When I was a dresser at his Fall 2009 show, his inspiration was the Duk Duk, the symbol of a secret society in Papua New Guinea. Now focused on warriors from the same region and high priests from the Caribbean, he smashed their traditional masks with that of Jason and Western sex-fetishes. Aside from ethnic play, the juxtaposition of suits with smaller suits cartoonishly painted on proceeded by coats that actually unbutton to become smaller versions of themselves takes the collection from a cultural conundrum to a wardrobe solution.

Brief history of time: Walter Van Beirendonck was one of the Antwerp 6, a group of designers that graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium in the 80′s. Also members of this game-changing Avant Garde pack were Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten. Take note.

Sarier, an alum from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (think Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, among others)  grew his design roots at a lengthy list of fashion all stars: he worked with Emanuel Ungaro, Giambattista Valli, Haider Ackermann, and Olivier Theyskens before going off on his own collection, and their aesthetic influence definitely shows.

Precise tailoring, perfect ombre dyes, and exquisite draping, and multiple zippers may seem like a lot for a lightweight garment, but he pulls off the looks as almost wearable (although incredibly luxurious) sportswear. Our favorite piece? Delicately embroidered white leggings that wove a pattern between sheer and opaque whites that Sarier told us was meant to  ”reflect oceanic colors and shadows, the idea is to create the illusion that the water is reflecting this pattern on your skin.”

Click through all the pages to see our Labor Day getaway essentials, and your weekender will be light as air.

Featuring brands such as Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga and Lanvin among others, the retailer’s ads will debut shortly in various September issues. [WWD]

Hillary Clinton getting the big picture in Rick Owens.

Fierce Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama telling it like it is in Proenza Schouler. What, no McQueen this time?

Doonan decided former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko needed more Dior Haute Couture in her life. As does everyone.

Susie Bubble wants Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, bubbling up in Versus.

Though she hardly needs the help, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy gets reworked in Stella McCartney. Only gripe, where’s the goddamn heel?

Samantha Cameron, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, looking felicitous in Felicity Brown.

Former French Presidential candidate Segolene Royal going to werq in Dries Van Noten.

Nicola Formichetti threw First Lady of Cameroon and all-around fabulous black lady Chantal Biya in some Mugler. That heel is presumably also 24 inches.

Queen Rania of Jordan gets short and flirty in Erdem. Meanwhile, she’s a queen, for Elizabeth II‘s sake, not a starlet going commando at a film premiere.

Last, and certainly least, Sarah Palin, looking chic on her way to ruin what’s left of America in Christopher Kane. I can hear her cackling even through this illustration.

What do you think of these politically-charged high fashion makeovers? Personally, I think Hillary looks the best out of all of them —  giving goddess realness while sacrificing none of the power she’s been harnessing in those pantsuits over the last decade or so.

Link Love: Vogue UK

Disgusted that jeans and a tank were paired with Chanel tweed, disappointed that “I-have-no-stylist” Blake Lively agreed to it, and appalled that anything to do with the word “Cellulite” is touching anything Chanel. Gross.

Don’t talk to me, I’m too upset. Leave your message of outrage below.

Link Love: Coco Perez

Favorite floral dresses, from left:

Charlotte Sparre Garden of Eden Silk Dress $320 – pret-a-beaute.com

French Connection Lilly Dress $99.99 – usa.frenchconnection.com

D&G Pleated Mimosa Print Boned Dress $1,526 – my-wardrobe.com

Topshop Cream Rose Wrap Fifties Sundress $75 – us.topshop.com

Favorite floral tops, clockwise from top:

Paul & Joe Floral Print Halter Top $858 – boutique1.com

Bird by Juicy Couture Floral-Patterned Cotton Mesh Top $280 – net-a-porter.com

Madewell Floral Waterfall Top $110 – shopbird.com

Tao Comme des Garçons Flower Front Top $705 – barneys.com

Favorite floral bottoms, clockwise from top:

Dries Van Noten Pyrus Pants $659 – mytheresa.com

Dorothy Perkins Black/Red 50s Poppy Skirt $28 – dorothyperkins.com

Cacharel Impatiences floral print shorts $284 – matchesfashion.com

Jil Sander Floral-Print Silk-Twill Pencil Skirt $745 – net-a-porter.com

Favorite floral shoes, clockwise from top left:

