30 Rock Actress, Katrina Bowden spotted at LAX airport rocking her Genetic Denim Shane Skinnies that she just picked up at Owl Lab boutique! Pick up your very own pair now at Owl’s Lab boutique online!

Chambord® Black Raspberry liqueur, an all-natural liqueur produced in France’s Loire Valley, will serve as the Official Liqueur of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, and will for the first time offer fashion show attendants the chance to be sketched by local fashion designers.

This is the fourth consecutive year Chambord has been on the scene at New York’s premier fashion event, and this year brings even more excitement to the mix. Guests attending Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week can enjoy Chambord at the event bars and lounges and in passed cocktails in the Lobby. Guests can also visit the Chambord booth to pose for a complimentary, digital fashion sketch performed by local fashion designers. Once sketched, visitors can download their sketch at www.chambordonline.com/sketch.

“Chambord is the perfect accessory for every outfit and occasion. With cocktails from the seriously chic French Martini to the timeless Chambord and Champagne, Chambord is an all-natural liqueur that suits every style.” said Meghan Murray, brand manager for Chambord. “Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an excellent way to highlight Chambord’s stylishness and versatility, and we’re excited to partner with IMG Fashion once again.”

Event bars will feature classic Chambord French Martinis, the Velvet Elvis (a rocking combination of Chambord and Jack Daniel’s) and for the calorie conscious, the Chambord Lemonade (Vodka, Chambord and sugar free lemonade) during the showing of the Fall 2009 Collection (February 13 – 20).

Chambord® French Martini
1½ oz vodka
½ oz Chambord
3 oz pineapple juice
Shake ingredients with ice
and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

Chambord® Lemonade
1 ½ oz vodka
½ oz Chambord
3 oz sugar free lemonade
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass.
Garnish with fresh berries or a lemon.

Chambord® Velvet Elvis
2 oz Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Whiskey
1 oz Chambord
2 oz sweet and sour
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

About Chambord
Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, made from all-natural, raspberries, blackberries, XO cognac, Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel and honey extract, is produced just south of Paris in the picturesque Loire Valley. Inspired by Louis XIV’s visit to Chateau de Chambord in 1685, Chambord continues to lend elegance and style to every occasion as one of the world’s most versatile liqueurs.

In just a few weeks, fashion industry professionals from around the world will convene in the iconic Bryant Park Tents to see the Fall 2009 Collections. Creative new talent will take to the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to showcase fashion’s most inspiring new looks. With a renewed interest in America’s designers, thanks to America’s new First Lady Michelle Obama, all eyes will be watching and reading about the shows. This season will show us how one of the world’s most creative industries and its newest crop of young talent, alongside the more seasoned ones, use the runway to express how to cope in these tough economic times.

The  talented newcomers and first-timers at the tents will be on a schedule that also includes Michael Kors, Diane Von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, Max Azria, Carolina Herrera,  Dennis Basso, Badgley Mischka, Tracy Reese and Tommy Hilfiger among many others, and also includes designers and collections from Brazil, China, Nigeria, Korea, Japan, Russia,  Israel, Spain, France, Italy and Australia?all of whom choose New York City as the place to present their work to the fashion world.

“We are  thrilled to bring together some of the best designers both domestic and foreign,” said Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion. „We are anxious to see what they will do, what their inspirations have been, and how they would like their customers to dress in this new age of awareness, and values in all aspects of life.  Creative people – the designers, as well as the editors, buyers, art directors, photographers, celebrities and media stars are the ones who will carry us all forward and will make Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week the place to experience, see, photograph, videotape, blog, twitter and tell the world what’s going on.”

This season designers debuting collections in the Tents for the very first time includes THISDAY/Arise Magazine, Georges Chakra, Adam, Barbie’s®, Monarchy Collection, Nicholas K, E.Y. Wada, Farah Angsana, William Rast, Chocheng, Domencio Vacca, Mackage and Christian Siriano. Some of their inspirations are:

THISDAY/Arise Magazine producers of the largest newspapers in Africa, launches ARISE Magazine, a Lifestyle and Fashion Magazine which will celebrate the best out of Africa, from fashion to business. ARISE Magazine will be producing a spectacular fashion show, presenting some of the best African fashion fesigners.

Lebanese native, Georges Chakra will bring his imaginative line reminiscent of the beautiful allure of the woman‚s personality and silhouette to the runway. His mission is to provide innovative and creative collections for self-confident women.

