Sue Wong's "My Fair Lady" Fall 2011 in the heart of historical Hollywood

By Laura Medina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Df7fRsw48

On a beautiful sunny, warm day in the heart of historical Hollywood, the town's former glory rises up again, like clockwork, on Sue Wong's elegant fashion installation and champagne brunch as the highlight of Fashion Week LA.

Doing it on her own terms, the cultured and scholarly cocktail and eveningwear designer mined Olde Hollywood and the history books for her Fall 2011 Collection. Inspired by the Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison gem, "My Fair Lady," Ms. Wong, not only adapted it as the name for her Fall collection, she dived right into it.

Using her precise research and the Edwardian Era/late 19th century setting of the movie, "My Fair Lady," Ms. Wong reached out and brought back a different type of sensuality that have not seen daylight in a long time, the womanly full-figure molded into "S-Bend" and dipping emphasis on the plunging mono-bosom, not the pushed-up cleavage of mid-century twentieth-century or today's Victoria's Secrets' bras.

Mind you, Ms. Wong knows she is dressing for the twentieth-first century woman who yearns of classic glamour without the caged trappings.

She replaced the ribbed corset with accurate seams and tailoring then incorporated spaghetti straps and tie-back halter necks for more ease and breathing room.

Model, Jamie Hilfiger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtrQnyYFvlA

Bridget Marquardt, formerly of E!'s "Girls Next Door."

Long-held by established Hollywood actresses then now, embraced by Young Hollywood, such as Kelly Osbourne, several generations of celebrities showed their love for Ms. Wong.

Fans, both mature and young, pose in their Sue Wong outfits in Ms. Wong's mirrors.

Ms. Wong has a legion of fans who come from all walks of life.

To return the love, Ms. Wong graciously opened the doors to her top-secret, historical mansion in the heart of Hollywood to them. This wasn't a plain red carpet but a fashion installation and a champagne brunch to reward their loyalty.

Halter Dress with plunging V-Neck and embroided skirt from "Black/Nude" segment.

Using her historical mansion and a lunch and dessert buffet (with a bar, of course) as backdrops for her massive and diverse cocktail and eveningwear collection was very convenient to showcase her Edwardian collection. Fitting (pun intended), since her mansion was built around the late Edwardian or early Twenties, furthering highlighting the Edwardian details. Ms. Wong was gracious to allow guests and press to have full-range and full fun of her home. People had fun darting from nooks and crooks, posing in her bedrooms and bathrooms, pretending to be models themselves, posing in her mirrors.

Champagne Gowns and Coats at the Champagne Brunch.

The mansion was expansive enough to fully display the six-segmented collection: Black/Red, Black/Nude, Brown-Gold, Champagne-Ivory, Platinum, and Cobalt.

Models either posed on pedestals in the living rooms as living statues...

Or, they gathered with Sue Wong for a group photo shoot in the sun room...

To keep the action going, models saunter among the dining guests, socialites, and press without accidentially dipping into the pool...

Eventually, both guests and models...and photographers made their way to Sue's sculptured backyard and pation where the crystal-beaded collection came to life under the sun.

Watching the glided Edwardian ladies in bedazzled and plated lace brought the mansion and garden to life.

But, it is still hard work. Ms. Wong sheparded her models. They posed and walked in the hot sun while celebrities and guests finally retired and sun themselves in her back patio deck and backyard with manicured hedges and trails and the fountain, sipping...what else...white wine and champagne.

Viviana Vigil, formerly of LXTV.com/First Look, now REELZ Channel host.

Viviana and the other guest-and press (such as this intrepid reporter/photographer) made themselves right at home after working the red carpet and trailing (ok, nibbling and sipping) models, soaking up the rays in plush velvet chaises and lounges among the marble.

This is what everyone around the world thinks, assumes, or dreams what Hollywood should be, a gracious host, a plush luncheon, and beautiful people from all walks of life, the producers, the starlets, the celebrities, established socialites, models, and don't forget the press...schmoozing and lounging all together under the warm California sun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xkEQAiGBhI

Thank you, Ms. Wong for making the dream real for one sunny afternoon in March.

If you really want the whole affair in action, click on the Youtube link above.

The Junior League of New York honors Ms. Mary J. Blige

By Laura Medina

Lisa Hathaway Stella (NYJL President), left. Honoree Mary J. Blige, middle. Mistress of ceremonies Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), right.

As winter loosens its grip on the Big Apple, New York Junior League awarded Ms. Mary J. Blige with Award for Leadership and Excellence at the organization’s 59^th Annual Winter Ball, to be held at the historic Plaza Hotel on Saturday, March 5, 2011.