Betsey Johnson Maggi Denim Pumps $100 – heels.com

Brian Atwood Court Shoes $3,903 – colette.fr

Seychelles Eyes Of Mars Strap Sandals With Rose Front $161 – us.asos.com

Alexander McQueen Tan 3D Flower Wedge $995 – alexandermcqueen.com

Favorite floral accessrories, clockwise from top:

Fendi Rose Chef Zucca Canvas Medium Satchel Bag $960 – forzieri.com

Jack Wills Evington Floral Head Band $24 – jackwills.com

Ksubi Atik Blue & White Floral Sunglasses $329 – superette.co.nz

Elie Saab Floral Chain Belt $436 – boutique1.com

Photo: People.com

Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung really knows how to make a woman feel like a lady; something Sheen usually undoes in a matter of minutes, but a pastel pink can soften anyone’e edges.

Donna Karan

Sheer-ly you jest! I’m sure Charlie’s angels are used to anything see-through, particularly pornogal Rachel Oberlin aka Bree Olson. However, Donna Karan shows how to class up that look while still giving off  a whiff of that all-important “whore” vibe; the Charlie Sheen catnip, as it were.

Jason Wu

It’s important to make a statement whenever entering a room and Jason Wu’s finale gown makes that statement loud and clear: “I’ve arrived now kill yourself.”  Which is something that Charlie’s been known to utter to more than a few hookers in the past.

Giles

Every goddess has her dark side — even Aphrodite could be a ruthless, conniving bitch — but that’s not to say they still can’t look heavenly. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie loves a little leather (or a lot).

Alberta Ferretti

Some goddesses deign to walk the earth with mortals, while some come alive in nature. And for some, like Chronic Girl 2010, Natalie Kenly, nature holds the promise of some really choice bud. What better way to answer that age-old question “how green was my valley?” then with this floral-inspired number from Alberta Ferretti.

Prada

Besides ancient Greece, the greatest goddesses resided in the 70s: Diana Ross, Cher, Liza, Bianca Jagger, Elton John. Prada took a page out of that glittery era’s chapter with this sequined fur number that would look great hunched over a pile of cocaine on Charlie Sheen’s coffee table.

Versace

The bodice of this gown is positively Grecian, but the skirt says fiesta. A goddess can really kick up her tranny heels with this gam-bearing confection, whether they’re dancing vertically, or more likely, horizontally in a pool of tiger blood.

Dries Van Noten

If anything, a goddess loves to feel powerful. What’s the point of all those Sheen-baiting gifts if you don’t show ‘em off once in a while, am I right? And nothing says “power” like a gold lamé pantsuit. Business-fabulous.

Gareth Pugh

This one’s for good ole Chuck Sheen, for whenever he grows tired of those baseball caps and poly blend button downs and wants to feel pretty while showing off that Adonis DNA

Mugler

Monster Mother Goddess, Lady Gaga, can certainly share some tips on dressing the part: after walking in the Mugler show she subsequently bought the entire collection. It’s doubtful that Natalie and Rachel could walk in these towering platforms, but they’re on Team Sheen and Team Sheen is all about winning. And winners don’t fall, except perhaps from grace.

Runway Photos: Style.com

Were you girls a design team prior to studying at Ars Arpel School in Milan or did you meet there? As a team, did you always want to design shoes or was it something you fell into along the way?
We met when we both started work in the same week as junior designers for an Australian footwear group. We clicked immediately and it wasn’t long before we were planning our own label together. We’ve always both been interested in shoes and our passion and study drew us together. We both studied fashion design in Italy at different times and we’ve worked together now since 2003.

As designers, you maintain a “strong focus on the silhouette” of the shoes for your line tom gunn. Are you inspired by architecture in modern and ancient building? What about the architecture of nature like mountains and valleys?
We are inspired by everything around us. We collect images and photos on an inspiration board when we start to design a new collection and quite often use both modern and ancient architecture as inspiration as well as nature. We then zero in on the small details and take lines and shapes from the image to create the design lines of the shoes.

You source leathers and exotic skins from some of the top Italian tanneries. What about these materials make your shoes stand out from other lines? Has working with such high-end materials changed your perception of the footwear industry as a whole?
We absolutely love working with beautiful Italian leathers and exotic skins. The best quality materials make the shoe much more luxurious and comfortable. Snake and lizard leathers also have such a gorgeous texture that adds another dimension to the design.

