New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Jason Wu

Coming on the heels of his sold-out line for Target, Jason Wu is American fashion's man of the moment. And he didn't disappoint with his fall collection, which was high-drama, right down to the Hollywood special effects. 

The show had a cinematic opening, with two large red lacquered doors swinging open at the top of the runway, and models stepping out in a rolling cloud of fog. 

Wu, who grew up in Taiwan, used Chinese imagery as his inspiration, from the Mao jacket, which he rendered in a gorgeous hammered red satin, to the military green wool cape coat, trimmed in delicate black lace.

The Hollywood version of Chinese glamour in films such as "Shanghai Express" (1932) (which featured unforgettable costumes by Travis Banton), was a reference point for strong-shouldered gowns and short cheongsam-style dresses embellished with panels of silk brocade, tassel beading, cording or gold embroidery resembling tiny medallions.

The ending of the show was equally cinematic, with all the models walking out together like one chic red army.

Wu is in expansion mode with accessories and jewelry. His new "Daphne" warrior bag and pumps were decorated with metal studs, and box-like clutches with jeweled details. He's also reportedly interested in expanding his business to points East (like everyone else in fashion). It will be interesting to see how this collection is received in China, and by famous fans of the brand, including Michelle Obama.

Top photos of Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Credit: Fernanda Calfat / Getty Images.

Bottom photos of Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2012 collection. Credit: Jason DeCrow / Associated Press

Jason Wu for Target goes on sale, but when?

When can I start buying the Jason Wu for Target Collection?

That's a question online shoppers are asking.

We all know -- if we've been paying attention -- that when stores open at 8 a.m. Sunday, the collection will be there, ready to be scooped up. But what about online? Midnight? And if it's midnight on the East Coast does that mean 9 p.m. Saturday on the West Coast? Or will it be 8 a.m. online as well as in-store?

And again, if it's 8 a.m. on the East Coast, what does that mean for the West Coast? Do we lose our chance to buy, or need to be awake and at our computers by 5 a.m.?

My head is spinning. And Target is being pretty coy about it. All its website says is "February 5." And on its Facebook page it is sidestepping the issue.

One commenter approached it directly: "Target: What is the big secret about the start time for Jason Wu online? Don't you WANT people to buy and be happy? Whoever made the decision about being so secretive gets the the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award!"

Target's Facebook response: "We'll let you know as soon as the collection is live on the site!"

That doesn't help shoppers like me AT ALL.

My guess: Target is trying to avoid having everyone go online at the same time and crash the website -- as happened with the Missoni for Target collection in September.

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--Susan Denley

Photo: Actress Jamie King attends Jason Wu for Target private launch event at Skylight SOHO on Jan. 26 in New York. Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Target.

Fashion: Jason Wu's Target kitten. Jessica Chastain's Oscar news.

 

A mischievous cartoon kitten wreaks havoc in a YouTube video (above) promoting the Jason Wu for Target capsule collection, due to go on sale Feb. 5.

Jessica Chastain heard about her Oscar nomination while she was attending the Armani Privé show in Paris. [The Cut]

For the first time in 55 years, Disneyland employees, er, cast members, will be allowed to sport beards under a revision of Disney's stringent grooming policies. The new rule allows neatly trimmed beards no longer than 1/4 inch. (Mustaches have been allowed since 2000.) One would think this change would be considered a boost for workers' rights. But the head of a union that represents about 4,000 Disney food and beverage workers doesn't see it that way, telling the Orange County Register, "I see it as a way to lower their standards to keep wages down." [Los Angeles Times] [O.C. Register]

Kim Kardashian's ShoeDazzle shoe-of-the-month retail site is pulling out of Britain -- after less than six months of operation there -- to focus on its "core" U.S. market. [The Cut]

Fujifilm is taking what it knows about processing film and launching a range of anti-aging creams. It's all because of a special collagen used in film processing to stop old images from fading. The substance also blocks skin-damaging ultraviolet rays, the company says. [Daily Mail]

Our Jenn Harris wrote recently about the dearth of sartorial style among the Republican presidential candidates. The same holds true for President Obama, Simon Doonan says in a video interview with Slate. Politicians can't be too fashionable because it would make them seem self-absorbed, when they are supposed to be worrying about us. (And I say thank goodness for first ladies such as Michelle Obama, Nancy Reagan and Jacqueline Kennedy for those of us who want to see some elegant clothes in the mix.) [Slate]

Alessandra Ambrosio modeled two outfits in the Colcci fall collection during Sao Paulo Fashion Week, strolling the runway even though she is five months pregnant. She stopped at the end of the runway to show off her baby bump. [Daily Mirror] [Fashionista]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Alessandra Ambrosio, five months pregnant, stopped to give her belly a pat on Sunday, when she walked the runway for Colcci during Sao Paulo Fashion Week. Credit: Andre Penner / Associated Press

Fashion News: Will Reggie Bush testify about Kim Kardashian?