Cornell Grad Adam Lippes, who began his career at Ralph Lauren,  has an  uncanny ability to combine sophistication with simplicity. This season, he continues to pursue his desire “to fuse fashion with the perfect white tee.”

In celebration of Barbie’s® unparalleled fashion heritage, this season 50 world-renowned fashion designers will come together for the first time ever and showcase real-size, Barbie®-inspired looks. In this monumental fashion celebration – that only Barbie® could host ˆ designers will celebrate the past, present and future of fashion, as inspired by Barbie® doll, first launched in 1959 as the “Teenage Fashion Model.”  (To be webcast live on Barbie.com on February 14, 2009)

Eric Kim”s Monarchy Collection broadens its spectrum in combining an edgy fashionable look with his heritage of a cool California style. Having made his mark on the West Coast with hard work and talent, Kim  is bringing it cross country to the streets of the East Coast.

Nicholas K is a brother & sister duo, Nicholas and Christopher Kunz. Winners in 2007 of the Sportswear International Award for Best Fashion, this family team brings a much anticipated presence to Bryant Park.

E.Y. Wada, the line from the New York based couple Eunyoung Song and Shuji Wade will bring its artistic ready to wear style to the  Tents.  Having honed their skills at reputable design houses, Song at DKNY and Wade at Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen, their distinctive  looks can be summed up by “We don’t look at art or movies, we look at people on the street.”

Indonesian born Farah Angsana, blends fantasy and reality to make women beautiful and glamorous  and designs haute couture and high-end eveningwear.

William Rast, a Los Angeles based clothing company founded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala is best known for its premium jeans. For the first time William Rast will bring the combination of his authentic southern heritage and contemporary Hollywood to the Tents.

CHOCHENG a New York City’s Parsons School of Design alum  and  Golden Thimble Award  winner has been cited “the new master of red carpet glamour”.  He inherited his love of fashion from his grandmother Betty Charnuis Yan.  Domenico Vacca, a celebrity favorite, on the red carpet for several years will bring his classic elegance and keen eye  for detail to the tents this season for the first time.

Mackage, launched by longtime friends Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan design, one of the most prestigious outerwear brands in North America. Their unique style is reflected in their philosophy, “when the weather calls for layering, a coat isn’t just a part of an outfit-it becomes the outfit itself.”

Christian Siriano, the  ”fiercest” and  youngest  winner ever of Season Four’s Project Runway will bring his energetic personality  and clothes to the catwalks of Bryant Park. Since winning Project Runway, he has designed for PUMA, Payless and  had his first collection  on Bluefly.com.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicks off with the 7th edition of The Heart Truth‚s Red Dress Collection 2009 and is followed by  Yigal Azrou?l, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents designer, Duckie Brown, Charlotte Ronson, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Nicole Miller, THISDAY/Arise Magazine: African Fashion Collective 2009, Academy of Art University, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, ADAM, Barbie? Runway Show, Verrier, Monarchy, Lela Rose, Mara Hoffman, Nicholas K, Sergio Davila, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Thuy, Diane Von Furstenberg, Akiko Ogawa., Erin Fetherston, Miss Sixty, E.Y. Wada, Farah Angsana, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Tracy Reese, Tony Cohen, Terexov, William Rast, Cynthia Steffe, Badgley Mischka, Matthew Williamson, Pamella Roland, Diesel Black Gold, Dennis Basso, CHOCHENG, MAX AZRIA, Tibi, Domenico Vacca, J. Mendel, Nanette Lepore, Michael Kors, Richard Chai, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Milly by Michelle Smith, Anna Sui, Mackage, Tommy Hilfiger, Brian Reyes, Rebecca Taylor, Ports 1961, Christian Siriano, Custo Barcelona, Zac Posen, Project Runway, Tadashi Shoji and Chado Ralph Rucci. Walter, DKNY, Calvin Klein Men‚s Collection, Y-3, Jill Stuart, Donna Karan New York, Yeohlee, Z Zegna, 1909 Victorinox, Calvin Klein Women’s Collection, Leifsdottir and Ralph Lauren are associate members on the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week calendar with shows off-site. Further details and announcements on this event will follow.

The iconic Bryant Park Tents offer three venues this season: the Promenade, the Salon and the Tent. Over the course of 8 days, approximately 100,000 people will pass through the Tents to attend shows, meet and greet, do interviews, and see the business of fashion continue to be done from morning to night.

