New York Fashion Week| Alexander Wang SS 2012

It's only logical that technical sportswear should be breaking through as such an important influence for spring 2012—it's fashion mentally limbering up for the Summer Olympics in London, of course. Athleticism is home territory for American designers, too, so it's no stretch to see Alexander Wang streaking off the starting-blocks with a show dedicated to New York street-elegant sportswear. It's his natural beat, too. "I've been looking at motocross, Nascar racing, and all the clothes those guys wear," Wang said backstage, looking calmly across the vast space he commanded at Pier 94 toward racks of perforated taffeta, bright flashes of tangerine, violet, and teal, and slick, body-sculpted knits.

It all came together with a sense of cohesion and modernity. There were zippy blousons and tiny skirts (Wang called them “racing suits”) with colored polo shirts showing through the mesh, geometrically-engineered intarsia sweaters and leggings color-blocked in burgundy, ochre, and white, and botanical prints on techno-fabric biker tops and matching skinny pants—and all of this stalking energetically down the runway on high, pointy shoes in gutsy fish-scale textures. It was fast, young, confident, and—even though Wang doesn't veer from his contemporary-level price point—far from generic. His silk parachute dresses with zippered fronts and oversize cargo pockets radiated hot, sexy urbanity, while the final section, featuring sheer sweatshirts (patterned with fluorescent flashes) and collaged T-shirt dresses worn over swim pieces, had a sophistication that made this show a New York winner.

Alicia Keys and her boyfriend Swizz Beatz

Terry Richardson and Courtney Love

Carine Roitfeld and Linda Evangelista

Carine Roitfeld, Alexander Wang and Marie Amelie Sauve

Text : Sarah Mower 

News We Love | Carine's World Party

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to do karaoke with Carine Roitfeld or Valentino (and haven’t we all?), wonder no more. On Saturday, Ms. Roitfeld and friends partied the night away in celebration of Barneys‘ “Carine’s World” campaign. Below, we provide a taste of the evening’s pleasantly over-the-top activities.

In celebration of Carine’s World, this fall’s Barneys collaboration with Carine Roitfeld, the retailer hosted a stylish party at Westway, the converted former strip club space in downtown New York. Guests like Alexander Wang, Terry Richardson, and Karlie Kloss enjoyed Roitfeld’s favorite drink, Testarossas, and the bounty of the taco truck she requested to be stationed outside. 

As the party revved up, Roitfeld took the platform for a karaoke rendition of George Michael’s Careless Whispers, and then with Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. And when Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti arrived later on, Valentino got on stage to sing Unforgettable. His performance was such a hit, he even did an encore with My Way.

Carine Roitfeld & Valentino Garavani

Carine Roitfeld & Alexander Wang

Carine Roitfeld, Terry Richardson, Courtney Love, and Jared Leto

Courtney Love and Jared Leto

Carine Roitfeld and Olivier Zahm

Jared Leto and Olivier Zahm

Terry Richardson, Jared Leto and Olivier Zahm

Cecile Winckler, Robert Konjic, and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

Cecile Winckler, Robert Konjic, and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

Giovanna Battaglia

Claire and Virginie Courtin-Clarins

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld

Dennis Freedman and Mario Sorrenti

Credit:
            Purple
          

Celebrity Jewelry Gossip

Juicy celebrity jewelry tidbits are both naughty and nice this week. Here's a blingy roundup:

Pete Doherty: Jewelry Designer/Jailbird

From the 'Most Unlikely Celebrity to Launch a Jewelry Line' category comes news that badboy Brit rocker and ex Kate Moss love, Pete Doherty, came out this week with a bauble collection for men. Just in time for his court appearance for drug possession.

The fifteen-piece range was inspired by "trinkets ... ivory, cigarette tins, old cases, old glass,” Doherty told WWD between cigarette drags at the launch party. “It’s just a shame I can’t afford to buy them myself,” he sighed, referring to the $663 to $13,600 price range. “They cost a fortune."

Courtney Love: Grrrl Rocker/Jewelry Thief

Just when you think her annoying self-destructive phase is over, Courtney Love never fails to self-sabatoge. This time she's taken a page from the Lindsay Lohan play book by 'losing' borrowed jewelry from a celebrity jewelry house.

The Hole frontwoman was slapped with a lawsuit from Jacob & Co. for not returning jewelry worth nearly $114,000. According to USA Today, Love borrowed two white gold and diamond chains, a white gold, floral-design mesh bracelet and a pair of white gold and diamond pave hoop earrings on Sept. 21 from the New York jeweler - but only returned the bracelet. She now owes $113,700 for the oversight.

And all of us for the 30 seconds it took to read this post.


SouljaBoy: Rapper/Investment Specialist

What do Glenn Beck and SouljaBoy have in common? A penchant for dispersing investment advice, apparently. The rapper rivals Lil' Wayne in the bling department, wearing jewelry creations that weigh more than a toddler.

When asked about his $3 million jewelry stash's investment value, Mr. Boy told Sway from MTV,

"Gold is the best thing going, all the people that's watching, honestly ... all of my jewelry together ... gold is where it's at."

Sharon Stone: Celebrity Charity Case

Joining the likes of Angelina Jolie and Christina Applegate, Sharon Stone is putting her name on a jewelry line for charity, according to Luxist.

Sharon Stone has been the face of Damiani jewelry since 2008 and collaborated with them on  a new line of jewelry, The Maji, that benefits the charity initiative, The Clean Water Project.

The collection is the first in the series of "Sharon Stone for Damiani" lines and features rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings with rough diamonds set on burnished gold or silver - each signed by the Cougar Queen herself.

Overacting lessons and oversized ego, not included.

It's never dull in blingville, jewelry hounds. Send me your gem-filled gossip, and I'll try to include it for my next roundup!