Despite a solid showing from the monochrome palette, orange stole the spotlight this year. Bottega Veneta, Phillip Lim and Dianne von Furstenberg were just a few who made a statement with solid, orange pieces in their collections. And orange you glad they did? I, for one, can’t wait to add this pop of color to my wardrobe!

Top left: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Top right: DVF, Bottom left: Bottega Veneta, Bottom right: McQ

Nima Taherzadeh

With a new color palette came a more “sporty,” laid-back group of collections. Many collections featured swimwear for the first time this year, and Michael Kors, Herve Ledger, Donna Karan, and McQ took the swimwear analogy one step further. That’s right, dear readers, we’re talking about “scuba-influenced silhouettes” (Style.com).  Take a look at these neon delights and tell us what you think.

Top left: Michael Kors, Bottom left: Donna Karan, Right: McQ

Notable themes on the runway were represented by Max Azria (“a city-inspired undercurrent with a feminine ease”) and Dianne von Furstenberg (a collection of “matchy/clashy prints”). This year there was a general trend towards more urban, jet-setter style in the collections.

Marc by Marc Jacobs and Missoni both included the “emerging must-have” that is the pajama suit in their collections.  This colorful, loose pant was represented in more subdued tones in numerous other collections, and retained its characteristic exaggerated length in all. Petite girls everywhere, ready your platforms!

Top left: Louis Vuitton, Top right: Jason Wu, Bottom left: Marc Jacobs, Bottom right: Missoni

On the other side of the pant spectrum, above-the-ankle, straight-leg cigarette pants were also popular with the likes of Helmut Lang, Monique Lhuillier and Elie Tahari featuring them in their collections. I’d like one in every color, please.

Top left: YSL, Top right: Monique Lhuillier, Bottom left: Elie Tahari, Bottom right: Helmut Lang

Of course, to my delight, leather separates were also popular with quite a few designers this year, including Derek Lam, Thakoon and Jason Wu, who featured leather skirts, shorts, and pants. Calvin Klein and others were also fans of thin leather belts, sending a clear message: when in doubt – belt it!

Top left: Helmut Lang, Top right: Derek Lam, Bottom left: YSL, Bottom right: Thakoon

Perhaps to balance this blast of color and print (and leather, oh my!), the resort collections were significantly more buttoned up this year – and I mean that literally. The runway was up to its proverbial neck in collared shirts and high necklines this season.

Top left: Jason Wu, Top right: Monique Lhuillier, Bottom left: Marc Jacobs, Bottom right: Carolina Hererra

In particular, the boat neck was an popular look for both separates and dresses, with Jason Wu, Louis Vuitton, Max Azria and a plethora of other designers featuring the look.

Top left: Max Azria, Top right: Derek Lam, Bottom left: Donna Karan, Bottom right: Jason Wu

Outerwear took on a boxy silhouette, and squared-off coats were popular with Louis Vuitton, Rachel Roy and others. Oscar de la Renta fittingly featured the silhouette in his Cubism-inspired collection.

Top left: Rachel Roy, Top right: Oscar de la Renta, Bottom left: Naeem Kahn, Bottom right: Monique Lhuillier

Honorable mentions go out to A-line skirts (Jason Wu, Louis Vuitton) and lace (Monique Lhuillier), both trends popping up here and there on the runway this year – always good staples to have in your closet.

Top left: Monique Lhuillier, Bottom left: Louis Vuitton, Top Right: Louis Vuitton, Botom right: Jason Wu

Will you be wearing any of these looks on your next getaway?

