A conversation captured between Moda Operandi co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo and friends as she glides elegantly up a staircase wearing her custom made white silk, faille jacket and skirt with lace bows and jet bead embroidery by Oscar de le Renta is divine! A step back in time—is this, the roaring ‘20s, the swinging ‘60s or the glamorous ‘50s, I am not quite sure. I find the avant garde juxtaposed styles of outfits mesmerizing. And, what are they saying at this precise moment? I would love to know.

Of all the great celebrity shots, red carpet coverage and decadent gowns photographed at this event, I have to say that this particular candid shot epitomizes the stylish celebrations of the most fashionable annual evening in Manhattan. I am sure that Elsa Schiaparelli would’ve love this dress.

Fashion icon and muse Anna Dello Russo, the stylishly eccentric fashion Fashion Director and Editor-at-Large for Japanese Vogue, is the first non-designer to collaborate with H&M. The collection designed by Anna will feature accessories, such as bangles, necklaces, miniaudieres, shoes, and sunglasses. Heavily embellished in opulent gold and baroque styling juxtaposed with turquoise, Anna says, “With these pieces, everybody can have fun, turning an ordinary day into a fantastic fashion day.” I quite agree, simply sumptuous!

Watch Anna in this video below, she talks about the collaboration and shares a sneak peek into her luxurious apartment and very organized closet. Anna purrs, “Fashion is my language.” The collection will be available in 140 stores across the world starting October 4th.

Already familiar with H&M, Anna appeared on the Lanvin Haute Couture runway show back in 2010 for Alber Elbaz collaboration.

Photos: via WWD by Magnus Magnusson.

When I think of this collection, one dress comes to mind—a jade green gown, with polka dots, feathers, and slim long sleeves. I had previously saved it on Pinterest and was excited to meet Mr. Bell—a designer I’ve been interested in for a while.

Fall 2012 inspiration is Midnight Rose—tell me about this kind of women?

Chad: As designers we all have this idea of our perfect woman, and who she is, but what happens if she gets a little messy. For some designers, she might already be messy, but what happens if our idea of the perfect women breaks out of her box and maybe tries to do something a little avant-garde? What if she is this perfect woman, who is put in to a very imperfect situation? Like, what if she fell asleep at an opium den?  It was interesting to see our silhouette become more sexy; our hemlines were higher than they’ve been before, and we had more fun with the embroideries, but in a kooky way, which we mixed with oversized coats and tailored dresses.

I take my inspiration from a lot of imagery, as you notice from my inspiration notes I took Picasso juxtaposed with Arlene Gottfried, but there is so much more other imagery that is taken into consideration. For the polka-dot feathered gown that you love, I wanted to take the idea that you’re seeing stars, our woman is in a haze, in love, with that feeling of euphoria, and then blast it with these extra strange colors like jade green, with navy feathers.  It’s really hard to get a navy feather! We stayed up for five days, feathering it—the gown is all hand feathered.

Vanessa: Actually, it’s a silhouette he has been developing from the beginning, long-sleeve sexy.  There is such a need for long sleeves; we wanted to define this has a need in the market.

Chad: It’s about selling clothes, like, how can we create sleeves for women, and give them what they need, but they don’t look matronly. I’m kind of obsessed with limbs, the neck, the ankles, and the wrist; they’re the sexiest part of a woman’s body. I did a round neck on this dress with velvet piping, which makes the neck look nice and long.

What are your favorite pieces from this collection?

Chad: There are so many, I had so much fun with the embroideries, and took inspiration from Matadors and bull fighting. The Chadwick Bell woman is such a worldly woman and she inspires us with an awareness of herself, the world and cultures.  It’s about finding embroideries that reflect that. A German botanist called Karl Blossfeldt inspired the motifs, yes I do get a little cerebral—we took all the motifs from his botany photos and then placed them with the Spanish matador style embroidery—all these worlds collide and create one.

If you could dress the woman of your dreams, who would that be?

Chad: Barbara Streisand in the late ‘60s, Angelic Houston, Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, I would love to dress Lee Radziwill. Tilda Swinton—there is something special about her; she is so androgynous; she has that awkward beauty—masculine looking.  There are so many editors that are beautiful—Kate Lanphear, she is major with that hair.

Kate Lanphear and Tilda Swinton.

Tell me how you both decided to work together?

Vanessa: We idolize all those famous design duos; a lot of them have been men predominately, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, and then Muccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli. We really idolize those couples where you might not know the partner very much, but they really create the house together.  The way we’ve created our team is, Chad is the visionary creatively, I’ve known him since I was a kid, and I wouldn’t be doing this with anyone else—he is very talented.  We have a long history together, and we’ve known each other since we were twelve, and we’ve been through a lot together. We started this dream when we were kids, and we’ve been really chipping away since 2005, and in 2008 we really started making clothes together. Chad creates the collections, and I assist with some of the development process, but for the most part I manage the business so he is free to concentrate on developing ideas.

