In addition to a £200,000 cash prize — which translates roughly to $315,000 at current exchange rates and proves that the dollar is pretty much worthless —  Saunders will also receive mentoring from the BFC.

“I’m so happy about winning the fund,” Saunders said. “The last 12 months have been an exciting time for me and my team and I’m very proud of all their hard work. We have many exciting plans for the near future and this along with the support network provided by the BFC will enable us to achieve our goals.”

British Vogue EIC Alexandra Shulman added, “I am delighted that Jonathan has won this year’s award. His recent collections have shown that he is a designer who can provide beautiful clothes that women enjoy wearing and he is in a great position to build on his current success.” [Vogue UK]

-Anna Wintour‘s biannual HJ to the industry, Fashion’s Night Out, will make an uncalled-for return next year to once again haunt the sartorial streets. [WWD]

-  Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou, Marios Schwab and Nicholas Kirkwood are among the finalists for next year’s British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund. [Vogue UK]

- Michael Kors IPO is listed at $20/share, which will probably be the least you’ll ever pay for a Michael Kors anything from here on out. [WWD]

- The First Family posed for a new family portrait and while it’s all cute and familial, we can clearly see Michelle‘s roots and homegirl could use a touch-up. [Just Jared]

- Vera Wang is getting in touch with her inner dude by outfitting some real dudes. While brides will wear her doomed David’s Bridal gowns to their weddings, their grooms will wear her new Men’s Warehouse tuxedos. And then everyone will go to the Olive Garden and cap the night off with a few PBRs. [WWD]

- While Vera slums it in the discount wholesale bin, Levi’s is classing their game up. The jeans giant will show at New York Fashion Week for the first time come February. Hopefully the CFDA will have cut whatever day said show is by then. [WWD]

Photos: Out Magazine

Andrej Pejic

Brad Goreski

Tim Gunn

Marios Schwab and Jonathan Saunders

Nicolas Ripoll

Peter Som

Nicola Formichetti

Jack Calhoun, President of Banana Republic

Gareth Pugh

Menswear billowed into womenswear.The androgyny laid not in cutting a man's suit for a woman, but taking those elements that define a man's wardrobe and blowing it out with a feminine angle. Like a tuxedo shirt that melts into draped jersey. Or suit pants that slit upen to reveal another trouser.

Spring was designed in sheer delight. Whether crochet or clear like water, we see through next spring, and so will you.

Let the leg out. While we're still loving the maxi, they're being steered in a sexier route. Thigh high slits make the floor length look thankfully less austere.

"Florals in spring. Groundbreaking." Exactly why we're so surprised it was so strong for Spring 2012. But it was positively everywhere. The trend forecasters must have predicted rain, because designers listened. That or they all independently decided that now is the time for a communal bloom. Floral or not, it's all about the pattern mash. Loud and proud, ladies.

11. University of Delaware Newark, DE

Campus Tour: The smallest state also has a small design program that is focused on quality garment making from every angle. The program follows a garment through its entire lifecycle, from the creative design and tailoring, to a focus on sustainably producing goods on both small and large scale in a socially and environmentally minded manner. An entirely student run fashion magazine, UDress, and fashion shows exist outside of class, working to show and pull fashion out of this college driven town.

Programs: Apparel Design, Merchandising, Sustainability

Student Body: 16,500

Tuition:  $27,000

Star Alumni: Well, me. And a fierce force that is the backbone of the garment industry.

Alexander McQueen

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones arrives at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

Rick Owens

Alber Elbaz

Halston with his girls — Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson

- Halston is apparently falling apart at the seams. First SJP, then Harvey Weisntein, now Marios Schwab is the latest to jump the label’s quickly sinking ship and there’s no Spring 2012 collection planned. [WWD]

- Beyoncé dropped a measly $15K on a 90-minute shopping spree with mom Tina Knowles at Topshop and Selfridges. Meanwhile, let me loose in a Wal-Mart for 90 minutes and I could rack up the same bill.  [NY Mag]

The perks of waiting till mid-season to invest? Sweet discounts.
FLEXI SLEEVE: Rick Owens slicks down a side-licked collar on a column wool coat. He keeps in mind mobility with stretch insets under the arms. Rick Owens Wool Sparta Coat – was $2,350, now $1,175

SHAPED SHEARLING: Paul & Joe give us shearling with shape. Let the legs stand slim, but keep the bootie warm.  Paul & Joe Mongolie Shearling Coat – was $2,175, now $1,523

SCULPTED DOWN: Marios Schwab uses down to sculpt a futuresque silhouette. It’s a new era of poufy. Marios Schwab Quilted Structure Coat – was $2,175, now $1,523

COVERALL CAPE: The Row has shaped a cape that doesn’t leave your arms out in the cold. Wrap your secrets in a fitted blanket of wool and mink. The Row Apleton Cape – still $5,000. It’s that glorious.