Source Love: Style.com

Don’t miss these tidbits about some of the world’s top fashion designers:

Point of origin

• Kate Spade – Kansas City, MO
• Yves Saint Laurent – Oran, Algeria
• John Bartlett – Cincinnati, OH
• Anna Sui – Detroit, MI
• Texas – Todd Oldham, Tom Ford
• Bronx, New York – Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein

Getting started

• Marc Jacobs — stock boy for Charivari, a New York clothing store
• Ralph Lauren — road salesman for a neckwear manufacturer
• Halston — window dresser at Carson-Pirie-Scott
• Coco Chanel — clerk in a hosiery shop
• Tommy Hilfiger — freelance designer for Jordache jeans
• Tom Ford — actor/model in TV commercials
• Michael Kors — sales assistant at a boutique
• Giorgio Armani — buyer’s assistant for a department store
• Alexander McQueen — tailor’s apprentice
• Jil Sander — fashion journalist
• Laura Ashley — secretary
• Manolo Blahnik — jeans buyer
• Salvatore Ferragamo — factory worker making cowboy boots

Education

Fashion Institute of Technology

• Calvin Klein
• Norma Kamali
• Jhane Barnes

Parsons School of Design

• Donna Karan
• Mark Badgley & James Mischka
• Tom Ford Anna Sui
• Alexander McQueen – St. Martins School of Art
• Issey Miyake – Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne
• Gianni Versace – No formal training, learned tailoring from dressmaker mother

Started on a different path

• Vivienne Westwood — teacher
• Thierry Mugler — dancer
• Christian Dior — art dealer
• Miuccia Prada — PhD, political science
• Joan Vass — museum curator

(Credit: About.com)

Models display creations of Prada Spring/Summer 2010 ready-to-wear fashion show on September 24, 2009 during the Women's fashion week in Milan. AFP PHOTO / Giuseppe Cacace (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)

So for all of you Gossip Girl lovers out there who saw Jenny Humphrey make an appearance on last night’s episode aka The Pretty Reckless’ lead singer TAYLOR MOMSEN you must have noticed her rocking Donna Karan’s Black Micro Tulle Net Small Net Pantyhose!!

I know longest name ever but as a very serious tights collector these are wicked! Everyone knows Donna Karan pantyhose are an essential to complete any fall layered look!

On Alexander Wang:

Mr. Wang is not a great designer, though he probably would be happy to accept any laurels that people want to toss him, but he is clearly a shrewd guy . . . The designs were cool, but they didn’t have to stand up to much scrutiny – hey, didn’t Marni do those pants last season? – so long as the stuff was widely and easily available. Mr. Wang doesn’t really have courage in the traditional sense of trying something new and difficult, but he does have China. Nearly all of his clothing is now produced there.

With Alexander, he’s a smart kid, I admire the business that he’s built, but you have to be critical of what he’s done. You can’t just say ‘Oh well, he’s young and he’s working hard, he’s putting a product on the runway.’ I found that show boring. I may not have found other shows boring, but I found that one boring.

On Fashion Night Out:

I hope it doesn’t go on. I don’t want it to continue . . . You know, we’re a nation of shoppers. That’s how people spend their time, shopping online, shopping in stores, acquiring. And I feel like we perpetuate that with Fashion’s Night Out. What are you really celebrating? Not art or great books. You’re celebrating shopping.

On Her Critical Approach:

[I] want people to be better. [I] have standards. [I] want people to be not just good but very good. And I can be tough on people, sometimes too tough, especially with the most creative. I once called one of Tom Ford’s collections freakish and ugly.

These comments were part of a larger article written by The Daily Beast. In the story, the Beast writer tries to find people willing to talk about Horyn. No one wanted to open up.

She did get a comment from Karl Lagerfeld:

I prefer to look at beautiful pictures in magazines like American Vogue and French Vogue by editors like Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld. (My guess is he’s too old to read…)

And Carolina Herrera:

I don’t think reviews really matter anymore.

And Donna Karen who said that getting swiped by Horyn “still hurts. You can agree or disagree with her, but it’s definitely passionate. She’s not neutered, let’s put it that way.”

Not neutered is correct, Cathy Horyn is one bad ass bitch mothafuckahs!!! Check out her runway reviews on NY Times

Check out the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards journal, which will be given to guests on Monday June 7 at the event. The images were shot by Sølve Sundsbø and styled by Lori Goldstein. Creative direction by Trey Laird of Laird+Partners. The images are of the three womenswear nominees: Alexander Wang (go Lauren you sexy gurl!), Donna Karan, and Marc Jacobs + the three Swarovski womenswear nominees (for emerging talent): Jason Wu, Joseph Altuzarra, and Prabal Gurung.

