catwalk.

Campaign to Feed the Pringle Models!

EW. Not only did Pringle of Scotland's show in Milan today fail miserably compared to last year's Autumn/Winter collection, but their models were seriously lacking in BMIs! If you stare at this photo long enough... her head really does seem like it's pasted on top of the outfit.... you can barely see her fingers creeping out the sleeves! uck. I guess this is what can be expected from a city that was offended when Spain declared they wouldn't accept models with BMI's lower than 18! Looks like Milan should follow suit instead of throwing stick figures on the runway!

Montaigne Market

Last Saturday I met with Anthony Celhay, who is the DMM at Printemps and is also the son of Alain Celhay, the owner of Montaigne Market. Anthony gave me the inside scoop on what it’s like to work with big-name brands on a daily basis. He also told me what makes Montaigne Market one of the chicest boutiques in Paris.
Montaigne Market is located on Avenue de Montaigne, a small street that branches off the Champs-Elysees. It is the first boutique to claim space on the expensive street that is lined with monolith designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.
The boutique has a reputation for carrying a variety of designers that encouragers their customers to mix and match high and average priced designs. They carry smaller high-end designers such as Matthew Williamson, Proenza Schuler, Behnaz Sarafpour and Mayle. However, they still carry some well-known brands like Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Luella. They even carry some U.S. brands exclusively in France.

check out the store!


I am in the process of creating a separate web page about the upcoming fashion week. Keep checking back for more details on: Anthony (who's got a pretty interesting life of his own as the DMM of Printemps), a view of fashion week with Montaigne Market, a day in the life of buyer Stacy Kosene, and an interview with up and coming runway model Bee Bouchard.

Summer Housing goes FAST!

It is almost impossible to find housing in NYC if you wait til the last minute. I advise that you get movin' NOW and start applying! Below are a list of preferable options of undergraduate housing. This list includes dorms, apartment-style dorms, and apartments.
1. New York University summer housing. Goes fast, so apply NOW. It's usually filled by March. Almost everyone loves living here!
2. Webster Apartments. Where I'm living this summer! It's owned by the Webster family and since it's considered a philanthropy, they offer cheap housing for single women interning or working in NYC. They offer maid service, two meals a day, and your own single dorm room for only $250 a week! I'm working on a getting a discount if there are enough interns who apply through this site! So be sure to mention The FashionSocial.
3. New York's Craiglist. While it may take a lot of searching, you can find some awesome places for a good price! My friend and I shared the master bedroom in an amazing apartment we found online with two adults in their upper-twenties. While we were a little nervous at first, it was awesome! Our roommate Paola worked as a fact-checker at Vogue, which was fun to hear about!
4. Columbia University. Really far up north... wouldn't advise it if you are working below 60th street!
5. The New School. I haven't heard about housing here, but my friend goes to NS and loves it! Also, its a fashion design school, so there are probably some cool people there! Possibly a lil' emo, but it makes life more interesting, no?
6.Polytechnic University. This place is in Brooklyn, but right by the 2 line, which will get you to Times Square in 20 min! Plus... its $35 a day for a room! Good inexpensive option.

Gucci Loves New York

From left to right: Donald Trump, Frida Liani, Gucci's creative director, Mark Lee Gucci CEO, and Daniella Vitale, Gucci's North American president.
Last Friday Gucci opened its largest store inside the Trump Towers. The crowd sported "Gucci Loves New York" t-shirts made for the occasion and Times Square's jumbotron played the "Gucci Loves New York" advertisement throughout the week.Personally I think this is a big stint to get their name back in fashion magazines. The past few years they have relied on their logo bags to make the company profit. Personally I'm sick of seeing tiny tweens sporting Gucci purses. Hopefully this new ad campaign and new store will bring the attention back to their runway style, not their commercialized, whored-out bags. But I dunno, their Resort 2008 hasn't fared as well as their Autumn/Winter 2007 line. While there are some darling pieces, the collection as a whole bores me. It reminds me way too much of last seasons resort wear. Uck.

Is the Strike Over?

Last week Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair, said the magazine was not going to hold the annual Oscar Party due to the writer's strike. This weekend members of the Writer's Guild of America voted on whether or not to accept a new offer to end the strike. Writer's will return back to work as early as Wednesday if the proposal passes. So if the strike is over, will the party go on?

Jezebel's New Model Scoop

Jezebel, Gawker's more juicy sister site, has added a new feature. Modelslip is by a model under the psuedoname "Tatiana". She talks about what it's like to serve as a supermodel's mere fitting model ($100 a day, not too bad), and which designers really do suck.... I dunno though... I think she's a lil flakey herself. Check it out - any news is good news for an intern.

New York Fashion Week

So I've been caught up with the Superbowl (Yeah Giants!) and life in Paris that I have failed to keep you updated about Olympus New York Fashion Week! For a quick overview and awesome videos of the crazy week, check out The Fashion Week Daily .

Is Agyness the new Kate?

Agyness Deyn has graced almost every major designer’s runway over the past 8 years. The 25-year-old British model changed her name from Laura Hollins in 1999 when she won the Face of Rossendale model contest.

Known for her pixie haircut, hipster-punk style, and good-girl persona, Deyn is one of the most sought-after models. Vogue describes her style as “Jackie O. crossed with Debbie Harry meets Stevie Nicks.”

Besides a modeling career, Deyn plays in a band called Lucky Knitwear and started her own jewelry line with longtime friend Henry Holland .
Deyn has opened various shows, including Anna Sui, Burberry Prorsum, Alice Temperley, Ruffian and Jean Paul Gaultier’s 30th anniversary show
She currently lives in New York City with boyfriend Josh Hubbard.

For more Agyness:
The New York Post
Style.com Photos
Is Agyness the new Kate?

*picture from Rolling Stones