For any body who is or wants to be a fashionista, we are all aware of Vogue’s legendary September Issue. This is the Coup De Gra of Fashion, the high light issue of the year for Vogue and Fashion Magazines everywhere. Well, now the process, work, and hours that go into making this famed issue is now going to be on the silver screen. Titled The September Issue, the movie takes an indepth look with unparalled coverage of Anna Wintour and her iconic magazine, more specifically The September Issue. I, as well as many others, will be looking very forward to seeing this movie, which is being released on August 28th. See you at the theatre! Click Here to see a preview!

Erin Wasson x RVCA is excited to announce that the brand will be showing its Spring/Summer 2010 collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tents in New York City’s Bryant Park. The show will take place Friday, September 11th 2009 at 8pm, and marks the debut of Erin Wasson x RVCA on the runway.

“Humbled and honored,” are the words Wasson chooses to describe her feelings about being asked to show the new Erin Wasson x RVCA collection at the legendary Bryant Park Tents.

“I’ve spent hours at those Tents as a model, working with some of the icons of American fashion,” she notes. “And meanwhile, I’ve only been doing this design thing for a few seasons¾Spring ’10 is season three¾and it’s kind of insane to think that I’m getting to show on that same stage. I am incredibly grateful to IMG, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Maybelline New York for giving me the opportunity.”

In keeping with the out-of-the-box thinking that brought together Wasson and surf & skate brand RVCA in the first place, the Spring ’10 show will see the brand bringing a new energy to the Tents. A multi-media installation is in the works and Wasson has personally engaged a special musical guest to play live on the catwalk¾details are under wraps until closer to the show.

“It’s really a thrill, to be able to take a venue everyone in the fashion industry knows so well, and bring in new personalities and a new vibe that spin the experience in a different direction,” says Wasson. “I mean, it’s almost too predictable to do something ‘cool’ in, like, an abandoned warehouse. Cool can happen anywhere. It’s a state of mind. That’s the essence of the Erin Wasson x RVCA brand, and there’s no reason not to follow that logic onto the runway.”

About Erin Wasson x RVCA

Erin Wasson x RVCA is a collaboration between blue-chip model Erin Wasson and Costa Mesa, California-based skate & surf brand RVCA, founded by PM Tenore. Launched Spring/Summer 2009, the brand made a stunning impact right off the bat, earning countless magazine credits and selling out at stores such as Opening Ceremony, Selfridges and Colette.

DRESSED is a documentary about once homeless, Laotian-American fashion designer Nary Manivong and the trials and tribulations of “making it” as a fashion designer in America. The documentary, features an up-close and personal portrait of the self taught designer from his early beginnings as a homeless young boy in Ohio to the daily production routines and challenges faced leading up to the presentation of his Spring 2009 collection during New York’s infamous “Fashion Week”.

Click here to view the trailer

Because of limited financial resources, Nary began designing and creating his “look” from vintage clothing, DRESSED announces a Facebook Fan contest called SHOW US YOUR VINTAGE! and the winner receives TWO tickets to Nary’s, September 10th,  4pm-6pm,  fashion show and entry to the sneak peak of the film DRESSED at 9pm that same evening. The contest runs from August 1, 2009 at 12:01am to August 31, 2009, 11:59pm only.

DRESSED Fans are asked to submit a photo of themselves featuring their favorite vintage piece, updated for the Fall ’09 trends with a caption of why they love it and why they are a fan of the film DRESSED! The winner is selected by Nary Manivong and the DRESSED Team.

The film also offers an insider’s look behind-the-scenes of the glamorous, chaotic world of fashion as well as insightful commentary from industry experts such as Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion; Ohio designer Nanette Lepore;  Mickey Boardman of Paper Magazine; Author Mary Gehlhar “Fashion Designer’s Survival Guide”; Simon Collins, Dean of Fashion for Parsons, The New School for Design; Industry Consultant George Furlan; Stylist, Robert Verdi; President of The Fashion Group International, Margaret Hayes; fashion writer Lynn Yaeger and author and Creative Director at Barney’s, Simon Doonan.

