LYRA MAG.

Words, Judith Ecochard We greatly admire individuals that go it alone in the fashion business. Especially women who seem to get second-hand treatment in the press versus the guys sometimes---odd since the customers are mostly gals. Whatever. THUY DIEP: We became aware of this urbane Vietnamese native, Parsons/Brown University educated and NYC based designer two collections ago. With an eye for elegance, tailoring par excellence and really upscale fabrics that beg to be touched, Diep’s Spring line has a vintage feel that’s just right…and resurrects the masculine/feminine feel of the coatdress that is going to be HUGE for Fall. For Diep, that translates into cinched waist trenches/frocks in light tones (cream, tan) and dark print---made special with exaggerated front pockets trimmed with ombre ribbon and hand embroidered touches. This talent also has a feminine, flirty and FLATTERING line of peplum and petal like side seamed pencil skirts that just hit the showroom last week. Available...

Gossip Girl's Best Frienemy Blair Waldorf NEW YORK DESIGNER'S DRESSES FLATTER THE STARS -Judith Ecochard We missed the last runway show for the contemporary women's designer Cynthia Steffe...                                                                         Anne Hathaway But given the tremendous reception by some of our favorite celebrities (and the stylists that dress them)...we aren't missing the Winter Collection extravaganza. INFO: check out CYNTHIA STEFFE Images courtesy of designer... Anne Hathaway who should get an Oscar nod for "When Rachel Got Married"

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images, Randy Brooke, Courtesy of Academy of Art University ACADEMY OF ART has the distinction of being the ONLY fashion school that shows on the New York Runway. Each season, a handful of students are selected to showcase their designs to the fashion community of retailers and press. Also in the audience are prospective AAU students and their parents. Recently, the excitement level has escalated and the buzz in the air at this show was palpable. The lucky students who got to come to New York and show their collections this year to a packed house that included Saks' Michael Fink and ANTM [America's Next Top Model] host, Nigel Barker in the front row. The varying aesthetics made for a great overall show mix. WHO SHOWED *Jamie Cole [her second time, this time as a solo act] *Elena Akoulova *Eric Tan and Karina Cordiale *Tara Bradley *Anne Jones & Michelle Clarke *Daniel Emir Armosilla *Desiree Daniels *Ali Khan & Sook-Yeong Kwong *Kara Laricks *Johan...

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!

Elegant & Sporty From A Grown-Up Jersey Girl New York Fashion Week September 10th, 2008 Milk Gallery Words, Images by Judith Ecochard The stadium style seating was packed, the front row star studded with retail heavy weights, and the music- ear drum BUSTING in the multi-minutes leading up to Doo Ri Chung’s RTW outing. The thirty-five ensembles, including a few sparkling numbers (via piping) courtesy of a Swarovski sponsorship…were worth our bout with tinnitus. Jerseys (bias draped, ruched) are Doo Ri’s claim to fame (she, a deserved CFDA winner) and there were some terrific neutral and pop colored dresses and harem pants that weren’t clownish… in that textile that got the heads of attendees bobbing with approval. We loved the jeweled color palette of many of the items…in sapphire, summer navy, stone jersey and a deep green. Details like piping (in a light grey silk halter dress), girly ruffles ( a stone jersey ruffle blouse), and craftsy macramé (over a stone jersey halter) ma...

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images of models, Richard Spiegel Image of Stila face, courtesy of beauty.com Image of Oscar Blandi’s Raffinata Staightening Balm from www.beauty.com TIME/PLACE: New York Fashion Week, Saturday, Sept. 6th, @ 3PM BACKSTAGE at the Chelsea Art Museum 556 West 22nd Street, NYC VENA CAVA – BEAUTY BACKSTAGE: “It’s all about the glitter!” On our way backstage, we bumped into show producer, LYNN O’NEILL who declared, “It’s all about the glitter!” TINA TURNBOW, another of our favorite makeup artists [and a spokeswoman for BEAUTY.COM and STILA Cosmetics] was responsible for the Egyptian a la Cleopatra look that echoed the prints at Vena Cava. Although the look has a strong Cleopatra reference, it is actually quite wearable and EASY, as “it’s not about perfection” and you can blend it with you’re fingers and it’ll still look good. We love a great makeup brush, but what if you’re rushing in the AM and misplaced your brushes? Not a problem, you can STILL do this look. EYES ar...

Text & Images of the spring 2009 collection, Vivian G. Kelly Image of the Devi Kroell bag for Target, from www.shopdiary.com TIME& PLACE: New York Fashion Week, Wednesday, Sept. 10, late afternoon Offsite at Milk Studios, 450 West 15th St., The Forbidden Zone, NYC We didn’t see as many accessories on the runway as we would have liked, not really that much of a surprise as lately Europe has really dominated in that area. All of that changed when we arrived at Milk Studios and walked into what we can only describe as accessories Nirvana. We got a major accessories fix at DEVI KROELL, which kept us going for the rest of NY Fashion Week. While we’re fans of masstige collections, [Devi did a fine job for their GO Target collection which launched on July 14, 2007 and received favorable press] if there is ANY way possible, save your pennies and buy the real this time. THE ACCESSORY COLLECTION There were animal skin clutches, classic hobo bags, the wooden clutch, and bucket bags and so...