Fashion's Night Out 2011

For the third year in a row fashion fans will take to the streets to shop and celebrate 'Fashion's Night Out' taking place in over 250 cities worldwide on September 8th. Various parties, limited edition merchandise, product launches and designer appearances will be unveiled in hotspots like New York and London. Making an appearance in NYC at Bergdorf Goodman will be designer Michael Kors, while Tommy Hilfiger, and Rachel Roy and Amar’e Stoudemire will be among the designers making appearances at Macy’s Herald Square. Bloomingdale’s will be graced with appearances by stylist Rachel Zoe among other designers. Jade Jagger will make her way to Henri Bendel to launch her new jewelry collection and Beyonce's little sister Solange Knowles will be DJing at Lord & Taylor. E-tailers are also getting in on the action this year including Shopbop.com who will be streaming footage of its fashion gurus visiting stores. QVC.com is also planning a live broadcast that includes a fashion show.

On Aug. 15th Vogue.com and Polyvore launched FNO Style Setter, a new initiative that lets Polyvore stylists prep for Fashion's Night Out with a styling contest on Polyvore.com/fno. Various prizes will be awarded for winning sets and the grand prize winner will receive a trip to NYC that includes a chance to attend a Vogue photo shoot and tour of the magazine's fashion closet.

FNO T-Shirts, baseball caps and totes will also be available for sale this year with 40 percent of the proceeds benefiting the New York City AIDS Fund and the New York Community Trust. Check out CBS video coverage of FNO 2010 by clicking here. You might also want to check out the Mashable.com article on how to get the most from FNO using social media.

For a full list of FNO events check out Fashion's Night Out.com.

Kurt Geiger launches Accessories

"Everything but the Dress", a new accessories line by Kurt Geiger will soon make it's debut. Scheduled to be released in exclusively in Kurt Geiger stores on September 6th, the line of accessories will include everything a girl needs to finish her look from handbags to hairpins, everything of course, but the dress. “It’s the day that Kurt Geiger turns into a butterfly,” said chief executive Neil Clifford in an interview with Women's Wear Daily, “We’re not just creating a few handbags. This project has been two-and-a-half years in the making, and we’ve created everything in-house.” The company hired new designers and merchandisers to help create the line and the plans to follow the season by adding accessories that complete a total look including cashmere gloves for fall and sunglasses for spring. Prices for the new line will range from $16 USD for a jeweled ring to $725 USD for a black python-embossed leather bag.

In addition to the accessory debut, the British footwear brand also recently revamped their website and opened a new brick-and-mortar store on Grafton Street in London, which is expected to generate $1.29 million in revenue during the first year. John Field, the architect for the new store worked with Tom Ford to create the new store concept that includes shiny metal shelving and a "shoe chandelier" that hangs from the ceiling (of course!).

All this comes after the company was acquired by The Jones Group for $350 million in June. Five new Kurt Geiger stores are scheduled to be open in the U.S. in the first half of 2012. Possible locations include New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Costa Mesa, Calif.

Stylesight Unveils Travel App

If you're a STYLESIGHT.com subscriber you'll want to download their new Style Traveler app featuring an edited guide to the world's greatest fashion destinations. They've reviewed thousands of the most stylish hotels, restaurants, museums, spas and shops in the cities fashion industry insiders travel to do trending including Tokyo, London, New York, Sydney and more.

You can browse by neighborhood, the latest openings, editor’s choice or your location and the Style Traveler will steer you towards must-see hot spots, old favorites and of course, the cities coveted hidden gems. To save time and start shopping, users can also access their existing Stylesight itineraries, or create one on-the-go to map out the perfect day of retail therapy.

*This app is free but only accessible to Stylesight subscribers.

House of Harlow to Launch Handbag Line

Nicole Richie will soon debut handbags to her House of Harlow 1960 collection. The line originally started out as a jewelry collection and has since expanded to include apparel, sunglasses and shoes that encompass Nicole's signature bohemian-cool style.


The 14-piece collection of House of Harlow 1960 bags will feature various styles including a hobo bag, a crossbody, and several styles of clutches (shown above). Prices range from $150 to $625. The bags will be available later this month at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Shopbop.com.

FGI Hosts Night of Stars

The 28th Annual Night of Stars gala hosted by Fashion Group International will be held on October 27th, 2011 in New York. This year's theme is "The Luminaries" and the Superstar Award is scheduled to be presented to Stephen Sadove, President and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue. Former recipients include Tom Ford, Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld. The event will also honor Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte in the fashion category, Francois Nars in beauty, Julianne Moore in the entertainment , Andrew Rosen for leadership, and Laura Bush for her humanitarian work. The evening will be hosted by Simon Doonan, Creative Ambassador-at-Large for Barneys.

Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home. For more information visit, FGI.org.

BeautyBar to Open Brick and Mortar Store

In November of 2010, Quidsi, Inc. (parent company of Diapers.com and Soap.com) launched BeautyBar.com, an online boutique for luxury beauty products. The site brings customers a huge selection of the world's best beauty brands including Lorac, butter London, Stila, Jemma Kidd and more. At the launch BeautyBar.com stocked over 3,000 products with the plan to carry even more sku's as it went into the holiday season. Shortly after the launch Quidsi was acquired by Seattle-based Amazon.com with Quidsi continuing to operate independently under its own leadership team. The BeautyBar.com will soon operate offline in addition to maintaining the e-commerce site with the opening of a 1,600 square foot brick and mortar store in Manhasset, N.Y. The store is scheduled to open by the end of the summer and if it goes well, the company plans to open additional storefronts. The Beauty Bar store will carry over 75 high-end beauty brands and have two treatment rooms, plus a staff consisting of estheticians and make-up artists.

A few of my faves on the BeautyBar.com site include the Loral Little Black Palette (all the golden summer shades you need- plus primer in an adorable black case), the Japonesque Pro Makeup Remover wipes (perfect for travel), and the butter London nailpolish in Jaffa (so cute with a fresh pedicure and your favorite summer sandals!)

Stay up to date on Beauty Bar news by following them on Twitter @beautybardotcom!

Singer Amy Winehouse Found Dead

A great deal of talent was lost over the weekend when troubled British singer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home at age 27. Soon afterward, fans began to lay flowers and gather around her home to pay their respects. Reports in the media suspected drug overdose as the cause of death but at this point in time, no post-mortem examination has taken place and officials emphasize that it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death until more information is known. She will be missed. Her unique style left an impression on the fashion industry and Amy is credited with turning her beehive hair style, heavy eyeliner and exposed bra straps into fashion fads that continue to surface from time to time on the style scene.

North by NW Fashion Competition Extends Deadline for Submissions

Fashion students, emerging designers, and talented individuals with a passion for fashion design have one more week to enter the North by Northwest Fashion Competition which is part of the upcoming Nordic Fashion Biennale that takes place in Seattle from September 30th through November 13th, 2011. The final deadline for all submissions is August 1, 2011.


Organizers of the competition also announced today the panel of judges who will select one of the two winners. The panel includes Yvan Mispelaere, creative director at Diane Von Furstenberg, Danish skin care guru Ole Henriksen and Icelandic fashion designer Steinunn Sigurðardóttir.

The second winner will be a “people’s choice” which will be selected by both online and in person voting.
“The hope of the North by Northwest competition is to provide unique, career-enhancing opportunities for emerging West Coast fashion designers to have their work seen in conjunction with cutting-edge, international designers such as Henrik Vibskov, Sandra Backlund, and Steinunn Sigurðardóttir,” said Ilmur Dögg Gísladóttir, organizer of the NFB.

All finalist entries will be displayed in Seattle in conjunction with the Nordic Fashion Biennale exhibition, and also posted online, giving people around the world the opportunity to vote on their favorite designer and help select the “People’s Choice” winner. The winners will be announced on November 15, 2011 on the NFB website.

Complete information about the competition, as well as specifics on how to enter, is available at www.nordicfashionbiennale.com. The Nordic Fashion Biennale 2011—produced by the Nordic House, Reykjavik, and the Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle—will feature the works of international designers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, with a special focus on the Western Nordic regions of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

Gilt City Launches in Seattle

The stylish daily deal lifestyle site Gilt City launched in Seattle today! Rather than just provide members with a ‘deal’ the Gilt City mission is to surprise and delight them with every offer that goes live on the site. From a meet-and-greet with the chef of one of the city’s legendary restaurants to an extra and unexpected 15-minute massage after an incredible facial, Gilt members will get insider access to the latest and greatest experiences and adventures the city has to offer. To make the deals as authentic to Seattle as possible, Gilt City has local "curators" to interact with businesses and offer members deals that are uniquely Seattle.


Seattle's head curator is Tina Kirkpatrick. Tina formerly worked at Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine in advertising. Born and raised in Seattle. Tina lives in the heart of Downtown Seattle and sees her ideal Gilt City offer as one that incorporates delectable food, amazing entertainment and the vibrant community of Seattle.

Not a member? Sign up for Gilt City now!

Yohji Exhibit to Close July 10

If you're in London (or will be in the next few days), don't miss designer Yohji Yamamoto's work on display at the Victoria & Albert museum. The exhibit has been on view since March will close on July 10th.