-- Old Navy apparently wants to call Miami Dolphins' running back Reggie Bush as a witness in its defense of a $20-million lawsuit Kim Kardshian filed against it for using a singer/dancer who resembles her in its commercials. Kardashian's argument was that doing so "caused confusion in the marketplace" and violated her intellectual property rights. In other words, the only one who should make money for looking like Kim Kardashian is Kim Kardashian. Now Old Navy's parent company, Gap, is reportedly investigating Kardashian's worth, talent and reputation. Why is Bush on the witness list? Apparently because he dated Kardashian -- and later Melissa Molinaro, the singer/dancer featured in the commericals. [Hollywood Reporter]

-- The men's collection Vivienne Westwood showed during the just-wrapped Milan Fashion Week was inspired by David Attenborough’s documentary series, "The Frozen Planet."  [Los Angeles Times]

-- Jason Wu went on the "Today" show Wednesday to show off some of his upcoming collection for Target on real women. The capsule collection is slated to go on sale Feb. 5. [Fashionista]

-- Another former assistant to celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is going to star in a fashion-reality TV show. Taylor Jacobson is one of four stylists who will be featured on "LA Style," an Oxygen show that is to air sometime later this year. Brad Goreski's "It's a Brad, Brad World," recently debuted on Bravo. [Fashionista]

-- Instead of a celebrity, Marc Jacobs features 19-year-old Chinese model Xiao Wen Ju in its spring ad campaign. [The Cut]

-- Ralph Toledano, chief executive and chairman of Chloe, is leaving to join the luxury conglomerate Puig and serve as president of John Paul Gaultier. [WWD] (Subscription required)

-- A parish commissioner in Shreveport, La., is pushing for an ordinance to ban wearing pajamas -- or anything sold in the sleepwear department -- in public. (I wonder what that could mean for PajamaJeans?) Shreveport already has a "no-sag" ordinance, intended to keep pants up around the waist. [Shreveport Times]

-- The commissioner's initiative probably won't be enough to turn the tide because wearing pj's or other kinds of loungewear out in public is a big and growing trend, especially among teens. [WSJ] (Subscription required)

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: From left, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, with mom Kris Jenner, at an event in December. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Fashion: Shannon Tweed, Gene Simmons wed. Target taps Jason Wu.

Shannon Tweed and Gene Simmons -- engaged since July, together something like three decades -- tied the knot over the weekend at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Tweed wore an ivory Priscilla of Boston gown and carried a bouquet of roses. [People]

Seth Rogen married writer Lauren Miller over the weekend, too, in Sonoma, Calif. So far no word on what we really care about: what the bride wore! [People]

Fresh off its hot -- I mean hot enough to shut down the website -- Missoni collaboration, Target is planning a capsule collection with Jason Wu. [WWD] (subscription required) 

Kanye West finally did it -- his long rumored new fashion collection debuted on the runway Saturday at Paris Fashion Week. Afterward he celebrated with a party at Paris nightspot Club Silencio with well-wishers including Lindsay Lohan, Jared Leto, Dean and Dan Caten, Bar Refaeli, Chanel Iman and designers Jeremy Scott and Olivier Theyskens. Scott, an advisor to West, said, “This is no J.Lo basics line.” Of West, Scott said, “I adore him and I think that he is such a passionate and genuine artist in every sense of the word.”  [WWD]

West's clothes leaned toward black leather and metallics trimmed in fur and would be worn by "edgy, cool girls with sophisticated, luxe taste," says FabSugar. 

Elsewhere, critics were not kind to West, "a rapper who has the presumption to show 'his' very first collection in Paris during prêt-à-porter -- supposedly the summit for true creativity in fashion," fumed Lisa Armstrong in the Telegraph. "It was the equivalent of Karl Lagerfeld launching a hip-hop career: i.e. absurd." She compared sitting through the show to an "hour long MRI." [Telegraph]

Over at Stella McCartney's Paris show, dad Sir Paul and his fiancee, Nancy Shevell, were among the attendees. So were Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman. [Telegraph]

Those Middleton girls usually look pretty demure. But not so Pippa on Saturday night. She wore a slinky red gown cut down to there to show quite a bit of cleavage at the Boodles Boxing Ball, a charity event at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. [FabSugar] 

The United States was among eight countries that signed an anti-counterfeiting pact in Tokyo over the weekend. [WWD] (subscription required)

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: A look from Kanye West's debut collection, for Spring-Summer 2012, shown during Paris fashion Week. Credit:  Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Frugal Fashion: Diane Kruger at the InStyle Summer Soiree

German top model-turned-actress Diane Kruger has become a fixture at top designer runway shows and various events and red carpets around the world. She is usually on the arm of her beau, Joshua Jackson, and the stylish couple knows how to make an appearance.

