Brooklyn-based Parlá is known for his distinctive style that blends calligraphy, collage, textures, and color in paintings that tackle politics, urbanization, current events and a slew of other complex topics.

To grace the special pairs of Converse, Parlá chose his painting “Ephemeral Pitches, and Notes, Rhythm and Phonetics,” which — inspired by abstract noises, music, rhythms, languages and sounds of cities — explores the constant changes to urban life. Those themes are particularly resonant for Parla, who grew up wearing Chucks as a kid.

To date, RED, (PRODUCT)RED and its partners, which include Gap, Apple, Hallmark, Starbucks and Nike, has raised nearly $180 million for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. And starting this Thursday, you can do your part to help — and get a fly pair of kicks in the process. The José Parlá for Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Stars — in both men’s and women’s sizes – can be yours for $100 at Converse First String retailers.

The limited edition tees are $85 a pop and are sold through starbucksstore.com and select Nordstrom stores. Though the designers were given a fee to participate, according to CFDA executive director, Steven Kolb, the project gave them the chance “to give back a little bit which is in keeping with the spirit of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.”

Not really sure to whom they’re giving back nor am I sure that the spirit of the Fashion Fund is about selling out hardcore, but for $85 I guess you can have your coffee and wear it too. [WWD]

Photo: Milk Studios

In addition to his own brand, NICOLA’S will showcase 12 young designers from China, “cool stuff from Japan,” Uniqlo, a performance space as well as creations he’s done for Mugler and go-to muse Lady Gaga. NICOLA’S will be open from September 8-21 at 57 Walker St in Tribeca.

Meanwhile, Formichetti also describes his vision for Mugler:

I want Mugler to become a digital global brand. I want to create a new kind of fashion brand, a new way of looking at fashion and take a step into digital communication. A kind of brand that hasn’t been seen before, something new for our next generation. 

The future of fashion:

For me, the digital approach is very important, it’s the future. But we should not forget about our reality, the physical world. We always need to embrace new things, but never be dependent on them. There will be fashion magazines on paper and on-line. The fashion industry as a whole will shift towards digitalism too. I don’t really know how, but it’ll be great! I love change!

And his trials and tribulations at Starbucks:

 I used to hate my name, I always thought, Nicola sounds a lot like a girl..And Formichetti is just weird.. kind of like Spaghetti! I always wanted to change it to Nick, and my surname to Williams.. or Smith.. Nick Smith. I always got embarrassed at Starbucks, when they asked my name..I said its Nick..didnt want them to make weird faces. I guess I got used to it now.

I used to feel the same about my name, then one day I woke up and thought, Lester Leon Talley Ross is not so bad after all. [Milk Made]

Eva will be rated on the below categories, five being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Fit: 4

Appropriateness: 5

Trendiness: 4

Styling: 4

Shoes: 4

Hair: 3

Makeup: 4

Confidence: 3

Eva always looks amazing, even when she appears slightly hungover. I love a good floral day dress for shopping, and the pink of these roses looks amazing with her skin tone. I wish it was warm enough here so I could wear something like this on Easter.

EDIBLE LINGERIE- Maybe a bit grody, and might  not be the most fashionable and secure piece of clothing to wear, but it could be fun.

Buy some Burberry Brit perfume, one of my favorites, smells beyond sweet with a twist of a reminder that it’s breezy Fall weather time!

Find some new leather boots to call your favorite, preferably black.

Try a grande soy vanilla latte. one: because it’s cold outside and two: because it tastes like Christmas in a cup.

Check out MAC for your shade of burgundy lipstick.

Kick back and watch The September Issue! All Vogue, all Team Wintour, all FASHION.

Ingredients

• 4 oz. Club Soda
• 1 oz Stoli Razz or other berry flavored vodka
• 2/3 cup frozen raspberries
• 2 sprigs fresh mint
• 1 oz Raspberry flavored syrup or chambrod
• Ice cubes

Method
Pour club soda and raspberry stoli in a shaker and shake well. Combine club soda/vodka mix, raspberries, mint and raspberry-flavored syrup (or Chambord) in a small pitcher. Pour over ice

At The Office by Her Goody Bag featuring Steve Madden shoes

Digital Layered Top, $22
Naval Gold Button Jacket by DKNY, 234 GBP
Tabover Pencil Skirt – Women’s Clothing and Apparel – Chic Dresses,…, $44
Steve Madden Women’s Darrina Platform Pump, $100
Halogen® Leather Tote Nordstrom, $98
incase bags – Hardshell Case 13?” MacBook Pro Frost, $50
Starbucks (STARBUCKS)RED To Go Mug at StarbucksStore.com, $1
BlackBerry® Curve 8530 in Smoky Violet PDA/Smartphone /Mobile Phone, $30

LINK LOVE:Thirsty Thursday: Raspberry Spritzer

Become a FashionIndie.com contributor. Subscribe to Envy.

On Wednesday, Ann Taylor LOFT posted pictures of a tall, blonde catalog model in the brand’s new silk cargo pants on its Facebook Page with a click-to-buy link in the captions.