The Donna Karan Company is auctioning off the opportunity to join them for a week-long internship in their PR department. The auction is open now through March 31 at charitybuzz.com to benefit the Stephen Gaynor School, a unique educational opportunity for children with learning difficulties. Bidding is up to $2,800 with a week left!

The highest bidder will gain exposure to the day-to-day happenings in a fashion savvy PR world, including communicating with popular fashion publications, organizing media kits and press releases, as well as tracking samples from both DKNY and Collection brands. Not only will the internship provide a comprehensive view of Donna Karan’s PR scene, it also includes a “behind the scenes” tour of the company, including a visit to Donna Karan’s office.

Last night, The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced the nominations for the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards. The winners will be announced at the annual gala on June 7 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

The Womenswear Designer of the Yearnominees are: Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen

The Menswear Designer of the Year nominees are: Michael Bastian, Tom Ford, and David Neville & Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone.

For Accessory Designer of the Year Award the nominees are: Alexis Bittar, Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs.

The Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, and Jason Wu

The  Swarovski Award for Menswear: Richard Chai, Patrik Ervell, and Simon Spurr.

For Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Eddie Borgo, Dana Lorenz, and Alexander Wang.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Michael Kors.

The CFDA Board of Directors chose to honor Alexander McQueen with their Special Tribute Award.

Eugenia Sheppard Award – Kim Hastreiter, Paper Magazine

International Award – Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Fashion Icon Award – Iman

Eleanor Lambert Award – Tonne Goodman, Vogue

Penelope Cruz wore Donna Karen to last night’s Oscar awards. I wasn’t a fan of her look, as the cut and fabric made her look larger.

LINK LOVE: Red Carpet

Daniel Saynt has given away his seats during fashion week to be auctioned off on CharityBuzz.com, donations will go directly to benefit Haiti. Designers include Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen, Adam Lippes, Nicole Miller and more…

Bid on tickets for:

Ports 1961

Nicole Miller

ADAM

DKNY

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Don’t forget to check out GiltFuse (where everything is under $150), today’s sales include Faryl Robin shoes, Urban Posh Jewelry, and Charley 5.0 Denim. Click here to join.

Christina Ricci’s next role? A movie for Donna Karen!!!

COMING SOON: Christina Ricci’s next appearance will not be on the silver screen but in a Donna Karan-friendly short called “Four Play.” Directed by Jake Sumner, the son of Sting and Trudie Styler, the flick features the actress in four different scenarios — the dreamer, the paramour, the expressionist and the voyeur. Ricci appears primping, dancing, spying and lounging in various stages of dress and undress at the Soho Grand Hotel. The spot revolves around the designer’s pleated leather Eldridge bag, which can be worn four different ways.

The Donna Karan Co. partnered with People’s Revolution and the creative agency All Day Everyday to produce the two-minute short, which will be posted online. People’s Revolution’s Kelly Cutrone said, “For years, I have been a big believer in the idea that designers need to create and control their own content so it can’t be stolen or looted as it is at fashion shows. Let’s face it: Anyone at the end of a riser can take that footage and do anything they want with it.”

Her company and All Day Everyday also teamed up with DKNY for another short that centers on the DKNY Cozy sweater. Director Kai Regan, who has worked with Comme des Garçons, Nike and Shepard Fairey, among others, was brought on board to try to bring this fall’s Cozy ad campaign to life. Fourteen models — wearing the Cozy in a variety of ways — marched all over the city with Regan’s camera trailing them. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs provided their “Heads Will Roll” tune for the film. One version will be used in DKNY stores and another will be uploaded on DKNY’s Facebook fan page, uploaded on YouTube and provided to bloggers. (WWD)

Loved this post? Check out TheyEnvy.Us for more posts from our readers and be sure to become a contributing editor.

LINK LOVE: Coming Soon: Christina Ricci in ‘Four Play” for Donna Karan

Uma Thurman wears Donna Karan dress on the October 2009 cover of W magazine.

