Super impressed with this look at first glance, then I realized all his clothes were from H&M, Zara, and DKNY. Now I’m even more impressed because it can be really hard to get a solid edgy look from these stores without looking really cheesy. The picture is in black and white though, which totally helps.

Link

It’s a recession, don’t you know you have to go super commercial when people aren’t buying? UGH! Not that DKNY was ever the most innovative brand, but they are killing me!

Remember the Chanel tights everyone wanted? Well, here is the DKNY version for only $20.

A takeback to the 90s, Donna Karen puts on the runway what we think was ’so last season.’ A bit much for my take, there seems to be a large gap between Donna Karen collection and DKNY (guess I always except a Marc Jacobs vs Marc by Marc ratio).

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will kick off with Michael Angel followed by BCBGMAXAZRIA, Duckie Brown, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Cynthia Steffe, Yigal Azrouel, Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, Academy of Art University, Christian Siriano, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vivienne Tam, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Thuy, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, TonyCohen, Gottex, Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Toni Maticevski, Pamella Roland, MAX AZRIA, Dennis Basso, Willow, Tibi, Narciso Rodriguez, Toni Francesc, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly by Michelle Smith, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Trias, Calvin Klein, Chocheng, Argentinean Designer Collections and Tommy Hilfiger.

As if the iconic DKNY black and white painting being replaced by a drab Hollister advertisement didn’t make the appeal of E. Houston street crumble enough, leave it up to conservative bystanders to ruin the sexy Calvin Klein threesome for all. Last weekend, I recall walking up Lafayette, and to my amazement, found myself staring at Steven Miesel’s orgy of an ad for a solid 5 minutes. I mean, hey, anyone with hormones would too, right? Yesterday, after much parental uproar, the billboard was replaced by a Calvin Klein swimsuit ad.

Sure, the first billboard was a racy, but that’s Calvin Klein for you and we all know that sex sells. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if people argue that the new bikini billboard is giving the wrong image about female body-types. Whichever way you look at it, there is always going to be someone who disapproves. 

As I digress, here’s what I have to say to those right-winged complainers, responsible for making E. Houston LAME: Your daughter has done much worse. 

Thanks Racked!

In New York, as in The Beatles’ song, you get by with a little help from your friends. So, when you find yourself not invited to any fun events, you reach out to those around you and do everything short of begging to be their plus one.

When on Sunday at the DKNY fragrance launch my publicist/friend Meghan invited me to the GenArt party that Tuesday night, I jumped at the opportunity. The GenArt film festival had already been in full swing since last week and I had yet to attend an event. It seemed fitting the party was hosted at BLVD on the Bowery as this year’s main sponsor was a car company.

Exiting the cab, I had high hopes when I saw paparazzi circling outside like hungry vultures—furtively glancing over in a vain hope one might take my picture. When that inevitably did not occur, I at least expected a celebrity-packed room inside. While there were a few bold-face names including Moby, Jennifer Love-Hewitt and that minx of a teacher from Gossip Girl who seduces Dan Humphrey, they were hidden away as GenArt separated the famous from the ticket-buying fans.

Even though I wasn’t one of the people forking over cash to go and gawk at B-list celebrities, I still couldn’t help but feel a little unfabulous after the event. So attending a party for “Beautiful People” was exactly what I needed to get my spirits and ego back where they belong: in a deluded fairytale world of red carpets and photographers.

You know a party’s exclusive when an editor can’t get into his own magazine’s event. On Thursday night, the stretch of sidewalk around Ninth Avenue and W 16th street was packed shoulder to shoulder with hipsters and downtown nightlife fixtures all vying to get inside Hiro ballroom for Paper Magazine’s “Beautiful People” party, celebrating the latest issue.

Word on the street was the event had received over 4,000 RSVPs and so the door was tighter than Joan River’s face. Thanks to my photo in the last issue and blatant disregard for the two-block-long line, I was lucky enough to make it inside, briefly making an appearance on the step and repeat before heading downstairs to partake in the revelry and company of the evening’s beautiful people.

Guests who made it in before the fire marshals put Hiro in lockdown included Kat DeLuna, Erin Fetherston, The Blonds, and Richie Rich while among those stuck outside were recording artist Estelle, Lydia Hearst, Paper Editor-at-Large Peter Davis and countless others.

