Fashion Designers Blog - Essay Example

Derek Lam Debuting in 2003, Derek Lam brings to American sportswear a soft, feminine style with a slight throwback to the seventies. Lam also lendshis talents to resort wear captured in a collection of sundresses and silk robes. The Fashion Week Daily described Lam’s sportwear designs as touching on femininity that espouses maturity and self-awareness. Lam’s designs are also described as emanating intelligence without being overtly intellectual but rather more on the emotional side. Moreover, while Lam’s designs reflect modernity, they also encapsulate history (New York Fashion 2010). Lam’s formal wear is characterized by the cotton trenchcoat or the trenchcoat with fox trimmings and his evening gowns which are either short silk cocktail dresses marked by “handkerchief sleeves” or “flowly one-shoulder” gowns (Derek Lam 2010). Essentially, Lam takes a classic look and brings it into the new millennium. For example, Lam would take a seventies or late sixties look and reinvent it so that it appeals to today’s market. When Lam debuted his first collection in 2003 during New York Fashion Week in autumn of that year, he came well qualified. Graduating from the New School for Design, Parsons in 1990, Lam spent the next 12 years in design houses, particularly under Michael Kors. It was from Kors, that Lam claims to have acquired a taste and knowledge for American classics. Immediately following his debut, Lam’s designs were taken-up by Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman and caught on without hesitation. Lam then ventured into other areas bringing his brand to shoes, eyewear and other accessories. His brand was validated on another level when Lam won the 2005 CFDA’s Swarovski Perry Ellis Award for new and expanding talent. The accolades continued when Lam took home the CFDA award for Accessory Designed of the Year in 2007. Bibliography Derek Lam (2010). Vogue.au. http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/designers/derek+lam,247?display=bio (Retrieved September 27, 2010). New York Fashion (2010) Derek Lam. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/dereklam/ (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Vera Wang Much of Vera Wang’s success as a fashion designer is owed to her successful design and marketing of her unique bridal line. Drawing on the success of her bridal line, Wang introduced her ready-to-wear designs in 2004. New York Fashion (2010) describes Wang’s brand as expressing a predisposition toward the “long and lean”, and a profound inclination toward the “sheer and textural”. Wang began her designing career as director of accessories for Ralph Lauren in 1987. In 1989, she ventured into designs when she designed her own wedding gown and branched out into her own bridal collection when she opened her own shop in the Carlyle Hotel in New York in 1990. The bridal collection included the wedding gown and all other incidentals including invitations. From here, Wang expanded into ready-to-wear designs which gave her brand its own uniqueness as well as international acclaim (Vera Wang 2010). The bridal collection is characterized by glamour, aesthetics and jewel-toned outlays that have made the brand appealing to celebrity weddings such as those planned for Jennifer Lopez, Uma Thurman and Victoria Beckham. Wang’s ready-to-wear collection have also been quite popular on the red carpet. Notable Wang red carpet clientele are Kiera Knightley and Michelle Williams (Vera Wang 2010). Having won the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award in 2005, Wang followed up with a less expensive design in 2006 under the brand name, Simply Vera. In 2008, Wang introduced the Vera Wang Lavender Label. Like all of Wang’s designs, the Lavender Label combines glamour with comfort and convenience, giving it that niche that uniquely Wang in brand and style. Bibliography New York Fashion (2010) Vera Wang. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/verawang/ (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Vera Wang (2010) Vogue.au. http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/designers/vera+wang,221?display=bio (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Alannah Hill Alannah Hill has been described as the queen of Australia’s girly fashion. For more than a decade, Hill’s design have been noted for its feminine appeal featuring fabrics enshrined in floral arrays and satin finishes. These designs have not only caught on with alarming speed in Australia, but also globally. Competition from like designers in recent years, such as Arabella Ramsay, Alice McCall, Kate Sylvester and Caravana motivated Hill to branch out (Wells 2006). In response to the growing competition, Hill introduced a corporate clothing line as well as couture formal wear. In Hill’s own words, the corporate line is described as “workwear for the sexy and wayward secretary” (Wells 2006). This new approach distinguishes it from Hill’s girly fashions which are decidedly feminine and were very much the brand that identified Hill’s style. According to Hill, the corporate line displays a “naughty secretary look” although a bit conservative with a small split or a “peek-a-boo bit of lace or a special twist like a bow at the back” and offset by “little puffed sleeves” (Wells 2006). The Hill couture line are likewise intriguing. These gowns are designed using French fabric and decorated by buttons that are handmade and Swarovski crystals. These add-ons are demonstrative of the fact that Hill intends that her couture line are reserved for special occasions only. In fact, the couture line are known to have been purchased to serve as wedding gowns and/or bridesmaid gowns (Wells 2006). Hill’s spring/summer 2010/2011 collection are an amalgamation of her girly, couture and corporate lines. The gowns appear to be light summer wear, with an intellectual, naughty and glamorous touch. The gowns for the most part are leggy and sequenced in floral arrays or hearts or some other feminine shape and are at once colorful and subtle (see Woolnough 2010). Bibliography Wells, R. (December 28, 2006) “Running Up That Hill”. The Age, http://www.theage.com.au/news/fashion/running-up-that-hill/2006/12/21/1166290681822.html (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Woolnough, D. (August 5, 2010) “More From Alannah Hill”. Vogue.com.au. http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/more+from+alannah+hill+,3449 (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Donna Karan Donna Karan began her foray into fashion designs as a co-designer with Anne Klein for at least a decade. In 1985 she produced her own designs together with her now deceased husband Stephan Weiss. Karan’s first collection was a combination of practicality and the defining of the feminine curves. Eventually, the Karan brand became indicative of a New York style setting trends in black ready-to-wear designs. Karan is also known as the designer responsible for given popularity to the bodysuit. Karan however, did not confine her designs to a specific gender or genre. Instead, she designed for men, women and children and forayed into accessories, beauty and home (New York Fashion, Donna Karan 2010). Karan’s company The Donna Karan International company also includes a supplementary label, DKNY which was purchased by LVMH in 2001 although Karan continues to serve in the capacity of chief creative director (New York Fashion, Donna Karan 2010). Karan opened her first store in Sydney this month and in an interview with Inchley (2010) in advance of this event, Karan emphasized that her designs are calculated to exude comfort which engenders relaxation and by extension, confidence. Karan also spoke of her DKNY jeans brand. She described the brand as indicative of not only an attitude, but also of a lifestyle. This, according to Karan is particularly important to Australia which she sees denim as a “way of life” in Australia (Inchley 2010). Speaking of her most cherished achievements as a designer, Karan notes that she is pleased to have her brand synonymous with New York. She is also proud of having celebrated women in her brand. For Karan, fashion is not merely about dressing women, it also about “addressing women” (Inchley 2010). Bibliography Inchley, N. (September 12, 2010) “5 Minutes with Donna Karan”. Vogue.com.au. http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/five+minutes+with/5+minutes+with+donna+karan,5799 (Retrieved September 27, 2010). New York Fashion (2010) Donna Karan. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/donnakaran/ (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Vivienne Westwood Vivienne Westwood began her designing career in 1970 when she partnered with Malcolm McLaren, the manger of the Sex Pistols. From here, Westwood introduced into the world of fashion, London’s seminal style underpinning the city’s punk fixation in a number of the partnership’s King’s Road shop and its various spin-offs (Vivienne Westwood 2010). Chief among the labels were items of sex in 1974 and Seditionaries the following year. Items such as bondage pants, excessively large platform shoes and T-shirts depicting slogans continued to be designed after the partnership was terminated in 1983 (Vivienne Westwood 2010). In the years that followed, Westwood added safety pins, the Union Jack, tartan kilts, pinstripes, corsets and Watteau dresses to her collection. Westwood’s popularity as a fashion icon was exemplified by a reflective display of her designs at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Westwood’s brand is not only popular in London. It has received validity and recognition worldwide with her accessories and fragrances available at increasing popularity in Japan, and boutiques positioned in Paris, Hong Kong, Moscow, Seoul and major British cities (Vivienne Westwood 2010). Westwood continues to market goods at the King’s Road store which is now known as World’s End. Joe Corre, the son of McLaren and Westwood carries on his parent’s initial vision by establishing Agent Provocateur which is characterized by its lingerie brand (Vivienne Westwood 2010). In this regard, Westwood has influenced fashion in a diverse way. She not only introduced and successfully marketed her own brand, her own son is doing the same. Bibliography Vivienne Westwood (2010) “Vivienne Westwood.” Vogue.com.au. http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/designers/vivienne+westwood,219?display=bio (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Donatella Versace Donatella Versace comes from a family of designers with a tradition of producing what has come to be known as “super sexy styles” (Nellis n.d.). The Versace family is particularly noted for their penchant for combining super sexy with “rock ‘n’ roll” (Nellis n.d.). Aside from the family’s influence, Versace is also existing in a market where her brother Gianni Versace who was murdered in 1997 was remarkably popular and successful. Be that as it may, Versace is known for her four divisive lines: less expensive line, the Versace line, accessories and haute couture. Versace’s designed are known by their glaring prints, low cuts and sexuality (Nellis n.d.). Versace began her designing career as Gianni’s advisor in the mid-seventies. Versace commenced the design of Versus in the 1980s (Nellis n.d.). Among Versace’s most famous clientele are Madonna, Elton John, Camilla Parker-Bowles, Elizabeth Hurley, Princess Diana and Christina Aguilera (Nellis n.d.). Versace is responsible for the induction of the Palazzo Versace located in Australia which is in line with the plan to establish seven such hotels globally. The Palazzo Versace is a Versace brand and demonstrates the extent of the brand. All in all, Versace designs for those who exude sleekness, sexiness and have little or no fear of being the focal point of attention. This style goes hand in hand with the overall Versace design pattern which is virtually aimed at accentuating the body. This is particularly evidenced by the exposed neckline, slits and mini-skirts. In the final analysis, Versace is part and parcel of family of designers which has made its mark in designing. Versace’s talent essentially ensures that the family’s legacy will likely have perpetual life. Bibliography Nellis, C. (n.d.) “Design Byte: Donatella Versace. http://fashion.about.com/cs/designerprofiles/a/donatellversace.htm (Retrieved September 27, 2010). Read More