Ivana Helsinki FW 11 @ Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Posted on February 22, 2011 by yougogirl

The last show of the season was pending. As I enjoyed a glass of wine at LINCOLN, I was able to watch as the crowds poured in to check out the last of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

The tents were packed with fashionistas. LAMB (Fabulous) had just finished and I was heading to Ivana Helsinki the very last show of the night.

I first found Ivana Helsinki in a lovely shop in San Francisco on the tip of North Beach. Our intention was to go out and get coffee and get right back to the hotel. We went shopping…

I was instantly drawn to Ivanas knits. I didn’t just buy one piece of hers that day. I bought two; Both of which I still wear two years later |

Ivana Helsinki pieces are often notices for their prints. The prints are designed by Paola Ivana Suhonen. Usually quite lovely. For FW 2011, the designer’s theme was “Velvet Lake”. The show opened with a 35 mm film shown on a reel to reel. Cool. I will just share the words that inspired the collection and show you the pieces. I loved; All that I highlight here. The boots are designed by Ivana Helsinki as well for Seychelles.

You know the moment

Just before the lake will freeze?

It’s lazy, slow

Like a velvet coat

On top of dark water

Like feathers, smooth

Ready to cool

Liquid to solid

Velvet Lake

That is what we call it.

Had a blast at the after party. Chelsea Hotel. Couldn’t be better. RL

Photo Credits |

Middle | Rebecca in Ivana Helsinki

White Trash Beautiful FW 2011 @ Style360 NYFW

Posted on February 21, 2011 by yougogirl

I like Style360’s approach when it comes to New York Fashion Week. They tend to have unique designers that have interesting stories to tell not only through their collection, but also are interesting people personally.

WTB ~ “White Trash Beautiful” is a line that premiered in its first New York Fashion Week on Thursday. It is the design line of Richie Sambora, who all of us know from Bon Jovi and Nikki Lund, who admittedly I didn’t know…I had to do some sleuthing. [Nikki is a LA Designer & Musician with quite a career]

The concept of ‘Trailer Trash” has intrigued us all for several years and quite honestly I didn’t get that groove. I just got a rock and roll vibe that I love.

The distress grey leather jacket is something I know that would work for several clients. I think the lines are perfect over a skinny jean, wide leg pant or dress. I kinda can’t wait to get my arms in one.

These two looks I love. First a take on the leather dress with the asymmetrical keyhole. The second is this fab tux jacket with major embellishments on the shoulder. Cute. By the way, the footwear was all by Report. This is a line that I often buy personally and use in shoots. I hold a special place in my heart for them…extra special that they are based in Seattle.

The gowns were sexy and clearly more LA than NYC ~ Designed for women with curves. The teal accent in the collection was seen in bits and pieces throughout. Lovely.

The design duo are teaming up on the music end as well. The runway music was all WTB. We tried to hit the after party but were too late to catch up with everyone after our last show. Too bad…its okay, it was the last night of fashion week and we had plenty of other places to go. RL

Malan Breton FW 2011 @ Style360 NYFW

Posted on February 21, 2011 by yougogirl

It was really clever of Malan Breton to have a preview of what his next collection inspiration was on line. True, everyone is doing fashion films now, but this was great as the collection had yet to be shown. It got me really looking forward to what he was going to create. Check it out |

Malan, born in Taiwan, was self-taught as a designer and through his career as a model and entertainer, he was continually designing. He does has a sense for the theatrical and I like it.

Opening with a beautiful woman in a white kimono creating a vision as she dance with a fan, the collection had a lovely retro feel with 50’s & 60’s elegance through styling and tailoring.

Clearly, the designer has a love of tailoring and those were my favorite pieces of this collection. The men’s and women’s tailored suits were lovely. I love the wide legs on the women’s trousers that Malan created.

Samurai shorts and full lace kimono paired with a lace wide leg trouser’s added a sense of uniqueness for me.

Malan’s models were uniquely beautiful and a nice change from the androgynous models seen at a majority of the shows. The model “Balto” had a killer look and I loved Kimono Silk Black Top coat and trouser that he was styled in.

The final piece was a red wedding dress that I loved but sensed the audience didn’t understand. One only needs to remember that most all of Asia and Southeast Asia, brides are wed in red. It was stunning as was the model wearing it.

The Kyoto Drummers were a cool addition and even more fab, was one of the drummers was a woman.

Malan seems to have a darker side, that I always love seeing in an artist. Overall a lovely and unique collection. RL

Sergio Davila FW11 @ Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Posted on February 17, 2011 by yougogirl

What could be better for a guy than to wear his sweatpants out on the town? Wearing ones that rock a style like Sergio Davila has created. With his origins from South America, the designer’s FW 11 collection included inspiration from “The Two Americas”. Two looks intrigued me the most |

First, a high-waisted pair of sweatpants |

Second, a pair of muted purple sweatpants paired with a Alpaca/Wool Double Breasted knit Coat|

Produced specifically for this collection, Davila’ soft fabrics are Peruvian and include wool flannel, camel blend, and pima cotton.

Primarily a menswear designer, Sergio did include some fab women’s looks.

I was drawn to the layers of texture. No surprise there. RL

STUDY NY FW 11 – an Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Winner @ NYFW

Posted on February 16, 2011 by yougogirl

It was so fun to see a bunch of my Sustainable Style Foundation friends at the STUDY NY FW 11 presentation at The Standard. Designed by Tara St. James, it is lovely that this design label was one of the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Winners.