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express, M?A?C Cosmetics, Judith Ripka, YKK, W Hotels Worldwide, Havaianas, TRESemmé, Barbie®, The Heart Truth Campaign, VIACTIV®, Peroni, Chambord and Martini Gold Mixers as well as the following media outlets The New York Times, Women‚s Wear Daily and Getty Images. Each of these sponsors will be providing hospitality, services and amenities to make the hectic week of shows as effortless and pleasurable as possible for all attendees.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009 Collections will be held February 13-20, 2009.

Valentines Day is coming up everyone as we all know. And as many of us do this time of year, we find ourselves in a pickle as to what to buy our loved ones. This year don’t go with the cliche chocolate or roses, but do it right with a Rock Band from designer Lee Dahlberg. Dahlberg’s unique and exquiste gift is sure to please whomever you give a Rock Band to this Valentines Day!

Over 20 of today’s hottest celebrities together on the runway in fashions created by America’s top designers for women’s heart health. On Friday, February 13, under the tents in New York’s Bryant Park, The Heart Truth will hold its sixth annual Red Dress Collection Fashion Show—an inspiring event that celebrates the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. Checkout backstage photos of the Heart Truth 2005 Fall Collection here.

Heart Truth is making progress in the fight against heart disease in women—more women are aware that heart disease is their #1 killer, and fewer are dying from it.  But, one in four American women still dies of heart disease, and one-third of women still underestimate their own personal risk of heart disease.

Women have tremendous power to reduce their risk of heart disease.  By leading a healthy lifestyle, Americans can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent.  Getting serious about heart disease can mean a longer, healthier life.

Also this February, through a partnership with Clothes Off Our Back, a selection of red designer dresses worn by celebrities in The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Shows will be auctioned at www.clothesoffourback.org.  A selection of the dresses up for auction will be on display at Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock Observation Deck from February 14 through February 21.   Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and will be used to further efforts related to women’s heart health awareness and research. Visit http://www.hearttruth.gov

Fashion Wars Live is the only multimedia party for independent style that takes place on and off-line, and it is coming to Manhattan. The first of the Fashion Wars Live series in New York City proper will be held at multimedia event space Ultra Lounge in the Flat Iron District on Thursday, January 29th at 9 PM until late. A celebration of indie fashion and creativity, ZOOZOOM will create a live photo studio in the VIP ‘tree house’ at Ultra Lounge, inviting attendees to be photographed in their signature style or designs.

Fashion photographer and Publisher of ZOOZOOM, David McIntyre, will shoot studio portraits of attending fashionistas which will be projected on an 8′ x 100′ wall as well as published on the web in real time. Two randomly-chosen fashionista images will appear side-by-side, and voters will choose their favorite look. Anyone (online or in the venue itself via iPhone) can vote. In the spirit of the ‘happenings’ of the Fluxist era, Fashion Wars Live is a photography, fashion, music and art experience including a specially-curated rock show by Tall Firs (signed to Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace! label), Revival Times, two DJ sets by fashion writer Kelley Hoffman and WFMU’s own $mallchange, and art by NY painter Anne Kyle.

On top of that we’ve upped the ante and have some of the newest indie fashion talent as official sponsors: Yestadt Millinery, a fresh hatter and hair fascinator designer has designed a one-of-a-kind couture piece to be given as a door prize, DRU New York shoes is offering up a pair of kicks of your choice to another lucky winner, and goodie bags will be stocked with Rebel Dance gift certificates and new music. Fashion Wars Live wants you to be yourself… Anything (fabulous) goes.

Fashion Wars Live has its seeds in ZOOZOOM Fashion Magazine, The Original Online Glossy’s, highly successful Fashion Week game, and was born at the hugely successful Brooklyn edition at art space 3rd Ward. Mingle with fashion designers, editors, publicists, photographers, stylists, makeup artists, creative directors, and people with exceptional individual style. Represent.

Fashion Wars presents two pictures and the viewer clicks on their favorite to cast a vote. The outfits can be from the same designer’s or from a given look or season’s trend, such as ‘short shorts’. The images are picked at random and the results of each battle are recorded. The purpose of the site is to add fun to the process of learning about the latest fashion trends and perhaps influence the future.