The former ballerina is no stranger to best dressed lists. She is frequently featured on Vogue.com's coveted weekly 10-best-dressed list, and last year she was an honoree on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list.

Kruger possesses a sort of fashion diversity, artfully playing with classics and taking risks. When she walks a carpet, she favors Chanel, Lanvin, Calvin Klein and Jason Wu. Kruger gets glam in styles that include classic gowns, and dresses with plunging necklines and daring slits. On her casual days she is photographed looking tres Olsen-twin hobo chic in Ray-Bans, hats and cross body bags.

At the recent InStyle summer soiree in Los Angeles, Kruger donned a Jason Wu menswear inspired ensemble that included a blue tuxedo-style blazer, white button-up, black bow tie and trouser shorts. She balanced the menswear look with some feminine details -- note the  tuxedo color and fit, strappy sandal heels and tousled locks.

Try the menswear look for your next party in a fitted blazer with a feminine touch such as the Chiffon back blazer from Nastygal.com for $68 that features a sheer back. For something bolder, try the Silence & Noise boyfriend blazer for $78 from Urbanoutfitters.com. We've featured this versatile blazer before, but since it's such a great find, and comes in colors like pink, powder blue and fuchsia, it's worth another nod.

Get Kruger's tuxedo shirt look with the Jones New York pleated button down from Jny.com for $36.99 or the Loft tuxedo shirt from Loft.com for $44.50. If you want to go for a bow tie, you'll need the collared American Eagle boyfriend shirt for $39.50 from Ae.com.

Bow ties can be a playful addition to any collared shirt or the perfect dress-up accessory. Definitely borrow from a male friend or spouse, but if you want to own your very own (you never know when a spiffy bow tie will come in handy), snag the All Saints Spitalfields elder bow tie for $15 or for a shiny, dressier version, the American Apparel unisex sateen bow tie for $19 from AmericanApparel.com.

To get Kruger's cropped-tuxedo look, get the Ya Los Angeles turning leaves trouser short from Piperlime.com for $49, Matelot trouser short from Forever21.com for $15.80 or the Charcoal shorts from Needsupply.com for $38.

Finish the outfit with a strappy pair of sandals to give the ensemble a girly feel. For a lower heel try the Naya Tova sandals from Zappos.com in the deep sea green / sea spray green leather for $83.88. For something with a little more height, get the BCBGeneration midnight blue strappy heels for $66 from Bluefly.com or the Madeline Reba wedge sandal from Amazon.com for $43.90 -- $60 depending on the size.

Happy shopping!

Have an outfit you're dying to buy but need a frugal alternative? Email us a picture. We're up for the challenge.

-- Jenn Harris
Twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

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Photo: Diane Kruger arrives at the InStyle Summer Soiree in West Hollywood. The annual event is hosted by the West Coast editors of InStyle. Credit: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press.

Blazer photos, from left: Chiffon back blazer, $68. Credit: Nastygal.com; Silence & Noise boyfriend blazer, $78. Credit: Urbanoutfitters.com. 

Shirt photos, from left: Jones New York pleated button down, $36.99. Credit: Jny.com; Ann Taylor Loft tuxedo shirt, $44.50. Credit: Loft.com; American Eagle boyfriend shirt, $39.50. Credit: Ae.com. 

Bow tie photos, from left: All Saints Spitafields elder bow tie, $15. Credit: All Saints Spitafields; American Apparel unisex sateen bow tie, $19. Credit: AmericanApparel.com.

Shorts photos, from left: Ya Los Angeles turning leaves trouser short, $49. Credit: Piperlime.com; Matelot trouser short, $15.80. Credit: Forever21.com; Charcoal shorts, $38. Credit: Needsupply.com.

Shoes photos, from left: Naya Tova sandals, $83.88. Credit: Zappos.com; BCBGeneration midnight blue strappy heels, $66. Credit: Bluefly.com; Madeline Reba wedge sandal, $43.90-$60. Credit: Amazon.com.

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Fur flies at Fendi. Oprah scores Ralph Lauren. Lily Aldridge marries in Vera Wang.