There are so many footwear labels using low-end, cheap and plastic materials to keep the prices extremely low. This means you get what you pay for in terms of quality and comfort. Now we strive to use the best materials we can to ensure our shoes are luxurious, comfortable and the wearer will love them!

Do you look to forecasting trends for the colors and textures you use for your collections, or does the inspiration stem from inner creativity? Or is it a mix of both?
We build our colour palette from our images on our inspiration board. We love colour and leathers so we usually choose them first before we even start talking about design details for the collection. We don’t look at forecasting trends but design based on how we’re feeling and on what we would like to have in our shoe collections at that time! Of course, this means we need to wait six months for the shoe we’re coveting at the time, but it’s worth the wait!

Who and what inspires you? From nature to buildings, and blogs to other designers, where do you turn when a creativity block comes along?
Our design time is the most fun part of running the label so we usually come into it bursting with ideas and inspirations we’ve been dreaming about after the previous collection. There are a few amazing blogs including The Selby, Jak & Jil and Sea of Shoes we love looking at and some designers that inspire us are Dries Van Noten, Phoebe Philo of Celine and Consuelo Castiglioni of Marni.

It is so amazing tom gunn was awarded Footwear Designer of the Year at the 2010 2threads Fashion Awards. How has this changed the attention toward your brand?
Winning the 2Threads Footwear Designer of the Year was fantastic! It has certainly helped raise the profile of our brand and we have received many more inquiries and press.

You can learn more about tom gunn on the brand’s website.

Givenchy’s three-piecer

Slitting the difference, at Albino.

Giorgio Armani’s Saharan night.

One of Phoebe Philo’s many tunics, at Celine.

Monochrome, at Cerruti.

Diaphanous layers, at Dries Van Noten.

Easy does it, at Fendi.

Army, but not drab, at Lanvin.

The life aquatic, at Marni.

Gypset chic from Antonio Marras.

Osman’s crisp take on the look.

Sheer trousers with a leather tux stripe, at Pedro Lourenço.

A vision of the future, at Gareth Pugh

Going with the flow, at Richard Chai Love

Gilded treasure from Rodarte.

At Richard Chai Love, the designer said, “It was all about playing with new proportions and unexpected layering.” Chai, who tossed long tunics and slipdresses over flowy pants, added, “It’s important that the fabric has movement.” If you want to experiment with the trend, try swapping out your tights and leggings for see-through trousers asGivenchy’s Riccardo Tisci,Pedro Lourenço, andGiorgio Armani all did for effects that ranged from punk to gypset. (credit: Style.com/ facehunter)

Lindsey Hoover

“I’m wearing a Comme des Garcons cardigan with Earnest Sewn jeans, Jil Sander boots and an Alexander Wang T-shirt. My favourite show so far has been Dries Van Noten, which was beautiful. My style is classic and fairly simple, although, let’s say I’m not adverse to a killer heel.”

(credit: Style)

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

The bottoms are actually listed as pants instead of leggings; I must say that I love the gathering at the ankle and would wear them exactly as they appear, pulled down over the shoes. I love that look!

Odilon

Backstory: Stacy Clark recalls creating patterns for garments when she was as young as eight. “I would lay down my clothes on paper, trace around them and allow for seam allowance,” she says with a laugh. But it wasn’t until after she graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in the arts that the Canadian began considering a career in fashion. In 2006, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and received a degree in product development. Clark created her first collection last year; fall 2010 is her first season going into production.

Collection: The label is named for the French artist Odilon Redon. “He still had that Impressionist technique but painted very morbid subject matters,” says Clark, 23. “I found him refreshing.” Her line takes a dark tack as evidenced by her recent collection, inspired by postapocalyptic images. To wit, the flashes of orange — seen in vests and jackets, some hooded — come from hazard signs, while textured nylon-coated jersey leggings are meant to mimic burnt flesh. “I’m influenced by horror and zombie movies, too,” says Clark, who also notes an affinity for juxtaposing natural and synthetic materials.

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $45 to $680. The collection will be available at Forty Five Ten in Dallas.