They recognized Ms. Blige's work for her The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), which she founded with music and branding impresario Steve Stoute in 2007. FFAWN (www.ffawn.org) is an organization dedicated to helping women overcome their personal difficulties and reach their full potential in life. FFAWN assists women through a range of programs that encourage women to realize their dreams and pursue their individual goals.

Five hundred guests showed to witness the nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, record producer and actress being presented with her award. The Winter-themed ball, "Elegance Throughout Time," at the Plaza, celebrated the last hurrah of what was a bone-chilling season.

The sponsors included Van Cleef & Arpels and Moet Hennessy. Auction items include a Prada bag from the Spring 2011 Collection, a diamond pendant designed by Patricia Daughn, an exclusive golf outing for four at one of Trump Golf’s world-renowned courses, a seven-night stay at the Leading Hotels of the World’s Royal Myconian or Myconia Imperial Hotel in Greece, and a two-night stay for two at the Montage Deer Valley Hotel and Resort.

Life is a Cabaret for Valerjie Pobea

By Laura Medina

For Fall 2011 at Los Angele's Concept Fashion Week at the esteem ACE Gallery, life is a cabaret.


Ms. Pobea mined another little-known Seventie's fad, the movie "Cabaret." The movie that launched Liza Minnelli's singing and acting career.


It was also the precusor to punk and goth, the pale foundation and the black, smudged eyeshadow and lipstick which ironically was considered trendy makeup to the emerging influence of early, silent movies where contrasting cosmetics is needed to express facial emotions on the screen.


Late Thirties Germany was also the decadent and liberating louche Weimar Republic where formerly repressed Germans let loose in the nightclub, and hence, the cabaret scene.

A model doing the Charleston.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5G3hyvEynU

Ms. Pobea evoke the sinster and naughty vibe in a theaterical clown ruff collar and severly black, wool Germanic military maxi dress and coat.

She made good use of the closest-sized installation room where most of the designers held their live art performance/presentations. Her third model was the livliest. Her third model channel Liza Minnelli, dancing the Charleston, and slithering with a chair in the Kit Kat Klub.

For a fashion event that aimed to showcase the hip and the cool of predominately Downtown Los Angeles, the alternative to West Hollywood facade, Ms. Pobea stood out among the hipsters with her energetic installation.

Before it hits the catwalk, YSL Spring/Summer 2011

By Laura Medina

Before the supermodels set foot on tomorrow's catwalk at YSL, here are the hottest picks from the Spring/Summer 2011, titled, "Manifesto."

What is the "Manifesto" for the hot weather?

It's Stefano Pilati's reaction against twentieth-century extreme masculinity by embracing female empowerment and feminism.

For this collection, he used the Twenties and the Thirties with a sultry color palette. Mr. Pilati said that during that time, women came into their own in arts and philosophy.

With the sporty and elegant jumpers, halters, and rainforest hues, Mr. Pilati has also mined the original Yves Saint Laurent's archive during his Seventies hey days.

Mr. Pilati is very aware how macho our world has become. He wants this collection to admire and celebrate feminine strength and power.

These are the sneak peeks of what might set foot on the runway tomorrow in Paris but the Beverly Hills store will have these outfits tomorrow.

Target's Greatest Hits Reissued

By Laura Medina

It's been five years since Target took a risk and plucked the emerging designers off the vine. Some fresh from design school. Others on the horizon, ready to take off. Then, asked them to design a limited-edition capsule for their GO International Designer Collective.

There was a lot of hope and wishing and hand-wringing for reasonably price but stylish edition but...it became an insider's secret, building up a devoted cult-following that have fashionistas panting with anticipation.

To celebrate these five years of cult hits and instant vintage treasures, Target culled through the data and the archives and brought back the biggest hits from each collection.

They selected the biggest hits, accumulating into a sizeable 34 dress collection that is going to hit March 13th. Like any other limited edition collection, it's seasonal, disappearing by April 10th.

They may be reissued hits but they're on point on what is current right now.

Another reason why they are re-released, to great fan fare, Target's GO International Designer Collective has proven to provide classic dresses, coats, and tops that had proven to be instant vintage finds that had reached hundreds and thousands of dollars on the vintage resale circuit, long after the collection has been off the market.

Think of this reissue as a redo, a second chance to grab proven classics that can be worn again and again for those special occasions.

With prolifteration of blush on the red carpet and the whispers from Los Angeles' top stylists, blush isn't shying away from Spring any time soon.

The folks at Target must had figured that because they included, in their greatest hits collection, a Rodarte peach-blush satin number that is ripe for the red carpet.

