Runway Heroes at Bloomingdales

Childhood cancer fighters and survivors ages three – 13 walked the runway in the Young World department at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street. The afternoon’s event benefited The Ronan Thompson Foundation and Solving Kids’ Cancer.

11-year-old DJ Fulano spun during the event and Solving Kids’ Cancer Youth Ambassador Celia Babini acted as emcee.  Bloomingdale’s provided each child with an outfit of his or her choice for the show that the children were able to take home. Some brands included: 7 for all Mankind, DKNY, Diesel, Lucky, Nicole Miller, Puma and Vince. Additionally, TOMS shoes donated a pair of shoes to each of the children. Hair and make-up artists from Bumble and Bumble and MAC were present to finish off each look.

 

Dylan’s Candy Bar set up a sweets station for families, friends and guests, alongside a Halloween-themed photo booth that captured moments of joy for all. One of the children celebrated her birthday on Saturday and was presented with a cake from Magnolia bakery during the show finale.

10% of all department purchases throughout the weekend will benefit the charities. For high resolution images click HERE. (Photos courtesy of Aydin Arjomand) ABOUT: The Ronan Thompson Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding a cure for neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer. It is currently fundraising to create a world- class neuroblastoma research and care center dedicated to funding both traditional and non- traditional treatments to reduce the number of children affected by the disease and increase survival rates. www.theronanthompsonfoundation.org  Created by two NYC fathers who lost children to pediatric cancer, Solving Kids’ Cancer is committed to significantly improving survivorship of the deadliest childhood cancers. 100% of all donations are used to find, fund, and manage clinical trials and scientific programs to rapidly develop more effective and less toxic treatments. Solving Kids’ Cancer is a 501(c)(3) public charity. http://www.solvingkidscancer.org

Polo Ralph Lauren Taps Darius Williams for Fall/Winter 2014 Men’s Campaign

Menswear label Polo Ralph Lauren has chosen model Darius Williams as one of the faces of the brand’s Fall/Winter 2014 men’s campaign.

Louisiana native Williams caught the eye of one the fashion industry’s leading clothing brands this year. The 6’1.5” fitness model was photographed to appear in the print and online ads for the prestigious company by world-renowned lensman Bruce Weber, one of the industry’s most celebrated photographers.  Weber captured the professional model’s good looks both solo and posed with other models for the brand’s print and billboard ads featured in department stores nationwide as well as on the company’s website Polo.com. The photos spark the viewer’s imagination enough to cause a double-take.

Williams was raised in a small town in Louisiana with a population of only 18,000 residents. Before he moved to New York, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Northwestern State University of Louisiana where he also honed his skills as a graphic designer. It was during his last semester in college is when he took up an offer by a veteran model scout to attend castings for Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Williams jumped at the chance he felt could be a once in a lifetime opportunity, despite having never visited the Big Apple before.

As Williams’ flight landed in a New York airport, he received a phone call stating he had one hour to attend his first meeting at a modeling agency in Manhattan. As fate would have it, he landed a modeling contract with Soul Artist Management.

Since that fateful meeting, Williams has worked with many other talented photographers. He has appeared in ad campaigns for John Bartlett, Nike, Sperry Topsider, and Verizon.  The fine art lover has also been photographed by male supermodel David Agbodji (Calvin Klein) for Flaunt magazine. Williams has also walked on the runway for men’s underwear brand 2xist as well as various designers for the fashion week seasons.

Williams recently wrapped a shoot to appear in the Hanes advertisements; another one of the nation’s leading underwear brands. His career path, however, lies not only in modeling—he is currently studying acting to prepare his next steps into Hollywood. His model profile and portfolio may be viewed at SoulArtistManagement.com. Darius may be found on Social Media’s Instagram at: darius_williams11

365 Style Fashion Book by Nicky Hilton

365 Style by Nicky Hilton
*Released with Harlequin, $21.95
**You can purchase at most major book stores or visit: www.nickyhilton.com

Nicky Hilton’s new book, 365 Style,  is a go-to fashion guide full of fashion tips and tricks acquired during her many years in the fashion industry – on and off the red carpet. Curated in scrapbook form, 365 Style shares with readers not only how to dress like her, but Nicky’s tried and true methods for drawing inspiration from daily life, enabling readers to find their own personal style.

She reveals her 3-6-5 rule formula for creating a signature style:

• Consider the 3 main aspects of your lifestyle (i.e. work, nights out, weekends)
• Choose 6 staple items of clothing
• Identify 5 essential accessories

• Nicky Hilton is an American fashion designer and author. A respected expert of style and fashion, Nicky has been a red carpet correspondent at the Oscars and served as a guest judge on Project Runway. Hilton recently penned her first book, 365 Style, which is a go-to fashion guide full of fashion tips and tricks acquired during her many years in the fashion industry – on and off the red carpet.

The Duchess Takes Harlem

Chirlane McCray and The Duchess of Cambridge
arriving at the Northside Center for Child Development.
Photo By Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Kate Middleton made the first official stop of her three-day New York visit on Monday morning, touring the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem with the City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray.

The Duchess, who arrived fifteen minutes early then scheduled, was greeted by a waiting McCray. The two chatted for a moment with the Duchesses’ back to the press pit, crammed with photographers who’d been camped out for three hours for their shot. “Kate! Kate! Turn around!” they shouted. She ignored them, only turning to wave to her fans across the street before the women walked inside. Fans made much of her footwear, towering black pumps that most five-month-pregnant women would eschew. It’s anticipated she’ll go for something much more comfortable when she and her husband reunite on Monday night to root on the Brooklyn Nets with America’s royal couple: Jay Z and Beyoncé.