This is a great look if one seeks something a bit edgier. I love the legwear……perfect with a dress or tunic.
“I had this vision of a postapocalyptic war,” says Samantha Sleeper, of her debut Nprpa collection. Thus, the abstract patterns on bodysuits and leggings are reminiscent of “concrete grid lines and housing complexes.” (no additional Bio information listed)

Kal Rieman

Backstory: Cleveland-born Cally Rieman caught the fashion bug while studying abroad in Taiwan. “I was teaching a gentleman English, and he owned a textile manufacturing company,” says Rieman. “I was surrounded by a world I had never been in before and thought it was really cool.” Rieman, now 39, studied poli-sci and East Asian studies at Denison University and graduated in 1993. After a four-year stint in finance, she enrolled in the fashion program at the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 2000. She has since worked for Rubin Chapelle, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and H by Tommy Hilfiger, the last two in the men’s department.

Collection: Given her men’s wear background, it’s no surprise Rieman works a masculine vibe — crisp shirting, vests and loads of tailoring. “I’m fascinated by the suit,” she says, noting she works with a men’s wear tailor for her blazers “so they’re made like a men’s jacket with canvas construction, horse hair….” New York-based Rieman adds that her stint at de Castelbajac proved influential. “What I pulled out of my time there was a sophistication — this dandy look for women, with high collars and structured jackets,” she explains, “but without the kitsch.”

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $150 to $550. The collection is available at P45 in Chicago.

This is my absolute favorite of all the pieces……it’s truly a work of fashion artistry! I envision this piece with leggings or skinny jeans with a long-sleeved top underneath. I’m always a fan of those designers who create one-of-a-kind pieces. I can’t want to see more from his collection!

Johan Ku

Backstory: What a difference a year makes. In 2009, Johan Ku was just another young designer from Taipei who had enrolled at Central Saint Martins. Now, he’s a buzzed-about name in his native Taiwan — he dressed popular Mandopop group S.H.E for the cover of its March “Shero” album and was the subject of a recent show at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, called “Breakthrough: Johan Ku Wearable Sculpture Exhibition.” Not bad for a 30-year-old who fell into fashion because he failed the test for his first career choice: graphic design. “I didn’t get a high enough score, unfortunately — or fortunately enough,” remarks Ku, who received his B.A. and M.A. in fashion and textile design from Shu-Te and Fu-Jen Universities, respectively.

Collection: The designer has a one-track mind: Ku is crazy for the knitwear. “I always wanted to create something in three dimensions,” says Ku, whose aesthetic skews toward the experimental and arty side. “Even as a kid in art class, I would enjoy doing real sculpture instead of 2-D drawings. That influenced me a lot.” For his collection, he uses mainly raw wool, which gives his designs that ultrahefty, rough-hewn feel. “People use that material for spinning, not for knitting. That’s how I can create my chunky garments,” he explains, while adding that a more commercial collection may be in the pipeline once he gets enough financing.

Stats: Retail prices start at $800 and run upward to $30,000 for his one-of-a-kind designs.

Alexander Koutny

Backstory: While a philosophy student at the University of Cape Town in 1997, Johannesburg-born Alexander Koutny launched a men’s wear collection, named Aka. In time, he would add a women’s counterpart to the line, which he describes as “structured and utilitarian,” before closing up shop to move to London in 2000. “I thought, if I’m going to continue and take it to the next level, South Africa wouldn’t be the place to do that,” says Koutny, who went on to work for Marjan Pejoski. The experience couldn’t have been more different — Pejoski is best known as the designer responsible for Björk’s 2001 swan dress. At Pejoski’s suggestion, Koutny enrolled at Central Saint Martins, graduating in 2003.

Collection: New York-based Koutny notes that his current collection, which he launched last year, straddles the line between Aka and the “extreme” one-off garments he created during his London years. “I started out on the commercial side,” he says, “and then pushed the boundaries of [avant-garde] fashion. This is the balance between the two.” For fall, Koutny found inspiration in earthquakes, plate tectonics and the underground, which explains the abstract lava prints throughout the collection. But the core vibe here is the collection’s sense of ease — even the more tailored jackets and coats come slightly slouchy and draped. “The lifestyle element we’re pushing is something more robust,” explains Koutny, 37, “something you wouldn’t mind throwing on the floor, picking up and still loving.”

Stats: Wholesale prices for the line range from $150 to $400. So far, Eva in New York and Una in Portland, Ore., have picked up the collection.