What a day! Barack Obama stepped into history yesterday, as he was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and his wife, Michelle stepped onto fashion’s stage, making her official ‘debut’ as First Lady. In the process, she gave the American fashion industry a much needed shot in the arm with her selection of Isabel Toledo’s pale gold coat ensemble as her choice for the daytime inaugural ceremonies and Jason Wu’s white chiffon one shouldered gown for the balls that followed.

Regardless of how you felt about her choices (and there’s already been a lot of talk), what is undeniable is that her endorsement of two labels that are not exactly household names (though it’s obvious that will change from now on) is bold and quite telling in terms of her style future for the next 4 years (and beyond). Taipei born 26 year old Jason Wu (no more, Jason ‘who’?) and Cuban born Isabel Toledo (a designer Michelle Obama has chosen for public appearances before) are almost unknown to the general public (CNN’s Campbell Brown admitted to fashion correspondent Robert Verdi that she was not familiar with the name), but both are well respected within the fashion world. Ms. Toledo is especially revered and worshipped: she has been honored with the Cooper Hewitt’s Design Award in 2005, was the recipient of the Couture Council of FIT’s 2008 Fashion in Artistry Award, and will be the subject of the Museum at FIT’s exhibit, ‘Holy Toledo! Isabel Toledo and the Art of Fashion’, this coming spring.

Get the rest of this entry written by Marilyn Kirschner at the Daily Fashion Report.

The Baby Phat 2005 Fall Fashion Show by designer Kimora Lee Simmons had a huge celebrity turn out for the popular line. The collection was made up of the most innovative designs and the after-party was among the best during New York Fashion Week that season. Revealing her most most innovative collection up to that date, Kimora took the 2005 Fall Collection to a new level.

The sleekest and sexiest designs covered each of the runway models as they strutted down the catwalk to some of the hottest hip hop tracks as the shows’ music/fashion fusion was seamless. From swimwear to hats all the way down to latest body fitting under garments, nothing was left out. All designs were made for woman to feel and look like the most styled for an everyday and every night occasion. The jackets that were showcased were the highlight of this show. Jackets and furs completed each design and gave a new look for 2005.

Checkout the Baby Phat 2005 Fall Collection Fashion Show Photos here.

Celebrities and notables in attendance were JoJo, Paula Abdul, JoJo, JC Chasez, Carson Daily, Rah Digga, Amerie, Ray J, Cam’ron, Cynthia Garrett, Gina Hiraizumi, Irv Gotti, Swiss Beats, Shannon Daugherty, Mos Def, Lil Kim, Ashley Olsen, Tommy Hilfiger, Missy Elliot, Tori Spelling and Eva Pigford. It was a party as soon as they hit the red carpet.

Kimora Lee Simmons made her Baby Phat 2005 Fall Collection Fashion Show one of the hottest shows at New York Fashion Week for the 2005 Fall season. Expect nothing but the best from Kimora.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is celebrating the legacy of fashion designer Arthur McGee with a luncheon on Monday January 26 from 12Noon-2:30PM with remarks by Cicely Tyson.

Born in 1933 in Detroit Michigan, Arthur McGee began his fashion career at the age of 18 when he entered a scholarship contest sponsored by the Traphegen School of Design in New York, advertised in a local Detroit newspaper. Inspired by his mother who often created her own fashions, Arthur submitted the winning design and set his course for Manhattan.

Mr. McGee went on to study a the Fashion Insititute of Technology (FIT) where he honed his skills for millinery and apparel design. He began working for the American Couturier Charles James while a student at FIT and later produced his own designs while pursuing employment in New York’s apparel industry.

In 1957, Mr. McGee became the first African-American to run the design room of an established Seventh Avenue apparel company, Bobby Brooks. His remarkable talent and the broad appeal of his work transcended racial barriers, selling to such stores as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Henri Bendel, Bonwit Teller, Bergdorf Goodman, and Lord & Taylor. He opened his first store in the early 1960′s on St. Mark’s Place in New York City where his clients included Cybil and Richard Burton and Arthur Mitchell of the Dance Theater of Harlem. He became the designer of choice for many celebrities, including Lena Horne, Cicely Tyson, and Stevie Wonder.

Known as the dean of African-American designers, Mr. McGee mentored many young talents, including Aziza Braithwaite Bey (Elena Braith) and the late Willie Smith, paving the way for designers of color. For more about the fashion designer visit his website at www.arthurmcgee.com.