Shop Talk

By Author=Fashteen

February 3, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Hi, this is Fashteen from Atlanta. For my 16th birthday my parents have given me a trip to Fashion Week in New York!!! I know it’s crazy, i still can’t believe that tomorrow I’ll be in New York City watching real live fashion shows. I honestly wouldn’t consider myself the most fashionable person in the world; most days I go to school in a t-shirt and jeans. I don’t have the time or energy to do much else in the morning. But even though I don’t surround myself in couture from the moment I wake up I do consider fashion to be a form of art; and I believe art is imortant in sustaining a stimulating colorful community.

Receiving invitations to fashion shows has been surreal. And, though I sound like a materialistic, selfish 16 year old, I have to say that the invitation I am most excited about is this Lycra Denim Jeans invitation. Why? Well because I get a free pair of jeans. I know it’s awful but to be honest that is what I am looking forward to. The one show I would really love to see is the Diane Von Furstenburg show, but as of right now i’m not sure that will happen. Even if it doesn’t I know I will be thrilled with everything I see.

I head to New York on Sunday the 4th. I’ll keep you posted on what happens when I get there…

-Fashteen

By Fashteen

February 4, 2007 08:16 PM | Link to this

Fashion week is…tiring (Especially with only four hours of sleep). Most of my day was filled with waiting in line for twice as long as the actual fashion show ran. However, it was worth the wait for the most part. At eleven I went to Tadashi; which was, to say the least, very glamourous. There were lots of sparkles and gorgeous gowns. Then at one I went to Twinkle by Wenlan. Most of the clothes in this show I personally wouldn’t wear; it had a knit it yourself, earth mamma kind of feeling which personally isn’t my taste. Then at two I went to Tracy Reese, which I absolutly loved and miraculously got a seat in (and a goodie bag). I thought the clothes were attractive, well thought out, and original. Maybe I am wrong, but to a fashion week virgin Reese seemed to be right on target. Though I waited in line for an hour and a half, I unfortunately couldn’t get in to the Diane von Furstenberg show, or as the fashionistas call her DVF. But I got to watch her collection on the plasma tv’s strategically placed around the room, and it looked stunning.

Ok one last thing before I go; I know everyone hears this a lot, but too many of the models were scarily thin. Some looked healthy and natural, but a majority looked like they should be the cover girl for those ads you see about malnourished kids in third world countries.

So far fashion week has been a blast. I’ll keep you posted….

-Fashteen

By Fashteen

February 5, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

Today has been much better. Partly because I knew where to go, how to get into the shows, and I was more organized; and partly because I was well rested. I went to Kai Milla at nine, Nannette Lapore at eleven, Reem Acra at two, and Luca Luca at three. Kai Milla was alright even though it seemed to be more for my mom’s age group. I enjoyed most, detested some, and absolutely loved a little of what I saw at Nannette Lapore. I really didn’t like Reem Acra; half of her collection was velvet and I don’t like velvet (especially in bright, pee yellow). Though I have to say that her last dress was nice; a floor length, light sea foam green dress with intricate beading. Then there was Luca Luca which seemed to be more thought out, and put together in such a way that really looked more like art than just plain clothes. The show started out with the whole aviation thing that Project Runway’s Kara Saun went for in season one; goggles, big jackets, the whole shabang. Then as the show went on it really became more elegant and beautiful, and Luca Orlandi was able to pull off elegant with more than just a floor length gown.

Today I also got to interview Jeff Rudes the designer of J Brand jeans. He and Mik Serfontaine are both revolutionizing their jeans with this new XFIT LYCRA which gives, as he put it “360 degrees of comfort”. Apparently it fits better, is more comfortable, and most importantly never stretches out of shape. Unfortunately this also means they will be about 15% more expensive at around 190 dollars.

There’s just one thing that I’ve really noticed here in New York; and that’s (drumroll please) the fashion. It really is way different here than in Atlanta. All the women have on four inch stilettos, and look dark, sleek, and impeccably dressed. There are next to no bright colors. And I think it’s funny that if I somehow transported these high fashion New York women back to Atlanta…they would look ridiculous. In New York they look gorgeous, but in most other locations they would be out of place.

I definitely love fashion week and am sad to go home and go to school tomorrow. It’s been great and if anything else happens i’ll keep you posted…

-Fashteen

By Bojo Khetlepje

February 15, 2007 07:56 PM | Link to this

great blog. fashteen is obviously an unusually bright and engaging teen. I suspect she is quite a fox.