LYRA MAG.

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images, Richard Spiegel WHEN: Thursday night, October 30th WHERE: Saks Fifth Avenue, the 2nd floor WHY: To show off the spring 2009 Escada collection and to benefit Free Arts NYC, and a chance to hear DUFFY sing live. WHAT: Ron Frasch, Saks’ President and CMO & AMY SACCO collaborated to host a celebration to honor Escada’s Creative Director, DAMIANO BIELLA and to benefit Free Arts NYC. This was an event that reminded us of pre-recession days, starting with a phalanx of photographers at the ready when we entered on the 50th Street entrance at 8PM. Saks’ staff transformed the selling floor into a cool lounge spot - a little 101 Arabian Nights with the billowy white curtains separating the various areas. THE ESCADA COLLECTION Once inside the main bar area, the champagne flowed freely and the crowd admired DAMIANO BIELLA’s latest for Escada. The Collection had something for women in just about every part of the country – smart thinking on Mr. Biella’s part. Ther...

October 29th 2008 Broome Street NYC 2PM Words, Images by Judith Ecochard The creative team at Eres’ deserves a mega-bonus for their presentation …and location at- SICIS-The Art Factory. The high-end mosaic store was decorated with oversized murals-made entirely of tile- of lingerie and swimwear clad pinup glamour queens à la Rita Hayworth/Esther Williams. How perfect. THE COLLECTION: For lingerie, lace is the keyword-as it was on the Spring 09 RTW runways. The Edun collection has hipster boy cut shorts (the top choice for panties)…though in keeping with the old time Hollywood theme, there a high waist briefs too. The bestseller- that’s sold out in Autumnal colors- is the body shaper from the Jersey Lumiere line that’s IMHO positively Rudi Gernreich/Jean-Paul Gautlier for Madonna. For Spring - “Elephant” gray, “Artifice” pink, “Bliss” ivory, Vert Galante (gray/green) and “Nacré” (a pale lavender) will surely sell as well. The swimwear in the Bijou Collection is already causing print ...

COMFORT/ HIGH FASHION SHOES & SANDALS-A Collection For Hip Tweeners and Elegant Women October 29th, 2008 745 Fifth Avenue, 3PM Words, Images Judith Ecochard It’s always a head spinner of a half-hour when we preview a Donald J. Pliner’s collection. There’s always so many wonderful kickers to check out. Even the view from the 25th floor corporate headquarters overlooking NYC’s leafy Central Park (in full autumnal splendor) is mesmerizing. This time, we got the designer and main man himself, Donald J. Pliner - leading us through the chic Spring 2009 line-up of ladies peds. So cool. With an emphasis on style without sacrificing “fit or comfort” (think flexible shoes that bend like the double jointed pretzel humans) …we got an eyeful of Pliner’s signature features like … removable built in footbeds, stretchy elastic straps that move with one’s gait, “fit with comfort” low pitches because stacked fronts offset height of the scupltural high heels, metal rimmed toe linings that tric...

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images, Richard Spiegel While designer TIA CIBANNI delivered a vibrant Ready to Wear Collection at her September 2009 Byrant Park show, it was THE ACCESSORIES that played the starring role. Her collaboration with jewelry designer, LINN PETERSON resulted in some innovative necklaces that are wearable organic works of art – right on trend. These chunky pieces add some heft and oomph to the flowing pieces in the spring Ports Collection. So go ahead, don’t be shy, get in touch with your wilder side with these items that feature pieces of "found items". This season, they’re necklaces and belts, in a few years, we’re betting they’ll be collectors’ items. Get them while you can!

EDGY LIFESTYLE FOOTWEAR OF UPDATED CLASSICS & FRESH STYLES New Museum, Bowery, NYC 7PM Words, Images Judith Ecochard Weather adverse NYers don’t actually melt in the rain… so we hopped the Downtown #6 to preview the New Balance For Nine West fashion forward collection of sneakers and slip-ons last night...even though we were freezing but not fading…and not exactly channeling SPRING. What we didn’t expect was that the spacious gallery room ensconced in this outstanding architectural gem, the contemporary art mecca-The New Museum…would be as crowded as it was…with print media types, no less. BACKSTORY: New Balance For Nine West is a smart collaboration between the legendary high-performance sneaker company that’s pushing it’s lifestyle mojo…and the affordable on trend giant Nine West. THE DESIGNERS: A mind melt of Nine West’s Creative Director Fred Allard-a veteran of the Parisian fashion scene…and New Balance’s Savania Davies-Keiller and Roberto Crivello-the forward thinking duo beh...

W.S. Badger, Aubrey Organics, Larénim Mineral Makeup, Avalon Organics, Alba Botanica, Zia Natural Skincare, Bug Band, Under The Canopy, Kopali Organics East Coast’s Largest Tradeshow For Healthy Lifestyles Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, October 18th 2008 Words, Judith Ecochard Images From Companies’ Websites The economy may be “Going Southbound” – but the natural products industry is growing with over $62 billion in sales…and accounts for nearly 20 percent of total sales in the United States. Wow. We made it our business to catch a day at the humongous (2100 exhibits!) Expo East event, the 24th annual gathering of the largest natural and organic products tradeshow and conference…right of the Great Divide Naturally (ahem), we have already marked our calendar for next year’s multi-day confab. EXPO EAST One day=too much to take it all in. WHAT”S NEW: Expo East is a launch-pad for many innovative products including food (for humans and pets), nutritional supplements, haircar...