Charles Henry

Backstory: Charles Henry is already act II for Kentucky native Meredith Fisher. The University of Southern California alum — she graduated in December — launched her first collection, WAYF (Where Are You From), as a junior in high school. At the time, Fisher was spending the summer in Los Angeles, interning for Jennifer Nicholson, when she caught the eye of the buyers at Satine. “I walked in [the store] wearing one of my dress designs and they noticed,” recalls Fisher. “So I started making things for them on the side.” She eventually signed with a showroom and, later that summer, launched WAYF, which sold at retailers such as Barneys New York, Shopbop.com and Intermix. Last year, Fisher took a break from design to “finish college,” she says.

Collection: Fisher named the line after her maternal grandfather, a clothing manufacturer in Tennessee, and it’s more grown-up-looking than WAYF. “The core is there,” she says, “but [my girl] isn’t just wearing sweet little dresses. She wants leather, she wants fringe, she wants a little of everything in her wardrobe.” The fall Charles Henry debut ranges from silk blouses and skirts, with tassel details, to velvet burn-out dresses, featuring custom prints by Fisher.

Stats: The collection ranges from $85 to $270 at wholesale, and will be available at Madison and Switch in Los Angeles and Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong.

Iris von Arnim

Backstory: Iris von Arnim has a car accident to thank for her career in the fashion industry. In the early Seventies, she spent two years holed up in various hospitals in her native Silesia, Germany, after her legs were injured in a collision. With nothing else to do, she took up knitting. The rest is history. Arnim moved to Hamburg, Germany, opened a sweater shop and, by 1979, founded a self-named company that would be known throughout Germany and the surrounding countries — Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Luxembourg and Czech Republic — for its lush cashmere knits. Four years ago, her son, Valentin von Arnim, a former Wall Street banker, joined the company and is making a global push in the U.S. and Asia for fall.

Collection: Knitwear will continue to be the company’s bread and butter. The designs, however, veer “much more modern and sophisticated,” says Valentin von Arnim, whose mother still helms the Hamburg-based firm. “We have this very loyal customer base. But now we have to think about the new generation, who’s looking for something a little sexier and more exciting.” Thus, pullovers feature Crystallized-Swarovski Elements knitted into the shoulders while cardigans feature floral embellishments on the sleeves. The collection still hews to a classic, no-fuss sensibility, too, with the majority of design tweaks in the construction itself. “We’re subtly changing the knit patterns,” explains Valentin von Arnim, “by altering the speed and tensions of knit.”

Stats: The collection wholesales from $300 to $1,200 and will be available at Louis Boston in Boston, Lane Crawford in Hong Kong and Boutique 1 in Dubai.

I also love this look…….the zip ankle pants would prove to be a perfect wardrobe addition for the fall and winter months.
Jonathan Simkhai

Backstory: New York-born Jonathan Simkhai launched his fashion career at 15 when the owner of Habana Jeans in Scarsdale, N.Y., hired him on the spot after watching him style his friends in-store. Simkhai would spend the next three years helping with the buying and window displays. After graduating from high school, Simkhai took design classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons The New School for Design and has since worked at Ravel manufacturing, which is owned by his uncle. “He makes missy clothing for [department stores],” says Simkhai. “We were doing great stuff, but that customer wasn’t my girl. I was hungry to get out.”

Collection: Simkhai works a major borrowed-from-the-boys sensibility, inspired by his female friends who would often dig into his wardrobe. “I thought, let me make them their own pieces, based on the items from my closet,” he says. “Then I have my clothes back and they have their own.” The result is a debut fall collection of men’s wear-inspired offerings, as in a sheath cut from men’s suiting or a zip-up dress shaped like a baseball shirt. There are more humorous notes, as well. For instance, Simkhai adds underwear details (à la men’s briefs) on lamé shorts and long johns bottoms. As for the wire hems in his Ts, they were inspired by a crooked laundromat hanger. “I wanted to incorporate that into the collection to keep giving it that closet feel,” he says.

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $44 to $275. Intermix and Glassworks-studios.com have picked up the line.

This dress appears as though it was taken from the pages of 20′s or 30′s magazine….I’m loving that “vintage vibe.”

Zoe Twitt
Backstory: Melbourne-born Zoe Twitt comes from a fashion family — her parents ran a textile company while her grandparents owned a small dress label. “I was obsessed with sketching from a really young age,” says the New York-based Twitt. But she had ambitions to be an actress, too. So she studied theater and writing at Columbia University and, postcollege, simultaneously enrolled at Parsons The New School for Design and the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Twitt ultimately chose the design route and launched her collection this spring. “The fashion industry is a lot kinder,” she says.