DRESSED is directed by award-winner David Swajeski, with executive producer Maryanne Grisz, both of onerock.tv

A mid-summer cocktail party was held last night at the upper East Side home of decorator Charlotte Moss. This party kicked off the fundraising drive that culminates in the annual Couture Council luncheon where Dries Van Noten will make a rare trip to New York to receive the 2009 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.

Over a hundred people showed up on a warm and muggy night. A lot a familiar faces were out in the garden enjoying cocktails. They included Ralph Rucci, Hamish Bowles, Victor de Souza, Nanette Lepore, David Chu, Christian Cota, Somers Farkas, Amy Fine Collins, Cece Cord, Arnold Scaasi, to name just a few. And quite a number of photographers were on hand, including Bill Cunningham and Patrick McMullan to record the event.

Co-hosts for the evening was FIT museum director Dr. Valerie Steele and deputy director Patricia Mears. We also ran into Charles B. From, the exhibition designer responsible for setting up the museum’s exhibitions and who we interviewed for our Masters of Fashion series.

The Couture Council is a membership group of fashion enthusiasts that helps support the exhibitions and programs of The Museum at FIT, a specialized museum of fashion. Previous recipients of the Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award are Isabel Toledo in 2008 (a prescient choice made before Michelle Obama selected Toledo’s design to wear on Inauguration Day), Alber Elbaz of Lanvin in 2007, and Ralph Rucci, the recipient of the first award in 2006.

Currently on exhibition at The Museum at FIT, Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out, a mid-career retrospective displaying approximately 70 iconic looks from the mid- 1980s to the present, including the ensemble worn by First Lady Michelle Obama on Inauguration Day. Also on exhibition, Fashion & Politics, a chronological exploration of over 200 years of politics as expressed through fashion.

Steve Madden and Giant Step present an intimate performance by Top 40 Radio artist Jessie James at Steven by Steve Madden in New York’s Lower East Side.

James will perform a special acoustic set for Steve Madden and his adoring fans showcasing brand new songs from her highly anticipated self-titled album, which drops August 11th, 2009. The release of James’ first single “Wanted” sold over 300,000 copies and iTunes named it ‘Video of the Week’ receiving more than 300,000 downloads.

Before James takes the stage for her sizzling performance, electrifying DJ Lilypad will spin music to amp up the crowd.  Attendees will enjoy a meet-and-greet with the mogul behind the brand, Steve Madden himself.

Lauren Conrad tricked us into believing that she was finished with reality television and going on hiatus from her fashion career, but she isn’t. She is killing two birds with one stone by being a guest judge on “America’s Next Top Model.” Not only will LC being judging a show, but Kim Kardashian will be as well.

LC said that if she did return to reality TV, she’d want to do it in a hosting capacity. “I wouldn’t do a show like ‘The Hills,’ ” she said in June. “Nothing with my personal life, but possibly something hosting. I think I have a little bit of time to figure out what I’m going to do next.”

Now that she is back in the reality tv game will we be seeing her on the upcoming season of “The Hills”? “I’m not planning on it,” she said. “I’m happy with the time I walked away, and I think that from now on, they’re going to pick it up and do a great show. But I think that my time on it is done.”

Summer 2009 breezes in just in time to lift the dark cloud of despair that has been hanging heavily overhead for the last several months. Right now, we all need a recess from the recession, a summer vacation, a new beginning. Or, we could just re-visit the past when things were happier and more prosperous. Fluorescent hues, a la Stephen Sprouse, are pioneering an eighties revival. Neon colors have saturated the fashion world with no intention of stopping in the near future. Remember the days of football player-like jackets? Well, they‚re coming back! The shoulder has been the focal point on the runway for the last couple of seasons and we‚re seeing it manipulated in a variety of ways. Strong shoulders, whether they‚re achieved with padding, cutouts, asymmetry, shirring in sleeve caps, pleating, draping, etc., are one of the most significant features of the Spring/Summer season.

With a new President in office America is ready to embrace change. It‚s not just that Barack Obama is the first African-American President elected, but also the fact that he represents a new point of view. Politics play an important role in fashion and this season is no exception. Influences from all over the world are setting trends ranging from elaborate embellishments, ethnic prints/motifs and tribalistic jewelry. Textured natural fabrics such as linen, silk and cotton in neutral tones as well as warm saturated colors are key. Reptile skin dominates and Summer ‚09 is overwhelmingly animal friendly in terms of print.