Here's an excerpt from the V&A site describing the exhibit:

Yamamoto became internationally renowned in the early eighties for challenging traditional notions of fashion by designing garments that seemed oversized, unfinished, played with ideas of gender or fabrics not normally used in fashionable attire such as felt or neoprene. Other works revealed Yamamoto's unusual pattern cutting, knowledge of fashion history and sense of humour. His work is characterised by a frequent and skilful use of black, a colour which he describes as 'modest and arrogant at the same time'.

This retrospective, experienced through a series of site-specific installations throughout the V&A and beyond, includes Yamamoto's menswear for the first time. The main exhibition space houses over 60 creations and a multi-media timeline which reveals Yamamoto's wider creative output.

Love fashion? You may also like these Yohji Yamamoto videos.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is located at Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Fashionably Seeking -> New Job

A study conducted by 24 Seven and published by Reuters on Tuesday suggested that 70% of U.S. employees in the fashion industry plan to look for a new job in the next year. The survey of 2,000 professionals, including those in design, merchandising, sales, product development and e-commerce, indicate people are moving to different companies or positions that are more in line with their changing job expectations. Many are having to redefine their career paths and meanwhile, companies are having to work even harder to recruit and retain talent. Segments of the industry that are thriving right now include design and digital/e-commerce.

Are you looking for a new job? We'd love to hear from you. Tell us what platforms and services you are using in your fashion industry job hunt! Post a comment below or talk to us on Twitter @Sydlovesfashion.

Queen Anne Sidewalk Sale July 9-10

Don't miss the Queen Anne sidewalk sale July 9th and 10th! Participating businesses will display yellow balloons outside their stores and feature discounts of up to 60% off select merchandise. You won't want to miss the great deals on apparel and accessories at Queen Anne Dispatch. Head across the street to Charley + May for special merchandise priced at $10, $20 and $30.

Fashion & Style for any Size

Summer is finally here which means we can officially pack away our winter clothing and make room for all of our summer must-haves! This season it’s all about 70’s style glam including tunics, feathers, florals, wedge sandals and pop colors like purple, coral and teal. Here are 5 summer items you need in your wardrobe right now.

# 1 Cotton Maxi Dress

The maxi dress is a seasonal staple- especially if it comes in a beautiful floral print with summer inspired colors. You can dress it up with heels, a belt and gold jewelry for a summer wedding, or dress it down by pairing with a denim jacket and casual sandals for an outdoor summer concert. This dress packs easily, travels well and doesn’t need to be ironed making it a great choice for adding to your suitcase for a last-minute weekend getaway. For a stylish selection of plus sized dresses, check out SimplyBe's trend dresses!

# 2 Stylish Swim Cover-Up

Forget the days of lounging poolside in a boring towel. This summer throw on a stylish swimwear cover up- add sandals and you’re ready to stroll the boardwalk. This cotton cover up is made out of light-weight cotton and will help keep you cool on even the hottest summer day. Check out the embroidered embellishment at the hemline- you won't need jewelry, just add a stylish pair of sunglasses!

# 3 Light Weight Summer Top

Summer may be predictable in some parts of the world but here in Seattle we have to hope for the best and dress for the worst. It’s all about layering! This summer every girl needs a stylish light-weight top that you can dress up for the office under a blazer or dress down with jeans after work. This sleeveless style from Simple Be has a great vintage inspired print and would work well with whatever color story you decide to play up.

# 4 The Belt

Add shape to a flowy summer dress by pairing with a neutral belt. This belt has elastic in the back making it very comfortable to wear for all your summer activities. This belt would also help shape a basic t-shirt style dress!

#5 Beaded Jewelry

Last but not least- don’t forget about the accessories. Summer is the perfect time to bring out the beads! Carefully selected bracelets, necklaces and earrings made from wooden beads are the perfect finishing touch to your stylish summer outfit.

WWD MAGIC announces: Heart of Pret

WWD Magic is bringing Paris to Vegas! PRET A PORTER PARIS recently reached an agreement with MAGIC show organizers to launch the “Heart of Pret,” a collaboration that will provide retailers access to luxe French apparel brands. The collection will feature 20-30 apparel brands selected from PRET A PORTER PARIS representing the best in French fashion including 2026 Paris, Akela Key, Carlopik, Coline Diffusion Sacoline, Didier Parakian, DP Jeans, Fred Sabatier, Lauren Vidal, Mado, Paul Brial, and more. “We believe a partnership with WWDMAGIC is the most logical step in reaching all of the U.S. market,” said Jean-Pierre Mocho, President, Federation Francaise Du Pret A Porter Feminin. “The timing is right and we’re enthusiastic about the incredibly wide reach that WWDMAGIC provides both PRET A PORTER PARIS and these top French brands.”