Nothing about the post was uncommon — except, perhaps, Fans’ responses. While many Fans acknowledged that the pants looked good on the model, they complained that the pants were “not universally flattering” and would “look great only if you’re 5?10? and a stick like the model in the photo.” The post led several women to request — politely, of course — that LOFT show the pants on “real women.”

The next day, the fashion retailer posted pictures of its own staff posing in the cargo pants. The women — drawn from different departments of LOFT’s design, styling and marketing staff — ranged from size 2 to 12, and from 5?3? to 5?10?. Each styled the pants for a specific occasion, and explained why they liked the pants or why the pants worked well on their individual bodies.

As you can imagine, Fans were very pleased. “I sooooo appreciate you taking the time to ‘listen’ to our comments and show these pants on ‘real’ women,” one Fan wrote, while still acknowledging that the pants were ugly.

This is, in our opinion, a great example of a big company using social media to drive customer loyalty and satisfaction. And while many other large companies — like Comcast, Ford, Virgin Airlines, Starbucks and Best Buy — have also used social media to connect with their fans in smart, personable ways, we’ve rarely seen this level of engagement from a fashion company. It’s certainly a step in the right direction after the brand’s run-in with the FTC, social media-wise.

What do you think of LOFT’s response? Have you ever had a positive interaction with a big brand using social media? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.

Pants Modeled by a Professional Model

Pants Modeled by LOFT Employees

Tags: ann taylor, facebook, fashion, social media

LINK LOVE:Ann Taylor LOFT Responds to Facebook Fans’ Call for “Real Women” Instead of Models

Models, A-list actors and the fashion forward all appear to kick start their day the same way…with a highly caffeinated drink to go. Here is the truth behind the drinks that have big status appeal but in the real world, lead to even bigger waistlines.

Don’t let the nutrition labels on diet sodas fool you. These drinks may have lower calories, but they are packed with artificial sweeteners that increase weight gain odds and over time are detrimental to your metabolism. Diet sodas give you the caffeine kick you need, but their secretly addicting sweet taste makes us crave more. Truly, the word “diet” isn’t a guilt-free pass to indulgence.

Let’s take a look at a Latte…iced, hot, chai, soy or skim, the Hollywood it-crowd can’t seem to get enough of this caffeinated carry-on. However, the bad news is, no matter what type of milk or artificial flavor you choose, most lattes contain more calories than an entire day’s worth of food. If these lattes weighed as much as the fat, sugar and dairy they include, stylish celebrities would inevitably choose a different, lighter accessory.

To keep up with a non-stop lifestyle, it’s all about the promise of non-stop energy through energy drinks. Although these cryptic potions may keep your energy on in the moment, the downside is that this high-caloric concoction is crammed with high fructose corn syrup and other equally unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients that go straight to your waistline.

While these drinks may make you look and feel cool today, they won’t help you LookBetterNaked tomorrow.

We’re all guilty of it. Picking up one too many frappuccinos from Starbucks, ordering soda with your dinner instead of water, or of course, consuming tons of beer and liquor on a night out.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has decided to intervene. It seems as though our apparent calorie gain in beverages is getting a bit out of control. The above ad campaign features a soda being poured into a glass while human fat comes spilling out. Personally, I find it a bit too graphic and just, well, gross. But I guess that’s the point, right?

LINKAGE: Allure

LINK LOVE: Gemma Ward’s Twitter

With his strong desire to collaborate with companies and designers, Christian’s ready for his next big project. Creations for Starbucks! What exactly Mr. Siriano is designing is still unknown, but we’ll be sure to be standing by to find out!

LINKAGE: Racked

Would the environmentally conscious caffeine addicts please stand up? Though you can’t tell unless it’s on the cup, this recycled black walnut veneer bracelet serves as a coffee cup holder. Not only are you making a fashion statement, you’ve got a constant reminder to snag a little pick-me-up. Oh, and kudos to you on ending global warming…you can tell the barista at Starbucks to add extra cream and hold the cup sleeve! 

Thanks Like Cool!

Patricia Field, designer for “Sex and the City”, created a line for the Home Shopping Network that is pathetic on so many levels. Allow me to enlighten you:

1) These clothes are god awful. Red metallic pants? A tea dress made from your grandma’s old moo-moo? A shirt that has more shoes than you do? A shimmery rose top missing a sleeve? A little black dress decorated (or should I say dilapidated) by a hideous silver and gold tropical flower? Come on Patricia Field, you design for TV’s sex goddesses…none of your customers will get laid wearing these ugly things.

2) If you buy any item from the Patricia Field collection, you will get a free subscription to Vogue Magazine. Is Vogue really that desperate for readers that they will go as far as giving away free subscriptions to women who probably have never heard of the magazine? I’d buy the horrid metallic leggings just for the free subscription!

3) This one has got to be my ultimate favorite. Yes, you can pay for the Patricia Field collection through installments! Are you really dying to buy the ugly $29.90 turquoise pleated scarf? Only work 2 hours each week cleaning bathrooms at rest-stops? Not to worry! Three payments of $9.97 and the unsightly scarf is all yours! Yes, and you still get the Vogue subscription! But don’t get too excited…the shipping and handling fee of $6.21 is all due with the first payment. Looks like you’re going to have to skip out on the Starbucks for a few days!