The return to American idealism is perhaps the biggest trend occurring as of late. Because we know that nothing can change overnight and that „Made in USA‰ may take a while to come back (at least in apparel), we choose to reminisce about times gone by. Feathers, fringe and turquoise compliment buffalo checks, plaid and Navajo motifs. Cowboy and other styles of rugged ankle boots make a strong statement and, as always, denim rules. The Bohemian style lingers on, but in a more elegant way this Summer. Maxi-dresses are one of the season‚s most important silhouettes, while the mini-skirt is still present. Watercolor, floral, medallion and paisley prints decorate chiffon, jersey and voile. Ornamental touches of crochet, lace, eyelet and other open work fabrics add dimension.

Wall Street may have crashed and burned recently, but the market has bounced back, in a sense, emerging in fashion. Clean sharp lines materialize into tailored pieces while, on the flip side, a wave of feminism is washing over the fashion industry providing a balance between the masculine and feminine. As a key component of the season, trousers have never been more diverse. Skinny flat front pants still stand strong, but a new regime of wider leg silhouettes are marching in with higher waists, pleats and yoke treatments. They come in all lengths ranging from full, to cropped, to shorts. In fact, shorts have exploded as a category and are available in a vast array of shapes and styles. On the opposite end of the spectrum, delicate fabrics in cosmetic colors (or non-colors) such as nude, buff, porcelain, blush and Champagne evoke femininity. They are draped and layered creating pretty pieces fit for a princess. Ruffles are unavoidable this season as are rosettes and bows. While Donna Karan has been the „Queen of Drape‰ for years (and let‚s not forget the late greats, Halston & Madame Gres), the Grecian look is becoming increasingly important. Draping and folding tend to camouflage and accentuate where needed, therefore, it‚s no mystery why women gravitate toward these styles. We feel pretty, sexy, self-assured? like a Goddess.

With the message of change permeating the country, there is more focus on America‚s youth. Thanks to the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, IPhones, etc., the younger generation is more cognizant than ever of politics, science, culture and fashion. An awareness of domestic and international issues is infiltrating schools all over the country and prep-school socialites have created a huge buzz in the fashion world. Pretty little fine-gauge cardigans and preppy cropped blazers mingle with short tulip skirts to create refined and sophisticated (but inherently young) ensembles. Plaids are flirty rather than serious and dots and spots in all sizes dance around on a variety of fabrics exuding zest and vitality as if they are personal messengers of hope assuring the world that everything will be OK.

From September 10-17th, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, designers, show producers, members of press, models and fashion followers can be found in the iconic tents in New York City’s Bryant Park. This season’s line up will once again host runway shows accommodating 300 to 1200 people as the established and up-and-coming designers set the trends and entice the world to buy their collections for next Spring/Summer 2010.

“All of us at IMG are proud of the caliber, talent and quality of designers who will be presenting their collections on America’s most renowned runways.” said Fern Mallis, SVP of IMG Fashion.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will kick off with Michael Angel followed by BCBGMAXAZRIA, Duckie Brown, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Cynthia Steffe, Yigal Azrou?l, Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, Academy of Art University, Christian Siriano, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vivienne Tam, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Thuy, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, TonyCohen, Gottex, Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Toni Maticevski, Pamella Roland, MAX AZRIA, Dennis Basso, Willow, Tibi, Narciso Rodriguez, Toni Francesc, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly by Michelle Smith, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Trias, Calvin Klein, Chocheng, Argentinean Designer Collections and Tommy Hilfiger.

The Bryant Park Tents’ three venues include the Salon, the Promenade and the Tent. Over the course of 8 days, approximately 100,000 people will pass through these venues to attend shows, meet and greet the media, retailers and fashion professionals – each doing their business from morning to night.

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express, Maybelline New York, W Hotels Worldwide, TRESemmé, McCafé, LU Biscuits, Peroni, Chambord and O.N.E.™ One Natural Experience 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.