Meanwhile, Prince William will be clueing in Washington insiders to his disdain for the illegal wildlife trade as “one of the most insidious forms of corruption in the world.”  At the World Bank Group’s International Corruption Hunters Assistance Conference, the Duke will inform attendees that “some animal endangered species are now worth literally more than their weight in gold,” according to the British Embassy. The Duke will cite the trade in elephant tusks, rhino horns and other animal parts — an issue that politicians like Hillary Clinton as well as fashion types like Christie Brinkley are in unison about.

He plans to make the point that in China the average wholesale price of ivory has increased from $5 to $2,100 a kilogram in the past 25 years and poaching has increased as a result. The duke’s call to action will culminate with, “Our collective goal must be to reduce the wildlife trade by making it harder; denying traffickers access to transportation; putting up barriers to their illegal activities and holding people accountable for their actions.” With former British foreign secretary William Hague expected at his side, the Duke will emphasize how wildlife crime poses a threat to world security as it “exacerbates sources of conflict.” Traffickers of animal parts “loot our planet to feed mankind’s ignorant cravings for pets, trinkets, cures and ornaments derived from the world’s vanishing and irreplaceable” animals.

His D.C. day started with a meeting with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Duke and Duchess have much to say about goodwill during their East Coast stay. Shortly after checking into the Carlyle Hotel Sunday night they were off to a private dinner with 15 couples to benefit their Royal Foundation.

Courtesy: WWD
Article by:  Rosemary Feitelberg

Madonna appears in Versace’s Spring/Summer-2015 campaign

The Italian fashion house Versace has signed on the American singer, songwriter Madonna as the face of its new Spring/Summer-2015 campaign.

Shot by the famous fashion photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the advertisement images showcase the 56-year-old diva dressed head-to-toe in the brand’s latest designs.

The advertorial features the musician in a shimmering one-shouldered midriff baring piece and a sleeveless dress with cutout detailing from the new range, designed under the guidance of the brand artistic director Donatella Versace.

The campaign will run as a 12-page portfolio in the upcoming issues of Vanity Fair and Vogue as well as other major international fashion publications.

This is the fourth time that Madonna has appeared in Versace’s advertising campaigns. The singer, who has replaced the American pop-singer Lady Gaga as the label’s face this time, debuted in the Milanese brand’s advertorial way back in 1995.

The brand’s last year’s Spring/Summer-2014 campaign featured the 28-year-old Lady Gaga in an elegant, curve-defining, ruched lavender-hued dress, detailed with knotted bandage accents and gilded silver pins.

Founded in 1978, the Versace Group designs, markets and distributes luxury clothing, accessories, and makeup and home furnishings.

Also an acclaimed actress and businesswoman, the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Madonna owns a fashion brand titled Material Girl with her daughter Lourdes.

Fashion Avenue News Magazine December Cover Model Fanta Camara

Fashion Avenue News magazine is proud to have Supermodel Fanta on the cover of our December issue.

We are often asked “How can I be a Cover Model for Fashion Avenue News magazine”.  It’s very easy, submit a great photo, from there we can either use the photo you submit or set up an cover shoot.  We are always looking for great Cover & Editorial Models.   We have a Fashion Open House once a month for new fashion talent, this includes Make Up Artists, Stylists, Designers, Fashion Reporters, etc.,

If interested in being on the pages of Fashion Avenue News, visit our website for all the info, http://www.FashionAvenueNews.com read our Submission page or Open Hosue page.

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FIT Museum charts the history of fashion counterfeiting

The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York has opened a new exhibit dedicated to the history of authorized and unauthorized copying of designs in the fashion industry.

Titled as ‘Faking It: Originals, Copies, and Counterfeits’, the event charts the evolution of counterfeiting practices through a comparative study between the original designs and their imitations.

With pieces dated from 1903 to present day, the exhibition also provides insight into how the extreme popularity of designer dresses has encouraged the counterfeiting business in the industry.

Organized by FIT’s assistant curator of costume and textiles, Ariele Elia, the exhibit begins with two identical suits from 1966- an original by Coco Chanel and a licensed copy—alongside a video featuring side-by-side comparisons of the suits.

Slated to run till April 25, 2015, the display also features authentic 1903 purple velvet, chenille, chiffon and silk made afternoon dress from Charles Frederick Worth, an unauthorized reproduction of French designer Madeleine Vionnet’s Little Horses dress from 1924.

Also the Brian Lichtenberg created red coloured cotton, polyester and rubber made Homiés ensemble (2014), a 2007 silk dress by Yohji Yamamoto and a 1947 silk, wool faille and horsehair crafted Nettie Rosenstein dress have formed a part of the expansive exhibition.

Couturiers such as Madeleine Vionnet implemented various initiatives to stop knock offs of her designs, such as marking her label with her thumbprint in order to authenticate each creation. Likewise, in an effort to battle unauthorized copying during the 1930s, the Fashion Originators’ Guild of America started registering fashion designers’ work.

The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture struggled with maintaining the exclusivity of haute couture, while promoting it through press coverage and licensed copies. When the couture industry began to re-stabilize after World War II, the struggle intensified. The high demand for Christian Dior’s famed 1947 collection led to many unauthorized copies of his silhouette.