Chad: We are both from California, so when we first moved to New York we spent a lot of time, really talking about the woman and defining who she is, down to how she holds her fork, her favorite vacation spots, everything beyond just clothing—we plan to create more of a lifestyle.

So far in your career what has been your most significant achievement?

Chad: Showing at Lincoln Center, it really means a lot to me, to be able to show and be chosen amongst the group of designers that show at Lincoln Center. Anyone can apply to show, but ultimately you have to be approved.  I remember being young and watching Oscar de le Renta and Carolina Herrera show in The Tents, and thinking that one-day I want to be there.  And to finally get there, and be back stage and see your show on the monitor happening and knowing it’s at Lincoln Center, that’s major, it was a big deal. I know the trend is to show off site, but I think for every designer if they’ve shown at Lincoln Center for the first time, you’re part of a community that’s been in place for years. There’s no greater sense of validity. Maybe aside from the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund.

The Studio at Lincoln Center is an intimate space, and if you’re new it’s a good space to show for the first time. I really wanted to kick fashion week off with a bang, so we transformed the space—we had a bright cardamom yellow backdrop, and the runway was an electric fuschia, and it was beautiful, and the colors were so vibrant against the clothes.

Check out: Chadwick Bell. 

Nicolas Pol, Self-Invited Venredies, 2012.

James is a good bloke, and solid contemporary art connoisseur, he left Dallas last year to take a cultured bite out of the big apple, and, needless to say, his artful circles connected him with Mr. Roitfeld—so I asked for a short Q&A about his impending appearance in Dallas for the Dallas Art Fair.

To get better acquainted with Mr. Roitfeld, let’s think, Fashion Week, Armory Arts Week, Dallas Art Fair, just a few locations that Roitfeld has shown at this year and Frieze Art Fair this coming May.  Then add the stylish friends that he hangs with such as, Derek Blasberg, Inez Van Lamsweerde, Margherita Missoni, and Stavros Niarchos, to mention only a few.  Über cool, fashionably connected, but most importantly he is one astute and talented curator.

Quattara Watts, Vertigo #9 2012.

MT: What made you decide to participate in the Dallas Art fair? VRR: I have never participated in an art fair before. The Dallas art fair is young and exciting and seems like a good fit for me, and for the artists that I am bringing.  I have heard a lot of good things about the city and the art community here and I am very pleased and honored to be part of it.

MT: What brought you to work with James Cope? VRR: I was introduced to James about 3 months ago, and I must say that it all started as a pure coincidence, as I had already planned on participating in the fair. I met James and discussed and learnt that he had spent some years in Dallas curating the Goss-Michael Foundation. James has a lot of experience here, and it was a great opportunity for me to collaborate with him.

MT: What artists will you be presenting at the Dallas Art Fair? VRR: Yi Chen (China), Richard Dupont (USA), Nicolas Pol (France), and Ouattara Watts (Africa).

MT: What’s next for you? VRR: I am organizing a show in Istanbul, which opens on April 26th, in collaboration with Istanbul 74. More art fairs and a special project I am working on at the moment for next fall….and, soon becoming an Uncle!!

Visit Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld at the Dallas Art Fair this weekend!

The abbreviated eponymous title: CR fashion book will resonate with her irreverent notions and stylish idiosyncratic repertoire that is synonymous with the artistic style of Carine Roitfeld.  New York-based Argentinian photographer Sebastian Faena has shot the cover and fashion spread for the debut September issue, and the book-inspired editorial content will feature longer articles depicting a particular theme throughout the entire issue.  Taking a respectful nod to well-known and emerging talent from across the globe articles will be published in the native language of the contributor, with a translation included at the back of the book.

The stylishly chic muse has reached iconic fashion status among her industry peers, so naturally a self-titled glossy pub would seem audacious yet simply expected, “It will always be edgy. Maybe it will be more mental that physical,” enthused Roitfeld.

I am besotted with Love Magazine and Frieze Magazine, which currently adorn my coffee table, and I think the CR fashion book, which will be a biannual publication, will make a perfectly stylish additional accoutrement.  So, roll on September the fall fashion over-sized glossy is top of my must-have list for the next season. 

CR Fashion Book will be priced at $9.95 and will be distributed across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Naeem Khan, and Mary Katrantzou.

Overcome by a deluge of accomplished designers, I am not sure what style to love on first. After reviewing my first cut of divinity, I cannot help notice my subconscious trend now they are all merged together—statement skirts, dresses, and coats that are heavily embellished continue to captivate my choice of style for fall 2012.

Altuzarra, Burberry, McQ, and Rag & Bone.

Get used to the combination of various prints, stripes, and polka dots for spring/summer, as fall is set to showcase an ingenious mélange of rich textures, graphic jacquard, embroideries, herringbones, oversized digital prints, peplums, guipure lace, and leather. Plus, a cornucopia of fascinating colors (will cover that sometime soon), but for now, I’ve chosen to glimpse at a few textures and silhouettes.

Calvin Klein, Bibhu Mohapatra, Jason Wu and Valentino.