Rodarte is behind "Black Swan"s rhinestone-festooned black feathered bustier, tutu, and headdress.

Another uncanny inclusion is Erin Fetherston's rocking cute Bunny Print Dress, in time for Easter. This was way before her guest collaboration on Juicy Couture's Holiday Collection.

With Spring, comes flowers and florals. This is much to be expected. Before he became a household name outfitting First Lady Michelle Obama, Thakoon Panichgul developed line for Target two years ago in 2009.

This Thakoon gathered dress in bold cyber floral print is still fresh today as it was two years ago.

Recent releases, such as Tucker, to the earliest contributors, Jovovich-Hawk, there are a bounty of floral tunics and dresses to flower a closest, from prim and proper to hippy-bohemian.

Of course, there is always the crisp and classic Black and White. From fragile swiss dots tulle overlays to bold graphics on a sheath dress, there's a dress for everybody.

Now, take advantage of this redo before this disappears as well.

A Year for Milly by Michelle Smith

By Laura Medina

Milly by Michelle Smith Fall 2011 Collection swoon under Seventies Parisian Disco Fever.

It was rich in velvet and felt in hot hues, such as golden rod yellow and feverish red.

Pouty lipstick prints made ladylike shirtdresses smoldering.


But, you do not have to wait until Fall to wear Milly.

Milly must be on an empowering movement when it became "Gossip Girl" Blair Waldroff's prefered power ensemble-with mismatching shoes.

Regardless, Ms. Waldroff power-suited herself in the Daisy Tee in Ecru with the concentric circles and the Colette Sheath Dress in powerfully polished but fashion-forward shimmering Winter White. She pretty much banished the Baby Booomer rayon shoulder pad power suit.

You can still get lighthearted and fun with Milly for Spring...and it's portable and accessibe for under $100, her "Pretty in Print" limited edition for Clinique.


The pink and brown eyeshadow palette and warm pink blush in a cute, embossed compact is clutch-sized friendly.

The universal skin tone friendly compact, the go-with-any skin tone watermelon pink blush, the lipgloss in Milly Pink and the High Impact Mascara in Black are the pops of color essentials in a cheery, breezy Milly Print Pouch.

The pouch print is from her signature print collection. She found inspiration from a vintage Sixities couture print then reworked it in her signature Milly print.

The flexible, no-fail skin tone friendly palette is influenced also by Michelle Smith's print and color palette.

Both Ms. Smith and Clinique's makeup artist, Kayleen McAdams, agree women want a pop of color in welcoming Spring. Something light and bright.

Ms. McAdams suggests sweeping the ivory eyeshadow from brow bone to lash, all over the eyelids. Brush the whole eyelids with the pink eyeshadow then add depth with the shimmering brown eyeshadow in the creases and the outer corners. Use the rich, matte brown shadow to rim both the upper and lower eyelids.

Ms. McAdams' favorite piece from the palette is the Precious Posy pink blush, a warm pink that heats up winter-weary cheekbones. All you have to do is smile and swoop it on the apple cheeks.

To finish a wholesome, warmed-up look, slick on the mauvey but light Milly Pink for a sweet smile.

It's going to be year-around of Milly by Michelle Smith.

Target is Toasting Up to Spring 2011

By Laura Medina

Spring is gradually thawing in certain parts of the country.


Slowly rolling out for Spring 2011, Target brings easy casual for the whole family and for everyone.


Converse's collegiate-meets-rock n' roll Women and Men lines are great in-between season pieces. All for under $100. Teens and college students can afford to build up their closets without the hurt.


The women's billowy Miriam Top on Pink Plaid topped with Marissa White Jacket is jaunty enough for early Spring/late Winter. Perfect for dashing between classes, projects, internships, and shopping.


The men's line is campus-to-beach. The hoodie provides warmth in the cold sea breezes while the board shorts say "Surf's up!"




Merona is the more elegant contemporary line where fashionable pieces can be had for under $20.

The colorblock shift dress in two-tone blue has its finger on the pulse for military-inspired yet mid-Sixities Mod. Put together, it's fresh for Spring 2011 for $39.99.

The black & white striped cardigan on black & white polka dot dress pops out at $55 for the whole outfit.

The curvy woman is no longer the "forgotten woman."

Actually, the Pure Energy line is the most ready for Spring.

The flower-print red empire waist top with ruffled collar, on the left; and the kimono-neck in daintyy but poppy black and white prints for $17.99, offer the most fun in Target's Spring 2011 Line-up.

These are just warming up for Target's next upcoming Greatest Hits Collection around the corner.

Expect More...soon.