WWDMAGIC runs August 22-24th in Las Vegas. Check out www.magiconline.com for more info.

Bellevue Fashion Week Returns

A full line-up of fashion week festivities has been announced on The Bellevue Collection.com. Highlights include theNordstrom Fall Runway Show on Thursday, September 29th at Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The Vogue Front Row fashion show will take place on Saturday, October 1st, also at the Hyatt. 100% of the ticket price from the Vogue show benefits The Moyer Foundation. A VIP Shopping night will take place immediately following the Front Row Fashion show featuring special offers from a variety of The Bellevue Collection shops including A|X Armani Exchange, BCBG Max Azria, Free People, GUESS, J.Crew, Montblanc, Obadiah Salon, REPORT Footwear, Sephora, True Religion and more. For a full Fashion week schedule click here.

$10 Off at MyHabit.com

Earlier this year Amazon.com launched it's own flash sale site, MYHABIT.com which offers customers up to 60% off hand-picked selections from designer and boutique brands. The easy-to-shop site offers users a complete fashion experience including 360 degree video shots of the merchandise on live models making it much easier to tell exactly how the garment will drape and move, lavish photography and editorial segments. Sales start daily at 9am Pacific Time and last 72 hours. Categories on the site include women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, including accessories. Shop online now through July 1st and enter code MYHABIT5 to get $10 off your purchase.

Don't miss the Ultimate Girls Night Out

The CRAVE Summer Party is back! Sponsored by The Woodmark in Kirkland, the ultimate girls’ night out features indulgent mini-spa treatments, beauty bars, PINK summer-inspired cocktails, fashion shows, shopping, savory bites, sweet treats and many opportunities to grow your network with new CRAVE connections!

This year's participating vendors include:

• Opal
• Bag, Borrow or Steal
• Rachel Gonzalez Photograhy
• GEM Salon
• Swink Style Bar
• Astro Style
• La Bijou
• Queen Anne Dispatch
• Shampoo Bar Organic Salon
• Dentiste / Kate McKinney
• Obadiah Salon
• VLV Style
• Calidora Skin Clinic
• Fly Fitness
• CRAVE Health
• Fidler on the Tooth
• Pala Pala Dress Boutique
• Mendhi Madness (Henna Tattoos!)
• Kathy Evans Beauty Studio
• Sugar, Sugar
• Oasis Spa & Salon
• Smoochies
• Don't miss raffle prizes by Savor Seattle Food Tours, The Pink Door, Clarisonic and more!
• Music provided by DJ Ricki Leigh

WHAT: CRAVE Summer Party "The Ultimate Girls Night Out"

WHEN: Wednesday, August 17th, 6-9pm

WHERE: The Woodmark Hotel, 1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland, W

TICKETS: $25 now until July 1st / $35 after July 1st (Ticket price includes dinner, dessert, raffle ticket, spa & beauty treatments*, and swag bags for the first 200 guests.)



*Spa & Beauty treatments are complimentary and offered on a first come, first serve basis. Guests will also have the option to "upgrade" their service by adding additional products or items like feathers for their hair, etc.

Versace heads to H&M

Yes, It's true! Versace will soon join the ranks of Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney, Lanvin, and Karl Lagerfeld by making a fast fashion debut at H&M with a limited edition collection set to launch November 17th. The line will be available in 300 stores and include clothing for men, women and children, plus a small collection of houseware items. In press interviews Dontella Versace noted that this was a strategic move in order to make Versace available to a younger, broader customer who loves the line but can't afford it. Check out the exclusive video featuring H&M's creative advisor.

Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com

Ivanka Trump Goes Green

Thinking about joining on the green wedding trend? Don't forget the ring!

Ivanka Trump recently unveiled a line of bridal jewelry that is conflict free and 100% sustainable. The collection features Canadian diamonds that have been sourced from ethically and environmentally responsible mines, and set in recycled platinum or gold. "Social responsibility is a core value of the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry brand. It has been an integral factor of what has fueled growth since the collection launch," Ivanka recently told Women's Wear Daily. The company hopes to evolve the entire line to 100% sustainability in the future.

Tory Burch Wins $164M

Although it's unlikely she'll ever see the money, designer Tory Burch has a lot to celebrate. Last month a judge ruled in her favor (to the tune of $164 million) to compensate her for damages in a case involving several online retailers who were found guilty of selling counterfeit Tory Burch handbags, footwear and accessories. The judge also ruled that the 232 websites selling knock-offs be disabled and have their domain names turned over to the designer. In addition, Tory Burch will also have the ability to disable any new websites the defendants create in the future without needing a new lawsuit. Hooray Tory!