Chris Benz’s Spring 2010 collection was a mish mosh of everything that could have possible put on the catwalk (without the actual catwalk): sequins, ruffles, print, mesh, sashes, color blocks and much much more!

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been added to the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s list of America’s most renowned designers. Joining over 350 clothing and accessories geniuses, the Olsen twins have finally crossed the line from celebrity designer to an established brand. We knew it would happen, putting them in first place on our ten best celebrity designers list. Congratulations are in order for Alexander Wang, Jason Wu and Chris Benz too!

SOURCE: My Fashion Life

Chris Benz just hit my happy spot (oh, tickles).

He was caught looking like the perfect fashion bum, rocking two different colored shoes at the premiere of He’s Just Not That Into You. I think I officially have a bit of fashion week inspiration. I’m throwing out left and rights as I speak!!!

(Personally though, I would have gone with a full black shoe and a gold, or something more spruced up so he wouldn’t look like a total Adam Sandler. He kind of looks like he wasn’t supposed to be at the premiere, but then Aniston was all like “come over here and make me a baby” and he was like, “okay, but can I drop off my groceries” and she was like “no mothachucka”. So he posed and then realized he had two different shoes on, right?)

Fashionista just clued us into an exclusive one day Chris Benz sample sale. It’s taking place at the Tribeca Grand. It’s over at 5pm. Get there now.

Thanks Fashionista.

Chris Benz

Giambattista Valli

House of Diehl

Phillip Lim

Rag and Bone

Rogan

Elettra Wiedemann may be the daughter of Isabella Rossellini, BFF of Chris Benz, and a biomedical engineering student who has also recently founded JustOneFrickinDay.com, an organization that (among other projects) is raising funds to build the first solar-powered hospital in Kigutu, Burundi. Co-founded by James Marshall, the Burundi Solar Project has enlisted Chris Benz, House of Diehl, Rogan, Rag & Bone, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Giambattista Valli to each create an energy-inspired, limited edition t-shirt to be sold at JustOneFrickinDay.com.

The t-shirts, all made from 100% organic cotton, are available in men’s and women’s one size fits all and will sell for $60 each.  There are only 100 available in each style, and each is numbered.  A simpler style by House of Diehl, which served as creative consultants for the project, is also available for $30.

Keep reading on FashionWeekDaily

Doo-Ri Chung

Zac Posen

Peter Som

WWD has reported that fur is no longer “relegated to designers of a certain age, the fur industry is relying on a cast of fresh faces, including Peter Som, Chris Benz, Doo-Ri Chung and Zac Posen, to help woo new customers.” I never realized that there was an age requirement for the use of fur but I guess I understand that fur requires a ‘mature’ taste.

The question remains; are fur sales down? Are young designers being asked to revamp the fur industry in order to sell more animal skins? According to an old article on Fabsugar, “despite a dip in fur sales last year, customers are currently more interested in smaller fur pieces like stoles and hats.” I guess we’ll see what happens next season.

One short year after debuting his collection at New York Fashion Week, Chris Benz is a star in the fashion world and a force to be reckoned with. Known for his bold eye for color and his easy, carefree silhouettes, Benz is making waves and living the New York dream, and he’s soaking up every minute of it from the stoop of his West Village tenement building.

Indie favorite, shopbop.com got the chance to sit with Benz on his collections, inspirations, and New York’s influence on his design.

shopbop: You consistently choose bold colors for your collections. What’s the inspiration behind your color palette?

Chris Benz: I really can’t say. I just try to use colors that feel right to me. There’s no mystery or mathematics to it, it just materializes for me. In that way, color is one of the best parts about design for me!

sb: Your stoop obviously plays a big role in your New York experience. How does it influence your designs?

CB: A stoop is such a New York manifest. It really is about seeing the street, and in my case, a very funny mix of West Village neighbors and drag queens. It’s about seeing people today, seeing how they are layering, seeing how real clothes are worn. I think there is a great decompression when you can sit and watch people, which helps alleviate the vacuum of fashion.

 For the full interview visit Shopbop.com