Collection: “I wanted to create a mélange of Gothic, classic and feminine,” says Twitt, 27. “And there are undertones of the occult.” She uses rock crystal embellishments throughout the streetwise collection — tracing shoulder cutouts, for instance, on a black tunic top. Other motifs include exposed zippers and cutouts that punctuate chunky sweaters and loose chiffon dresses. “A main thing for me is the multifunctional aspect,” she adds. “You can wear [the garments] zipped up or use the cutouts as a second armhole.” Design influences for Twitt include Madame Grès and Maria Cornejo.

Stats: The collection wholesales from $70 to $125 and is available at Searle, Factoriem and Eva in New York.

Kalen twill pants & lambskin jacket; Capro shirt & vest, Francis Klein glasses. The lambskin jacket is another phenomenal piece….the high, ruffled neck makes it all the more appealing.

Kaelen

Backstory: Toronto native Kaelen Farncombe may have studied English literature, but she always knew she was bound for the fashion world. So after graduating in 2007 from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, Farncombe headed to Parsons The New School for Design. While there, she interned at Jenni Kayne and Stella McCartney on the sales and marketing side. “What I took away from those jobs was that the creative aspect was something I was drawn to much more,” she says. Fall marks the designer’s debut collection.

Collection: “I have a classic sensibility,” says Farncombe, “but I’m interested in layering and off-kilter shapes.” The streamlined collection focuses on the dialogue between tailoring and drapery, often in a single garment. Left open, for instance, a leather jacket hangs gently in folds; belted, it creates an exaggerated peplumed silhouette. “A lot of the pieces don’t have sewn-in closures,” she adds. “I wanted my clothes to be something you make personal and style your own way.” Farncombe’s palette, meanwhile, sticks to an urban array of blacks, whites and grays, with the occasional pop of blush and vivid blue. “I’m not a print person,” she says.

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $125 to $385.

Hunter Dixon dress, Guishem shoes (love their shoe designs)
Hunter Dixon

Backstory: Three years ago, Hunter Bell and Jennifer Dixon were two Southern bells sharing an apartment in New York. Bell wanted to be a designer; Dixon, an entrepreneur. They partnered, dispensed with any romantic rags-to-riches notions and approached things pragmatically: Bell took a day job at a hedge fund while whipping up a collection on the side, and Dixon pounded the pavement, securing a few retailers and pitching potential investors. Their hard work paid off: In October, one of the financiers Bell worked with set Dixon up with venture capitalist John Pound, president of Boston’s Integrity Brands Inc., which is investing in the fledgling line.

Collection: Bell’s inspiration comes from her own closet or what she would like to see in it. At present, that’s loads of color and feminine flourishes done within reason. Dresses and tanks have ruffled details and vibrant prints, but Bell and Dixon are tuned into a working woman’s reality, which often entails day-to-night transitions and usually travel. Thus, they have a custom-blouse program of eight styles available in eight colors, that always include black and white. “Basically, after our first collection we found that blouses were the bestsellers,” says Dixon. “You can take them with you anywhere and wear them anywhere.”

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $90 to $200 for blouses and $80 to $250 for skirts, jackets and dresses. The collection is available at Saks Fifth Avenue as well as The Gallerie in Aspen, Colo., Tulipano in Atlanta and House of Eve in Kuwait.

Jane Oh dress, Guishem shoes
Jane Oh

Backstory: Jane Oh was surrounded by fashion practically from the day she was born. Her mother owns the denim manufacturer Stone Blue Inc. in her native Los Angeles. And when Oh, now 30, received a business degree from the University of Southern California in 2002, mom offered her a job at the company, where she spent the next year learning the production and design ropes. “I started making my own clothes,” she says, “and showed them to a buyer for the first time. I showed her, like, 70 things, with no storyline or anything.” The buyer’s reaction? “‘Wow, you don’t know what you’re doing,’” Oh recalls now, with a laugh. That harsh reality check prompted her to enroll at Parsons The New School for Design in 2003.