The collection included vintage and re-purposed pieces in cozy fabrics with a definite 80’s groove. From previous experience, I know that the designers at Study NY try to allow for multiple ways of wearing the pieces.

My favorite pieces in the collection show were this double knit dress …

…and this cozy oversized hand knit alpaca cardigan (made by women’s knitting co-0p Madres & Artesans)

Started in 2001, The Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDFF) has become one of the most intriguing and prestigious emerging designer awards programs in the fashion industry. It is “dedicated to recognizing and supporting emerging talent and strives to inspire those who are gifted in fashion design to pursue their dreams in one of the most challenging and illustrious professions”. In its 10th year with over 1 million dollars donated to more than 60 designers, the EDFF has launched the careers of some of fashions super stars including; Zac Posen, Derek Lam, Peter Som, Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung.

Congratulations to STUDY NY. RL

Paola Hernandez FW 11 @ NYFW

Posted on February 16, 2011 by yougogirl

Design and Art has a process. Most times for us artists, it’s the process that matters more than the final piece.

Paola Hernandez took this concept to showcase her FW 11 Collection and thought it was lovely. The collection, titled “A Look Within,” developed from the idea of balance. “The focus of this collection portrays a garment that is black on the exterior, signifying silence and emptiness, balanced with an interior silver lining, revealing the light within.” (quoted from the run of show program) The models were actual artists executing their craft for the installation. How clever.

Paola has an exceptional design sensibility and it shows through the breadth of her capabilities of design from garments to shoes and accessories.

I loved the menswear pieces with clean lines and details that are hard to see here, but the are there.

Paola’s dresses are lovely. I have been a fan since I first saw her collection for Spring. I am glad to still see the one shoulder for the next season. I don’t think it has to be a trend ~ this style is very flattering for most women. I loved the hair and make up styling for this installation. It was fresh and fun.

The designer recently designed some exclusive pieces for the W Hotel that will be available in W boutiques in July 2011. RL

Simon Spurr FW 11 @ NYFW

Posted on February 15, 2011 by yougogirl

Jetting back and forth between Brooklyn & Manhattan during NYFW can be grueling. Sunday, I took a car. Didn’t help. Despite my best intentions to check out Simon Spurr’s Fall 2011 Collection, I didn’t get to see it in person…dumb. Why you ask? I didn’t get my aggressive NYC groove going. I was on the list mind you, I just opted to be cool. Good thing Richard has all his fabulous gear and got a good place on the risers. Despite my disappointment, I am going to post anyway. You are lucky Simon Spurr that I adore your style. I’m just posting my favorite pieces |

Apparently I’m obsessed with Shearling Toppers for men next season |

Really love the unique styling with fab accessories. Not to mention the perfect fits on the suits |

This is fun take on “orange” for Fall |

I’m still smarting from not being able to see the show. This piece looks amazing. Love the leather sleeves. Oh Well… |

Cheers! RL

Prabal Gurang FW 2011 @ Mercedez Benz Fashion Week

Posted on February 15, 2011 by yougogirl

You would have to be living under a fashion rock if you haven’t heard about Prabal Gurang’s FW 11 show during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. There is not doubt the designer is a genius ~ made especially clear on the runway. All the players were in attendance, include Anna Wintour.

Oh the dresses…fab. The combo of red and pink for fall was amazing.

The texture play combining a net with a silk maxi skirt was lovely. Especially in the dove grey. I am a big fan of playing with texture and in awe of how the silks played so will mixed with “fall” texture in a neutral palate.

I love love the sheer long and black idea…very elegant.

Gurung was born in Singapore and raised in Katmandu, Nepal. It was in New Delhi, India that his design career truly began. While studying at New Delhi’s National Institute of Fashion Technology, he apprenticed at several local production and fashion houses and designed with Manish Arora. Gurung’s travels took him to Melbourne and London. His design roots are elegant that is for certain.

You will be definitely hearing more about this designer from me. RL

Binetti FW 11 @ Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Posted on February 13, 2011 by yougogirl

As we saw last season, installations are really the way to go. I personally love it, I get to see garments close up and personal.

The Binetti Fall 2011 collection was impeccably detailed and clearly inspired by the flapper mentality and sexuality.

While the pieces themselves were stunning with embellishments such as ostrich feathers, inserts of silk chiffon and custom broaches crafted out of metal, the collection seemed to feel like pieces for a group of party girls from an age gone by. I transported myself there as I visualized a room of tie-dye sequin dresses.

The accessories mesmerized me. I also loved the attention to detail the stylist took for every single look.

Fun note, the manicures. A beautiful red with a reverse French at the nail bed supporting a black border. Stunning! RL

Costello Tagliapietra FW 11 @ NYFW | Milk Studios

Posted on February 13, 2011 by yougogirl

You have to love it when friends and partners tip their hat to their meeting and look back at how things were “back in the day”. Costello Tagliapietra were inspired by this collection by their first meeting in NYC 17 years ago. The colors and hues were lovely and certainly remind me of how simple and colorful things were back in the 90′s.

What warmed my heart was the obvious fresh feel to the clothing. And, to top it off “sustainable” sensibilities. The design team used an Airdye technique that processes dyes without the use of water. They used an eco wool jersey along with “animal & eco friendly” Alpaca fur. Love you guys for that.

The collection was impeccable and the styling? I loved every bit of it. All I’m going to do is just share the shots with you and tell you that I can’t wait to get clients and myself into these pieces for fall. RL

Rebecca Luke Style

…an ongoing commentary on fashion and lifestyle

Monthly Archives: February 2011