New York Fashion Week: Rihanna designs for Fendi, Monique Lhullier gets sultry
NEW YORK _ The Associated Press is all over New York Fashion Week, from its runway fashions to celebrity-packed events. Here’s what some AP writers are seeing:
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Rihanna won’t let Kanye West take the style spotlight at New York Fashion Week.
The Grammy Award winner introduced a new one-off bag she designed for Fendi at the brand’s first store opening in New York on Friday.
She praised West’s Yeezy Boost sneakers, rolled at the day before at a runway show that included Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and a crying North West in the front row.
“I think it was amazing. I love that he takes risks. I love that he pushes boundaries and it was very Kanye,” she said of his effort.
Rihanna‘s Fendi baguette bag is part of a larger project in which five different women try their hand at accessory-designing for charity.
“When I was designing this purse I wanted to make something really edgy but still chic, something that a woman can wear all the time, something that reflects the way I like to dress. I always wear all-black, especially to perform but I wanted it to be wearable,” Rihanna said.
The Barbadian singer was joined by Sarah Jessica Parker, British model Jourdan Dunn, artist Rachel Feinstein and blogger Leandra Medine on Fendi’s roster.
Parker, whose iconic ‘Sex and the City’ character Carrie Bradshaw launched baguette madness among the masses when she carried it on the show, said she worked tirelessly to get her vision right.
“I like the idea of sort of vintage cloth, kind of the stripes of Fendi colours and I wanted to try to figure out a way to get the ‘F’ in there so I looked at endless amounts of materials and fabrications and skins and velvets and colours and I really wanted to work with purple and indigo and cream and after many iterations and drawing really crudely on napkins, this is what I came up with,” she said.
The five baguette purses will be displayed in Fendi’s new flagship store until 13 March and will be up for auction. Proceeds will benefit five charities chosen by the five designers.
_Cristina Jaleru
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MONIQUE LHULLIER GETS SULTRY, SENSUAL
From Anna Kendrick at the Golden Globe Awards to Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the SAGs, celebrities are showing the love for designer Monique Lhuillier.
While Lhuillier has had many recent wow moments on the red carpet, she says dressing the first lady is one she will never forget.
“It was such an honour to dress Michelle Obama,” said Lhuillier before her fashion show in Lincoln Center Friday night. “I mean she is a style icon on her own and you know it was such an honour to do it for the Kennedy Center honours because that’s such a beautiful night. It’s such a wonderful event and so I was thrilled when they called me and I’ll never forget that night.”
For her fall collection, Lhuillier explored her darker, more sensual side with silky, rich jewel tones, sparkling metallics, lace details, sheer inlays and intricate beadwork.
“Well this season my girl is darker, she’s more sensual, sultry. I researched the 1920s a lot. It was about all these liquid dresses so I cut everything on the bias. The corset is gone this season. She’s liberated. It’s about fluidity and sheer skin showing sometimes. But then I also wanted a strong shoulder. I really feel like masculine shoulders and the more tailored jackets mixed with very fluid feminine things are really right for the moment and I think together it was a really exciting thing to do.”
She also debuted her accessories line, which included strappy heels and shiny clutches.
“Pitch Perfect” actress Brittany Snow rushed into the show last-minute and was thrilled to take her front row seat.
“I wear her all the time. She fits me perfectly and I always feel like it so classically beautiful,” said Snow.
_Nicole K. Evatt
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PATTI SMITH MEETS REBECCA MINKOFF
Rebecca Minkoff rocked out for inspiration for her new season.
The New York-based designer turned to singer Patti Smith’s memoir “Just Kids” for ideas.
“I was really inspired by her youth, the raw energy she portrays in the book and that she was in New York at a time that you almost can’t recreate today. The ’70s and rock and roll was just beginning, so this collection is really an ode to that,” she said before her Friday runway show.
The collection referenced Smith’s androgynous rock look with its palette of blacks, maroons, greys and earthy blues on tasseled boots, calf-skin coats and textured jackets.
_Cristina Jaleru
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