Collection: Oh culls her inspiration from the posh and polished Fifties, à la Audrey Hepburn. And the designer, who also interned in the accessories department at Marc Jacobs and with the footwear licensee of Michael Kors, knows full well what a cliché it is to name the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as her main influence — but it is. “Ever since I was little I always wished we could dress like that, with the gloves and the hats,” Oh says. “There’s just something very sexy and confident about that look.” Her debut collection, to that end, works a Parisian sophisticate vibe with plenty of LBDs, whether sheath-style or poufed, and beribboned jackets, blouses and dresses.

Stats: Wholesale prices range from $68 to $300. Blush and Blink in New York and The Finerie in Seattle have picked up the line.

Capara wool jacket, patent leather and light wool split dress and pants; Guishem shoes
Capara

Backstory: Twins Olivera and Vera Capara, born in Bosnia but raised in Germany, share nearly identical CVs. In 2000, both graduated from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where they now beside, and went on to work for Dries Van Noten. After participating in France’s Hyères fashion festival two years later, they launched their first collection, Vera and Olivera Capara, which only lasted a season; by 2003, both sisters were at Maison Martin Margiela, designing for his Artisanal line. They would spend four years there before going their separate ways — Vera to Jil Sande and Olivera, to accessories company Delvaux. “Thank god we had at least a different experience,” says Olivera. “It was very good to see that you’re capable of doing things on your own.” For spring, the two came back together and launched Capara.

Collection: “Innovative yet elegant” — that’s how the sisters would best like to describe their collection. “We want to give the clothes meaning, a concept,” says Olivera, “but still have it be elegant and feminine.” For fall, there’s a major focus on tailoring, in loose, boxy silhouettes reminiscent of Margiela. “It’s natural that you take away these influences,” Oliver remarks, noting that she’s partial to oversized garments herself. Other plays on proportion include jackets with exaggerated asymmetrical hems and half-coat/half-dress hybrids.

Stats: Wholesale prices for the collection range from $100 to $500.

MODEL: RACHEL COOK/ELITE; HAIR BY PETE LENNON FOR CUTLER/REDKEN AT ATELIER MANAGEMENT; MAKEUP BY HOPE CHOMAN FOR SHU UEMURA; FASHION ASSISTANT: AMANDA RUMBALSKI.

(WWD)

As a lover of Biography, I’m always interested as well as fascinated, to read about interesting people. I have a great admiration for those creative folk who have a vision and make that vision as reality. It’s apparent from the pieces featured, that creativity and “perfect structure” abound. I look forward to seeing more of their designs!

LINK LOVE:New Designers on the Horizon

Join TheyEnvy.Us to Add Your Own Stories to FashionIndie.com

1. Louis Vuitton 2. Bantu 3. Dries Van Noten by Blake 4. Marc Jacobs makeup bags 5. Catherine Malandrino 6. Proenza Schouler

(marieclaire.com)

Absolutely mesmerizing……….well done, colorful prints are always a must; the Catherine Malandrino vest certainly proves that!

LINK LOVE:"Visions of The Serengeti"

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Hanne Gaby Odiele wears head to toe Dries Van Noten in clashing patterns.

Image via Street Peeper

Dries van Noten took security to new heights: everyone’s bags had to be scanned before entering the show venue, Salle de Fetes (the mayor’s party room), in Paris’ historic City Hall.

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1. Jean Paul Gaultier (I love his take on the trench) 2. Dries Van noten 3.

LINK LOVE:Behind The Scenes: Designers Prep for Paris Fashion Week

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LINK LOVE: GQ

Bold, abstract prints can be seen in many various runway shows and how they’re worn is almost always together. Here we see that designers like Carolina Herrera, Dries Van Noten, and Versace are making an audacious styling choice and statement by pairing their graphic prints with other abstract patterns.

I don’t mind the in-your-face prints as long as they’re done in a way that they don’t overwhelm the outfit. I feel that in everyday wear, it’d be best to choose one piece that contained a bold pattern—making that the focal point—and leaving everything else simple.

Un coup de foudre, that’s the French phrase for “love at first sight.” It’s a rare occasion when I find something I’d lie, cheat and steal to have, but an evening stroll in Tribeca led me into a girl wearing the leather studded booties pictured above. I contemplated kicking her knees and swiping the boots off her feet, but I decided a compliment  would be the less delinquent route. Introducing shoe designer Els Proost, her company, Elsa Shoes, easily ranked at the top of my latest obsessions.