Thanks Just Jared

Thanks Jezebel

People are always looking for the next Donna, the next Ralph, or the next Calvin. (sorry Tommy, we never consider you a fashion designer) but no one ever acknowledge that there may not be a next big fashion business bearing a designer’s name. Consider this: after the big 3, name another designer with his/her business over 1 billion dollars. The answer is: 0. It’s very typical of fashion to prefer the system to remain unchanged.

Let’s look at new york. Marc? His business is tiny comparing to Louis Vuitton. Micheal Kors? Those old Tommy business guys, Lawrence and Silas, brought Kors 6 years ago and proclaimed it will be a billion dollar business. They are stuck at the middle. Our personal favorite: Narciso Rodriguez? Liz Claiborne brought 50% for a mere 10 million, then return it back to the designer late last year. We assume for much less. Then we have those wunderkind kids one after another; remember Zack? What about Jeffery Chow? It’s ok, because now we have the Wangs and the Wus. But would they be like Calvin?

Yes, some designers would claim that they would like to remain small and ‘intimate’. Fine, but you should also know that we are some of the most egotistical creatures. We want fame, money, and sway, in that order. To drive any real influence, one will need to reach the mass (say hi to Issac Mizrahi). To do that, you need cold hard cash. A billion of it.

What companies blew up so big in the part 10 years? Juicy. Sven. Zara. H&M.

Can we see a pattern and the future here?

Written by (angry) deacon on Next.FashionIndie

Donna Karen, the Bunny Butcher of Forest Hills, has decided to go fur-free for all future collections. Don’t you know this is how it starts Donna?!? You give them this and next their pushing for same sex dolphin marriages and days off for Martin Lemur King Day.

LINKAGE: Donna Karen Officially Goes Fur Free

Sonia Rykiel, who is celebrating 40 years in business with a runway blowout and party on Oct. 1 in Paris, has enlisted some high-profile fashion folk to help celebrate. Rumor has it Rykiel’s daughter, Nathalie, has asked a host of international designers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan and Jean Paul Gaultier, to design an outfit in the spirit of Rykiel to pay homage to the sweater queen as part of her jubilee.

Thanks WWD

The new Harper’s Bazaar features some of the most renowned designers playing out their deepest fantasies, channeling their inner idols, the fun spread is a must-have.  Elbaz of Lanvin is working the Hollywood producer. Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan, Donatella Versace, Alessandra Facchinetti, Giorgio Armani, Alber Elbaz, Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy and Roberto Cavalli were all asked to get into character as something other than a designer.

The men took to the silver screen for inspiration, while others channeled forces of nature, animals and royalty. Armani played the role of Fred Astaire, Kors took on James Stewart’s L.B. Jeffries character from Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Elbaz reinvented himself as a Hollywood producer with James Bond flair and Cavalli went Gone with the Wind as Rhett Butler; he was shot embracing Coca Rocha as Scarlett O’Hara.

Thanks Fashion Week Daily

Anyone remember the “Feed Kate Moss” campaign? I do. About sixteen years ago, when pre pregnant Kate, the original waif, starred as a CK model, some journos planted a spoof in papers with her photo, asking for donations, as in “Feed the Children” infomercials.

Fast forward, this evening and a panel of fashion designers including Donna Karan, Nicole Miller, Doo-Ri Chung, fugly shoe designer Tory Burch, and Francisco Costa — the healthier modern Calvin Klein — will meet a MIlk Studios in the West Village to discuss model health, how to encourage these gals to fatten up! Hmmmn, maybe it’s me, but who are we kidding?

Think of the upwardly mobile model rush. To dress up in gorgeous clothes, skinny enough to project a long lean line underneath, pliable enough to morph into positions, then to go home with a sack of chic rags. To wind down with some champagne post shoot, a few tapas here and there, a shower, a party, so much love from so many friends, admirers offering lines of coke. To be buzzed, warm, fizzy like fresh soda poured. To be so ecstatic that all you want to do is dance the night away, and you do. Maybe someone will love you till morning. Maybe someone won’t, but tomorrow’s a new adventure, a plane trip, a beach, a drug rush of attention.

Written by Susan Kirschbaum