Fashion Forward – We’re all Just Trying to Make It

New faces, household names, the future of American fashion and highlights of the fashion industry’s biggest night of 2010 were shown on primetime television. Tonight on the CW network, Fashion Forward: Making It featured behind the scenes look of the hottest and best designers like Alexander Wang and Tory Burch as well as up and coming designers such as Alice Ritter and Bibhu Mohapatra both from the freshman class of the CFDA Fashion Incubator.

 

 Newcomer Alice Ritter showcased her French romantic collection that is also free spirited like girls in New York as she describes on the show. Ritter says her line is feminine sexy without showing too much. One of Bibhu Mohapatra own designs made an appearance in an episode of Gossip Girl, the most fashionable drama on television.

 

Ashley Greene

 

Ex-model and Vogue magazine styling “it girl” Tabitha Simmons showed off her unique designer shoe line. Celebrity fashion collections were seen from Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake. Fashion Forward was hosted by one of my favorite Twilight series vampire Ashley Greene. Best of all, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour gave her two cents on mostly everyone in tonight’s spotlight.

Tabitha Simmons Designer Shoe

The young, hot genius Alexander Wang has established a brand of the future. He is considered the Van Gogh of fashion. His look is effortless, sexy, and fresh. The Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Alexander Wang the 2010 Swarovski Award for Accessory Design.

 

Another 2010 CFDA award winner for Menswear Designer of the Year, were Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone, two of Halle Berry’s favorite designers. The creativity behind the line is high meets low aesthetic. With 97 percent of fashion being made overseas, Rag & Bone designed by two British men is handmade here in America, Brooklyn, NY, to be exact. Has President Obama sent them a stimulus check for creating jobs in the U.S?

Rag & Bone Spring 2011 Fashion Week

Tory Burch whose handbags I love designs fashion that women want to wear. Women can now afford quality fashion because the Tory Burch line is fresh and fashionable without sky high price tags. Because of her famous ballet flats with the signature medallion, you would not know that she has no traditional design background. Tory Burch has 33 stores in the US & 5 around the globe.

 

Tabatha Simmons dressed more than 150 models for this year Fashion Night Out. How did she get enlisted by Ann Wintour? Maybe it was her talented flare of mixing street and designer clothes. Tabatha has a hand on approach and jump in attitude. Styling for Dolce & Gabbana and having a range from high end couture to the game definitely prepared her to launch her shoe line. Sexy and quirky was what Tabatha called her shoes on the show which have been worn by Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Tina Fey.

Cast of Gossip Girls

I have to admit, initially, I only watched Gossip Girl for the beautiful clothes. Until the 3^rd season, I couldn’t tell you half of the characters name or the plot. Leighton Meester (Blair) Blake Lively (Serena), and Ed Westwick (Chuck) are style icons. Although I do like Blair’s Hollywood glamour style, I’m for Team Serena – sexy, modern classic. This is because of the magic of Eric Daman. He is the costume designer for Gossip Girl. Now I can say that I am a fan beyond the fashion of the cast. I still think that the wardrobe room of the show could be one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

 

Image via Wikipedia

What qualifies celebrities to be designers? Mainly, they bring attention to the fashion industry. Surprisingly, some celebrities have their own sense of style without a whole team of stylists to dress them for events. Grammy winning artist Gwen Stefani is the creative director of her line L.A.M.B. She created most the outfits worn at concerts while she performed as the lead vocalist of rock band No Doubt. Her line ranges from apparel to handbags to fragrance and is available at major department stores.

Image via Wikipedia

Justin Timberlake, Emmy award winning and another Grammy winning musician, co founded William Rast with his BFF, Trace Ayala. Named after their grandfathers, the collection is made in denim, edge and attitude. Timberlake said that the line is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. Timberlake’s line will have a limited run at Target stores.

 

This show was inspiring for designers, stylists, beauty editors, and even models, better yet anyone who wants to be a part of the industry. The message: Love you what you are doing, and have fun! I am eager to watch another Fashion Forward: Making It soon. There are talented big names in the game of fashion, but there is plenty of room for newbies. Fashion is always evolving, rookies can find there way to the same level as the veterans, because just like they say, “You are only as good as your last collection.”

Related Articles

• “Fashion Forward: Making It,” To Feature Top Designers And Emerging Superstars In A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Fashion World (tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com)
• The CW To Air “Fashion Forward: Making It,” A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Fashion World Dec 8 (tvbythenumbers.com)
• Tory Burch: Fashion’s Newest Power Woman (forbes.com)
• Tory Burch Spring 2011 – Runway Review (stylelist.com)

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