Proost has quite the resume having designed shoes and accessories for Dries Van Noten, Emporio Armani, Maison Martin Margiela, Costume National, Hussein Chalayan, Angelo Figus and more, so there’s no doubt why they’re so damn gorgeous. Craftsmanship,comfort and a “fashionable amusing twist” reign among Proost’s design goals, and it’s safe to say she achieves them with every pair she constructs. Like the woman who married a rollerc0aster, maybe i’ll join the bandwagon and marry Elsa Shoes. Now that’s what I like to call a bright future!

Find more photos like this on ENVY

Check out more from Elsa here! Oh, and if the girl with the studded booties is reading, watch your back!

Titled ‘Gentlemen of Leisure,’ this spread was inspired by icons like the Duke of Windsor, Rudolph Valentino, Gary Cooper, and Baron Nicolas De Gunzburg.

Styling: JACOB K

Models: Baptiste Giabiconi, Iris Strubegger, Oriol Elcacho

Clothing by Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Versace, Comme Des Garcons Homme Plus, Yves Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, etc.

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Thanks Style!

One of our favorite street photographers Scott Schuman, better known at the Sartorialist, has organized his own pop-up at Barneys! Full of lust-worthy items, Schuman displays his luxurious taste at the ‘SartoriaLUST,’ which includes pieces from Maison Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, APC, and Ralph Lauren, among others.  Prices are high, but isn’t that the point of lust-worthy?

LINK LOVE: Racked

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Dries Van Noten Spring 2010 Menswear

Thanks NY Mag!

Contributing Editor has enlisted the talents of Tyler Riggs. Styled by Tom Van Dorpe and photographed by Minoru Kaburagi, Riggs wears clothing from such names as Yigal Azrouël and Dries Van Noten.

GALLERY: Tyler Riggs for CE

LINKAGE: thefashionisto

This radio active looking spread is the collaborative effort of photographer Michelle Matiyow and Lians with paint work by Vincent Sherk. Using pieces from Dries Van Noten, Yigal Azrouel and Prada, this editorial is surely gives color a new meaning.

LINKAGE: The Pipeline

There are so……many great bags out this season that I sometimes actually feel a lightheaded when looking at them. I personally prefer a little, or should I say, ALOT of detail on my bags of choice. The focus is on clutch bags today and Here are just a few of my favorites. From top to bottom the designers are, Sonia Rykiel python clutch….Roberto Cavalli snakeskin and diamante clutch (EXQUISITE)….Roberto Cavalli black jeweled clutch….Proenza Schouler Pochette’s x 2….Missoni Snakeskin clutch….Matthew Williamson python Pochette….Judith Leiber x 2 (love the cupcake)….Dries Van Noten x 2….Bulgari….Alexander McQueen x 2 (love, love, love the fringe clutch). The “jeweled daisy” clutch has a beautiful vintage look and is a sure favorite. Enjoy the view!

LINKAGE: “Clutching it”

John Galliano

Thierry Mugler

Dries Van Noten

Francisco Van Bethune

Gaspard Yurkievich

Ute Ploier

In honor of Eric Daman and the new “Chuck Bass Fridays”, here is a preview of the new Dries van Noten Spring 2009 collection. The collection features some great patterns that could make any menacing fella looking like Chuck Bass. I love the collection, and despite my seemingly indie style, I would love to climb into one of these suits for the Spring.

Dries van Noten: Spring 2009 Collection

Thanks Selectism

If you love designer shoes, you will love this special promotion that Mona Moore is offering to our readers. All you have to do is mention FashionIndie when selection your final purchases (call to purchase) and you will receive 50% off. Now, that’s better than the Saks Sale. Designers include Y-3, Yohji Yamamoto, Marni, Dries Van Noten, Anne Demeulemeester, and others.

Raf Simons at Lycée Buffon

Paul Smith at the Carrousel du Louvre

Dior Homme at the Jardins de l’Observatoire

Prada

Fendi

Dries Van Noten’s vintage cars

LV at Palais de Tokyo

Hermes at Couvent des Cordeliers

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Thierry Mugler

Dries Van Noten

Many designers used gray this season to highlight other brightly colored accessories. For example, Thierry Mugler used gray suits to punctuate the stark black and white gangster shoes, and Dries Van Noten showed us that camel shoes and man bags look amazing with patterned gray pants.

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