America’s Fashion Oscars

It’s certainly been a full-on week on the fashion front. Fashion shows, drinks parties and awards galore, and I’m not just talking about all the Graduate Fashion Week action. First up, across the pond was the CFDA Awards in New York. Dubbed the Fashion Oscars - The Council of Fashion Designers of America named Vera Wang as the Womenswear Designer of the Year, ecstatic she said: "I'm really incredibly honoured. Even at my age dreams in life can really come true." Other winners of the evening included John Varatos for Menswear Designer of the Year and Marc Jacobs who picked up Accessories Designer of the Year for the third time. Not just a night for established industry talent, the Swarovski - Perry Ellis Awards for emerging designers went to - Alexandre Plokhov for Menswear, Derek Lam for Womenswear and Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong for Accessories. Kate Moss clad in Dior Couture, meanwhile, bagged her very own fashion Oscar with the Award for Fashion Influence. Kate’s style has influenced many a copycat design and is often responsible for setting trends rather than simply following them.

Glamour’s Women

Back in the UK there was more award mania as Glamour Magazine hosted its Women of the Year Awards:

Glamour Editor's Special Award: Teri Hatcher

Amor Amor Woman of the Year: Rachel Stevens

Man of the Year: Usher

Film Actress of the Year: Sophie Okonedo

Newcomer of the Year: Mischa Barton

Best Band of the Year: Destiny's Child

UK TV Actress of the Year: Patsy Kensit

US TV Actress of the Year: Teri Hatcher

International Solo Artist of the Year: Gwen Stefani

UK Solo Artist of the Year: Natasha Bedingfield

Entrepreneur of the Year: Elle Macpherson

Writer of the Year: JK Rowling

TV Personality of the Year: Cat Deeley

Radio Personality of the Year: Jo Whiley

Sportswoman of the Year: Kelly Holmes

Theatre Actress of the Year: Kim Cattrall

Fashion Designer of the Year: Alice Temperley

Accessory Designer of the Year: Tamara Mellon

Film-maker of the Year: Beeban Kidron

The Body - Beauty Range

Talking of Elle Macpherson, she really is proving to be a savvy entrepreneur. Alongside her highly successful Intimates lingerie range Elle will be launching her very own skincare line in stores this autumn. Using her modelling nickname – The Body – the range will include cleansers, detoxifiers, exfoliators and moisturizers. Keeping in line with her Intimates lingerie brand Elle aims to offer top of the range products at competitive prices. She recently told the Daily Telegraph that: “The philosophy is the same as the lingerie, I see myself as the consumer. I'm a working mother and I don't get a lot of time to myself. I create products that I need in my life, and which make me feel good." The Body skincare line will be sold in Boots and Selfridges from September.

Website of the Week...

http://www.myfashionlife.com/

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Trend of the Week…Shiny Happy People

Ladies attending the Graduate Fashion Week shows couldn’t seem to get enough of shiny metallic bags. Just as well for them that the River Island GFW goodie bag contained a little gold number - perfect for those summer evenings out on the tiles. Elsewhere, new stock has been filling those High Street rails. Autumn, yes, it feels a little vulgar to say the word when our summer is just about to crank up, but autumn is very much on those retail minds at the moment. Now in store…the Victorian mood continues to build with lace detailing and pretty camisoles. Colour has become a subtle affair with shades such as grey, khaki, peach, cocoa, black and white, while prints have noticeably calmed down bar some florals and repeated patterns. Attention has now turned to handcrafted embellishment such as appliqués, crochet necklines, lace and embroidery. Denim continues to be one of the top staples – cropped, skinny and straight leg continue to sell well along with utility trousers, floor length skirts and cropped cardigans.

Image: Gold Bag by ICY S/S 05 collection www.icybags.com

SP:UK Summer Exhibition

Opening with a Private View tonight (10^th June) is the SP:UK Clothing Summer Exhibition. If you’re a big fan of doodles, graffiti, illustration, graphics, painting etc… then you should check out http://www.spunky.co.uk for their range of art on tees. Twelve artists from Spunky’s current range have painted one-off canvasses to be shown in an exhibition at Unit 2.4 Kingly Court. The limited edition artworks will be available to buy, artists involved include: Antidote - China Mike - Eco - Emel - Jodi Muter - Mudwig - Rich T - Sickboy - Tegan Wakelin - Tomoaki Ryuh - Yuck – Yaka.

SP:UK Summer Exhibition

When: Private View Friday 10^th June Open to public from Sat 11th of June to Sun 19th June - opening hours 12 - 3pm and 4pm - 7pm every day.

Where: Unit 2.4 Kingly Court, off Carnaby Street, London W1

By JoJo Iles