While hundreds were left simultaneously fuming and freezing outside, inside DJ Cassidy—who also appeared in the issue—warmed up the party with a set of mostly 80’s dance hits. By 9:30, everyone seemed to be feverishly awaiting cover girl Katy Perry’s performance. Camera flashes exploded as Katy came on stage in a shimmery sequin mini-dress and launched into Hot N’ Cold. She rounded out her four-song set with a spirited rendition of “I Kissed A Girl,” all the while wielding a giant inflatable tube of chapstick.

After a night like that, I would have normally cashed out and ended the week on a high note, but when I heard from a much cooler friend there was a secret “Free Beatrice” party being held to rally support for the recently shuttered haughty hipster haven, I knew I couldn’t miss it—if only for indulging my ego by getting into yet another ultra-exclusive fête.

It was with some nervous excitement that on Friday night I made my way to the chic and newly opened Cooper Square Hotel where an elevator took us up to a giant penthouse with soaring city views on all sides. The picturesque location was probably the furthest thing from the darkened and dungeon-like basement of Beatrice, but the skinny hipsters were very much the same. There was smoking, Mary-Kate Olson and guys relieving themselves off the balcony and in the showers—all proving that you can the hipsters out of The Beatrice, but you can’t take The Beatrice out of the Hipsters.

Adrien Field

www.AdrienField.com

Adrien@AdrienField.com

Gearing up for their 20th anniversary, DKNY has teamed up with Levi’s for a collection of jeans. The three styles are the wide-leg jean, the skinny jean, and the boyfriend jean. All coming in a variety of washes, the jeans are sold at a number of retailers including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.

Making her move from McGuire to mature, Hilary Duff has teamed up with DKNY to launch her second self-made label “Barely Legal.” Slated to hit department stores like Lord and Taylor and Nordstrom this fall, Duff calls her line feminine and “aggressive in a good way.” I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of collaborations (especially with celebrity designers) but by the looks of the drawings, there may be some potential for a decent line! 

For more, check out WWD!

A Softer Smoky Eye

After several seasons of dark, heavy shadows, eyes are lightening up. “The eye is still dramatic, but the colors are softer. At Dsquared2, the makeup artist blended a combination of gold shadows over M.A.C. Eye Kohl in Teddy ($14.50) for a metallic smoky eye. Get the look with L’Oreal Paris HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Gilded ($7).

Dsquared2 spring

Peach Blush

This season is more about peach the soft color at Hermès and Derek Lam. It gives you the appearance of being a bit made-up without looking too girly or bronzy. Because peach powder contains strong pigments, using a light hand to apply one swipe of blush a little below your apples so it doesn’t look too doll-like. Try Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Corail ($45).

Hermès spring

Bold Brows

Strong and defined brows made their way back to the runway this season. It’s a fresh but handsome look, luscious eyebrows à la Brooke Shields at DKNY. Tame full brows with a gel like Laura Mercier Eye Brow Gel ($19). If your brows are uneven or sparse, fill them in with Revlon Brow Fantasy pencil and set them with its tinted gel ($7.50).

DKNY spring

Major Liner

The perennial favorite stood out at Narciso Rodriguez, Stella McCartney, and Just Cavalli, rimmed eyes with black pencil. Keep the rest of your makeup simple with natural blush and lips. Try Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in 4 ($26). Prefer liquid liner? Go for Cover Girl Line Exact in Very Black ($5.99).

Cavalli spring

Peter Som. Sass and Bide. Vera Wang. Betsey Johnson. Carmen Marc Valvo. DKNY. What do all of these labels have in common? Well, they won’t be showing their collections on the runways of Bryant Park, that’s for sure. The economy has certainly taken a toll on the fashion industry and sadly enough, it has pilfered designers abilities to show off, publicize and get some well deserved recognition. But before designers decide to shrink their collections, minimize their advertising and slap sale signs in their windows, they pull the plug on showing during fashion week. That being said, are runway shows a thing of the past? If designers can survive the recession, sans the runway show, does that mean that fashion week is really the extra credit that doesn’t count on designers homework? The recession has changed many a mindset, but it is frighteningly possible that it can make designers realize they can succeed without dropping major dough on a show.

On the flip side, the idea of a runway show can be viewed as 2009’s It-bag, only the rich and glamorous can afford it and bystanders look on in amazement. Who knows, maybe this recession is simply the fashion industry’s version of spring cleaning, making runway shows only for the invested, focused, and prepared designers. Oscar de la Renta’s double runway delight is a prime example of this notion. 