SNEAK HOOD: Creenstone hides the hood – it simply rolls into a collar. Hoods are so practical when they’re on your head, but look so limp just hanging out. Find a sneaky hood like this. Creenstone Padded Trench with Hood – £265. Do the math.

Fashionista has compiled a list of the 10 best shoes for Fall 2010. My goal is to at least own one pair, preferably the above Marios Schwab booties.

Inspired by his own Australian heritage, check out the entire Marios Schwab Fall/Winter 2010 collection presented at London Fashion Week.

LINK LOVE: Catwalk Queen

GALLERY: RUNWAY: Marios Schwab Spring 2010

Thanks Style!

Susie Bubble took some time to talk about Marios Schwab’s latest collection, a mix of printed dresses with 3-D images on them. We weren’t impressed. Seriously Schwab, if you’re going to enter a third dimension can you at least make sure your prints are of something we want to see popping out at us, say like a Tiger (oh scary), a fist (watch out now!!!) or a giant pair of bodascious tatas!!! (I’d prefer the last although combing the three might make for the ulitmate sensory experience, eh?)

Either way, the collection seems to require the kind of gimmick that Schwab introduced cause as a whole, it was unmemorable. You can check out Susie’s snaps of the show and judge for yourself. Be sure to leave comments if you think I’m a totally idiot for talking smackage.

(Photography by Kate Rodgers and Patrick Lindblom)

LINKAGE: See that 3-D?

There’s one good way to breakdown the makeup of Marios Schwab’s spring 09 collection and that’s by talking about the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s start with the good, shall we?

I adore these mini dressed he did in schizophrenic colors and asymmetrical shapes. They are super playful, and many of them can be worn during night or day. I like the punked-out pieces as well, designed with strategically placed rips and safety pins.

We saw some adorable dresses, but we must move on to whatever the hell this outfit is supposed to be. It looks like something a very matronly Judy Jetson would wear to a funeral. This 2-piece pantsuit is so drab, it makes me want to open my umbrella. I’m sorry Schwab, but many of the pieces your pieces this season were frumpy with ill-placed ruffles and awkward hems. Stick to the skin-tight dress, and you’ll be golden.

I really like Elmo, and I think the killing of his entire lineage for this ugly coat was rude and uncalled for. FAIL.

GALLERY: Marios Schwab Spring 2009

LINKAGE: Style.com

Two of these things are not like the others...

Here is a hypothetical situation…pretend you are Kate and Laura Mulleavy : you and your sister own a fashion label named after your mother’s maiden name. You started off small but almost immediately scored a spot in the big leagues because of your meticulous detail and downright fantastic taste in design. So, you recently won the annual Swiss Textile Award, presented by Marios Schwab, scoring yourselves 100,000 Euros (that’s over $125,00…) and what did you wear to accept this award? Matching frumpy black cardigans, matching ugly ballet flats, wrinkly Wal-Mart jeans and ill-fitted dress pants. Really…and you two call yourselves fashion designers? Why don’t you mirror your phenomenal designs, get yourselves a stylist, a haircut, some make-up and suck it up, wear some heels. 

Same cardigans, new sneakers. Vomit.

Thanks Dazed Digital!

Standing alone, Greek inspired draping, suede, cut outs, eighties sportswear and rope-like accessories can have an appealing aesthetic. Put them together, however, and we’ve got bigger problems. It seems to me that Marios Schwab regurgitated everything (and I mean everything) he learned at design school and decided to make a melting pot out of the runway. Lets be honest, who pairs graphic tees with suede dresses and jersey gowns…not to mention the fact that these garments already have haphazardly placed cut outs and randomly tied metallic ropes! It is very well possible that Schwab forgot to take his Ritalin before he…oh look, a bird! 

Thanks STYLE!

The British Fashion Council has announced that the Fashion Forward sponsorship has been awarded to four talented designers. Christopher Kane, Erdem, Marios Schwab, and Roksanda Ilincic have accepted the gift with open arms. The sponsorship allots skillful up incoming designers funding to show off their flair. Though these designers have already established an international name, it is a gift well deserved. Much of the money is pushed toward putting on a fashion show at London fashion week were the designers are able to show of their ability and ultimately, the reason they received the award.

Thanks to NYMag for the pics!