Light and optimistic at Alexander McQueen the laser-cut, pony skin dresses resembled delicate doilies as they glided down the runway. At Balmain, Russian revelry nods to Fabergé in pure opulence, Naeem Khan honors the influence of Hindu, Burberry’s theme of ‘Town and Field’ depicted the ‘30s and ‘40s, Costa’s silhouettes at Calvin Klein simmered with sexiness, and Jason Wu merged the essence of military and historical China.

Truly, just the tip of the iceberg as the message of Autumn/Winter 2012 starts to unfold.

Photo Credit: Monica Feudi, Alessandro Garofalo, Tannis Vlamos, Marcus Tondo, Yannis Vlamos.

Giorgio Armani: Fall 2011.

TopShop Unique: Spring 2012.

So what’s the fascination? I do think fashion has gone to our heads, quite literally; maybe this facial fascination is a deep self-realization that we have all become completely obsessed with our own self-importance, ha! 

Jil Sander: Spring 2012.

Betsey Johnson: Spring 2012.

And, lets not forget the launch of Karl on net-a-porter.com this month. Mr. Lagerfeld’s unmistakable silhouette positioned prominently across ones chest, would seem most befitting, yes?

Karl Lagerfeld silhouette for the collection Karl.

Well I am in two minds, if not two faces, as to whether I will be donning the latest visage on my chest. Not for me personally, but I do think it’s fun—if I had to choose a face, then it would be something like a Robb Pruitt punk Panda!

altuzarra.

anthropologie.

The digital photography fad has created an abundance of creativity within the textile design industry, and Mary Katrantzou has clearly made that point. Last week I received the latest Anthropologie catalogue and the pleated poplin Kudzu skirt featuring landscape photography artist Sarah Ball immediately mesmerized me. Oh, the possibilities! Think Maia Norman’s Mother of Pearl—fashion meets art, quite literally.

prabal gurung.

christopher kane.

A perfect statement skirt can take a potentially dreary ensemble and transform your style into a chic ladylike pose in the blink of an eye. It’s about effortless style—let the skirt make the statement, add color, then accessorize. Simple.

cacharel.

peter som.

These are few spring/summer 2012 runway styles that I love—they look great styled for the runway, but each skirt speaks for itself, worn simply on its own, or dressed to maximize a complete look.

The spring summer 2012 collections revealed a strong monochromatic story for early deliveries, with many designers bestowing striking pops of color against neutral palettes. This chromatic trend hints at making a return to the runway next month, given the highlight notes for the Tracy Reese Fall 2012 collection.

Celebrating her fifth anniversary for the Tracy Reese flagship boutique in Manhattan last year, Ms. Reese continues to hold a steadfast position in the world of fashion. Feminine froth, and plentiful prints, always adorns the creativity of Ms. Reese, and this next collection notes to a similar scenario.

Expect to see vibrant tomato, juniper green, fiery orange, with citrus lemon tones, warmed with neutral browns, gray, and black and white. Tailored silhouettes such as a jacquard pea jacket, and the classic mini, are juxtaposed with lavish textures and embellishments, crafted with refined detail.

Ready-to-Wear, wearable wares, that sound perfectly polite.

My chosen charity was Fashion Group International of Dallas, my goal to raise funds for Career Day, 2012. This annual event provides educational outreach programs to students seeking careers in the fashion and lifestyle industries, and awards local talent with over $35,000 in scholarships funds.  Since Dallas lists such fashionable business as Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penny, and Fossil, to name only a few—it seems a worthy cause indeed to support local education.

 The Cupcake War prize $5,000, but if you didn’t win, you still received $1,000—totally worth it!  The challenge—to decorate the cupcakes in the theme of your charity, hmmm, well, how was I going to do that!

I was allowed one team member to support this frosty fashion challenge, so I asked fellow FGI Dallas Board Member Chuck Steelman, PR Manager at Neiman Marcus Willowbend—surely his nifty style knowledge would sparkle over these cupcakes.

I worked on my cupcake designs for two weeks, no, I am not kidding, one word—competitive. I planned in great detail the spring and summer 2012 fashion attack that these poor cupcakes were about to endure.

I chose runway styles that would interpret best into a cupcake—sheer organza, pleats, polka dot, geometric and floral prints, monochromatic and bold colors—bring it all on little cupcake! The presentation? I was left with no choice other than the most obvious, a cupcake runway show, wearing the best of spring summer trends. Perfect!

The outcome—Christopher Kane, Alice + Olivia, Ashish, Cynthia Rowley, Altuzarra, Blumarine, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Alberta Ferritti—strutted their chic cupcake styles down the runway.

So who was sitting front row on this mini-masterpiece? My fellow Cupcake War competitors, and Cupcake War winner Clarice Tinsley, with Amy Vanderoef, Roni Proter, Meredith Land, Brittany Cobb, along with the judges, Sprinkles founder Candace Nelson, Jackson, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman and Toni Rivard, in little mini-me edible rice faces. What a frosty delight!  More details to come on PinkMemo.