A dispute over fur may jeopardize Fendi's plans to stage a fashion show for 1,200 invited guests in Seoul, South Korea. The government, in response to concerns from civic groups, won't allow Fendi to show any garments with fur. “Fur is part of the DNA of Fendi,” says a brand spokesman. Two days of talks ended Monday without a resolution. [WWD]

Oprah has scored the first television interview with Ralph Lauren in 20 years. It is scheduled to air Wednesday and was shot at his Telluride, Colo., ranch. [WWD]

Speaking of Oprah, her dermatologist, Dr. Harold Lancer of Beverly Hills, is expanding his skin care line to reach more customers through department store sales this summer. [Styleite]

Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge wore Vera Wang for her wedding to Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill late last week at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, Calif. The bespoke strapless gown featured delicate Chantilly lace around the bottom of the mermaid skirt and train. The groom wore a dapper gray Gucci suit.  [Telegraph] 

It was Carolina Herrera for actress Tamera Mowry when she married Fox News Channel correspondent Adam Housley on Sunday in Napa Valley. [People]

Designer Jason Wu launches a new Twitter account Monday, under the name “MissWu_NY.” The tweeting will be done in the persona of Wu's owl logo. "Having a bird that tweets — it just seemed natural, right?” Wu said. Next up: A redesign of the Wu website.   [WWD]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Oprah Winfrey. Credit: Evan Agostini / Getty Images for CFDA 

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Mulberry makes a splash at Coachella. Mary Louise Parker's good looks. And Chelsea Kane's dancing diet.

Our Booth Moore wrote about the phenomenon of big companies sponsoring parties at the Coachella music festival, which wrapped up Sunday. Even British brand Mulberry hopped across the pond to host a splash party. Eliza Doolittle, Nicole Richie and Alexa Chung were among the attendees. [Telegraph] [Los Angeles Times]

And you can take a look back at the fashionable flock attending the music fest in the desert here.

Forty-six-year-old beauty Mary Louise Parker attributes her good looks to genes. And no hard partying, drinking or drugs. She eats healthfully and uses sunblock. Her only beauty regret is trying a keratin smoothing hair treatment -- a.k.a. the controversial Brazilian Blowout. It contributed to hair loss, she says. [T magazine]

What keeps Chelsea Kane in top form for "Dancing With the Stars"? Red Bull and a doughnut a day. [People]

Reese Witherspoon wore a white Jason Wu cocktail dress embellished with black beading to pose for publicity shots with "Water for Elephants" co-star Robert Pattinson. [People] For more on the New York premiere of the film, check out our photo gallery. 

If you're planning a wedding, you can save big bucks and be kind of eco-friendly by buying a previously worn (i.e., used) gown. Just be sure to do some due diligence and first ask a lot of questions about use, care, measurements (not just size) and specifically what is included in the price. [SavvySugar] 

Looks we're not ready for: Viveca Fox attended an event at Miami's Vault nightclub, posing on the red carpet in a pink halter and white skinny jeans, ripped at the knees. [The Cut]

When Dylan Lauren marries hedge funder Paul Arrouet, her dogs will be the flower girl and ring bearer. Dressed in couture from her dad, Ralph Lauren, of course. [The Cut] 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Mary Louise Parker. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images 

Gifts: Use Presidents Day as an inspiration for your gift list and go for a tie vote

 

   

Abraham Lincoln was one dapper guy -- even a fashion muse, of sorts, with his trademark black bow tie and top hat. Decades later, Franklin D. Roosevelt used his cravat to make a political style statement, forming the “bow tie alliance” with Winston Churchill during World War II in opposition to Hitler’s four-in-hand.

Having ebbed to nerd lows in the 1970s, bow ties have made quite a comeback, from “Mad Men” to Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter. And they’re not just for gentlemen. Style-setting ladies such as Sarah Jessica Parker, J. Crew’s Jenna Lyons and Chloë Sevigny have demonstrated quite a knack for the cravat. We’d love to see one on a future madam president. But until then, we’re pinning our hopes on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and our first lady.

Hint, hint, Mrs. Obama — we spied the adorable Alexis Bittar bow-tie cuff bracelets, above and at right, on the spring runway of one of your favorite designers, Jason Wu.

Jason Wu nails it with a new collection of lovely lacquers

 
Creative Nail Design, the San Diego-based company that designs the manis for many of the runway shows during New York Fashion Week, has teamed up with Jason Wu to launch a capsule collection of nail polishes created by the designer.

Staying true to his elegant aesthetic, Wu tapped 3 iconic beauties and one modern woman for  inspiration. Veronica is a deep and undeniably glamorous ox blood red, Sophia is a mushroom-y gray, Brigitte is a muted rose-pink and Miss Wu is the designer’s signature shade -- a light gray that dries with an opaque matte finish.

The fifth bottle in the set is what CND calls an “effect,” a top coat that adds a sheen or texture to the polish. Wu’s effect is called Anna and once brushed over dry nail polish, tiny microfibers attach to the nail, supposedly giving it the look of tweed.

The colors will made their debut on the nails of models during Wu’s Spring 2011 runway show, but won’t be available for purchase until May, which means we may be seeing a lot of classic colored nails and a few "tweedy" ones, come summer.

The limited edition set of four polishes and one effect is $47 and will be available in salons and at www.cnd.com in May.

 --Melissa Magsaysay

 

Photos: Jason Wu and CND's nail polish collection/courtesy of Creative Nail Design