Either the runways become “so last year,” sending hundreds of bean-pole models home packing or they get put on a pedestal, an honor to have your collection even grace one. Oh runways, you are a scary toss up.

 Last month we brought you a little peek at the Scott Schuman for DKNY Jeans Spring/Summer ad campaign.

Now some more shots have surfaced. I was sort of hoping the first teaser image wouldn’t be the final design, but it looks like the weirdly-bordered Sartorialist shots are here to stay…

Images from Style Frizz.

Where the fuck is that show!!!

Another day, another designer out. This time it’s DKNY. Donna Karen was already planning to ship out for a cheaper venue and now the younger brand is out as well. Who will be left to show at Bryant Park!!!

Well if anyone is interested in skipping the $100,000 price tag IMG attaches to their space, we’ve got a very nice one just blocks from the tent for $7000 (aka Fashion Indie Week’s space at Gotham Hall.

Just saying…

Source WWD.com.

The Sartorialist himself, Scott Schuman has shot the new Spring 2009 DKNY Jeans campaign.

Featuring indie favorites like Chanel Iman, Sean Lennon, and Daisy Lowe, the ads are in trademark Schuman style — an individual stopped and snapped while strolling through the city.

Schuman’s ads will debut in February in magazines, on billboards, and online.

From WWD.

If Daisy Lowe is considered “curvy,” then America’s Next Top Model cycle 10 winner, Whitney Thompson, despite her beautiful plus-size model body, is “morbidly obese.” 

Okay, so Lowe is the new face for Marc Jacob’s Marc by Marc Spring 2009 campaign. Rumor also has it that she snagged the DKNY campaign, to be shot by The Sartorialist photographer Scott Schuman. Jacobs calls her “adorable” and and Fashionologie says Lowe could bring about “the death of size zero.” Compliments? Yes. Patronizing compliments? You bet.

Whoever thinks Daisy Lowe is a “curvy” model really ought to have their eyes checked. Let us assess the situation: 

Height: 5′ 10″

Measurements: 32.5″ – 25.5″ – 35″

Lowe is an A-cup, with a tiny waist, the average model hip measurements and a typical model height. She isn’t curvy at all. If anything, Whitney Thompson should be considered curvy and NOT plus sized. And the media wonders why eating disorders are so popular these days.

Thanks Fashionologie.

The February campaign for DKNY isn’t all that impressive. If you’ve seen one pair of leopard print heels then you see them all. And I’m sensing a lack of individuality…I’m pretty sure Marc Jacobs already did the plain face and frumpy hair against a white brick wall. Years ago. 

Thanks NYLON!

Rachel Bilson’s Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans line is slated to hit stores in the next month.  In preparation, DKNY has a new mini-site previewing the 15-piece collection, detailing Bilson’s inspirations, and revealing behind the scenes footage.

You can tell that the actress’ style influenced the black-white-and-yellow collection, which “was insired by Rachel’s dream closet.”

Last week’s Fashion Week was no different than any other Fashion Week. Designers still scrambled to show off their edgy silhouetted designs. Celebrities still claimed coveted front row seats to Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga. And, once again, the runway lacked diversity. This time, however, the white domination of the catwalk has some fashion icons on edge.

It seems like this past Fashion Week tried to mask its lack of black runway models.In the past,The Council of Fashion Designers of America left ethnic diversity up to the designers. This year’s president, Diane von Furstenberg, urged all designers to keep their models racially varied. Sure, black models walked in DKNY and Tracy Reese, but what about the hundreds of other designers who used few, or even no black models? It takes more than a few designers to launch ethnic diversity in the fashion industry, and with the runways creeping back to white, the “black issue” is again on the rise. 

But is the tendency for white models a racist ploy by designers or merely in consciousness of their designs? Some designers claim to use mostly white models in order to keep the “ethnicity” of the model from influencing the interpretation of his or her design. Others claim that the black model is unavailable by the agencies. Some even claim that selection is natural, and ethnicity is never in consideration.

Indeed, it is the designers right to cast models regardless of race, but if designers are truly conscious of women, shouldn’t they consider “women” as a general term? Black. White. Asian. Hispanic. Middle Eastern. We’re all women, right? Show us you design for women. All of us.

Thanks Style and  Reuters!