LupRocks Gossip

Backstage from the Design Cares Kaleidoscope of Dreams Fashion Show

LupRocks.com partner, Nolcha, was the production sponsor of last night's star studded Kaleidoscope of Dreams fashion show, which benefits the very worthwhile St. Jude Children's Hospital.  We emailed some questions to Nolcha founder Kerry Bannigan and got some insight into what was going on behind the scenes:

What time does the show start tonight?  8:30pm so lets say 8:45pm incase Philip Bloch, Veronica Webb and Chanel Iman speeches extend – we all know they love to talk fashion ;o)

Tell me what’s going on right now....are the models there?  Models are running late – tell me something new ;o) The team is calling the rest of the models now to chase up on arrival time and rehearsal. Most of the models are important figures of society so have very busy schedules.

When do you start with hair and make-up?  4pm hair and make-up start. Mac and Warren Tricomi are doing samples to show the team at 3:30pm. Great teams to work with and a shout out to Moani at Mac.

Who do expect to attend the fashion show?  Tonight’s roster so far will have Shannon Doherty, Real Housewives of NYC, Access Hollywood, E!, Trump family and city socialites.

Nolcha is the backstage production sponsor, what does that entail?  Making sure the show happens!  Nolcha is running backstage and front line production. We work with the light and sound technicians for the show. Getting the models ready – full hair, makeup and gowns – order for the show and then calling the runway show to make that the models are sent out on time and everybody gets to enjoy the beautiful gowns that have been donated by major designers for auction including Versace, Valentino, Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld.

Most importantly, will any of these models be wearing jewelry??  Alexis Bittar provided the jewelry.

I'm sure we'll all be seeing pictures from the event in the media very soon...even further proof that LupRocks.com was right on track when we decided to partner with a venerable organization like Nolcha!  Contact us if you're interested in participating in Nolcha's event at September's New York Fashion Week.  Thanks Kerry! 

Marc Jacobs Feeling Francais

It's true I don't always "get" Marc Jacobs.  In fact, at times I think he's down right crazy and the people who flock to him need to get their prescription lenses checked.  The collection he showed in Paris for Louis Vuitton however, has made a believer out of me!  Fun, fabulous, frivolous and tres Francais, Mr. Jacobs made me forget we are living in a down-turn economy.  "I'm sure the economic advisers are not worrying about what colors to make sweaters," the designer told WWD, "Yes, there's a crisis, but one can carry on and contribute to beauty and optimisim and gorgeousness....you can't sacrifice the beauty of the clothes."  Indeed. As you can see in the below images from Style.com, Marc Jacobs sacrificed nothing in the order of beauty, and he'll have you feeling tres bien in no time, D.T.E.! 

Nolcha Fashion Event Huge Success!

We always love it when our instincts are right, and right they were when we chose to partner with Nolcha Network!  Last night they held an event at the famed Plaza Hotel here in New York City in celebration of fashion week.  Seven designers were on board at the event, including LupRock.com's own Bettylou Jewels, who introduced a new collection of "Spirit Collection" pendants in onyx and agate with rose gold and diamonds that we absolutely LOVE!  Alongside Bettylou Jewels were accessories designers Barbara Sears Nelson and EnaMaria, and women’s clothing designers emeDesigns, Nadia Nour, Vaughn Jereaux and Celestino by Sergio Guadarrama. 

Like any great fashion event, the crowd was beautiful, the liquor was flowing, the models were glowing, the cameras were rolling, the flash bulbs were flashing and, most importantly, business was being done.  Kudos to the team over at Nolcha for throwing a fabulous event that everyone was stoked about! 

"Leo" pendant from Bettylou Jewels new "Spirit Collection" available for under $200! 

Novice New York Fashion Week Coverage--Part 1

I'm not even going to pretend that I'm an authority on the good the bad and the ugly when it comes to fashion week, but I do know what I like and what I don't like, and I'm definitely loving the fact that smaller, under the radar designers like Jason Wu (well, he was under the radar until his inaugural coups anyway), Chadwick Bell, Prabal Gurung and Bensoni are getting rave reviews this season.  Wu in particular showcased a feminine and whimsical collection and, best of all, he didn't skimp on accessorizing, something that is near and dear to all of the hearts here at Lup H.Q.!  

Jason Wu Image: NYMag.com

We were also excited to learn in today's WWD that many independent jewelry designers, including LupRocks own Kara Ross and Alexis Bittar, are taking part in the fashion week festivities by collaborating with various clothing designers.

While I'm wary of making this next statement, because I fear the fashion gods are going to strike me down with lightening, since my absolute favorite part of fashion week is reading the cleverly snarky and always hilarious reports from the Fug girls on NYMag.com, I'm just going to say what everyone I know is thinking....WHAT WAS MARC JACOBS THINKING???  I'm sure there is some profound "ism" that he's somehow channeling that I'm too dense to understand, so please enlighten me if you can!

Marc Jacobs Image: NYMag.com

Fashion Week(s) Reminder

Just a reminder for those of you trying to keep a pulse on the string of Fashion Weeks that are upon us, and the styles they bring into the spotlight, you can see all the runway shows from New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week on Style.com.   So far in terms of jewelry, my pick for best trend, and I have WWD to back me up, is the statement necklaces made of pearls and flowers seen on the runway of Giorgio Armani. 

Grey Matters at Paris Couture Fashion Week

One of my favorite words of wisdom Coco Chanel left us with is “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” These wise words seemed to resonate with all the designers who showed collections at Couture Fashion Week in Paris this week.  Amongst them, Karl Lagerfeld brought to life this wonderful idea, by bringing his wild thoughts to life in a collection that will be remembered forever. The collection plays on volume, stitching, draping, and structure to bring back to fashion what has been missing from the past few years - innovation.  Plus a palette of muted gray and black was a refreshing break from the neon invasion to be seen over this summer.     

(Images all Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel)

Accessories seen in Paris that you should keep an eye out for are thick multi strand solid color bead necklaces seen on the Dior runway, lucite heels seen on the Chanel runway, clutches of all shapes and sizes on the Armani Privé runway, and electric tights and wide chap-esque boots from Givenchy.

(From left to right: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Armani Privé, Givenchy, John Galliano for Dior, John Galliano for Dior, and Givenchy. )

The color at the forefront of this past week is defiantly shades of grey. Besides Chanel as previously mentioned, Grey was also seen on the runways of Givenchy, Elie Sabb, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, and Armani Privé, and although other bits of pastels and hues of purple and navy popped in and out of the various collections grey and black outlined what is to be expected for Fall.

 (From left to right: Givenchy, Elie Sabb, and John Paul Gaultier)

Couture brings out all the stops. With extraordinary trims, clever draping and structuring, plays on volume, and of course plenty of hand-done extras, this was a couture showing true to form and absolutely exquisite.  See all the shows at Style.com!

 (From left to right: Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Valentino.)

All photos taken from Style.com .

 

 

 

With this ring, I thee Wed

Did you know that last week was Bridal Fashion week in New York?   

 

Why you should know:  Thinking it has nothing to do with you is the outlook of yesteryear, because the future of tomorrow holds more in store for you than you may realize. First, many of the designers on the roster at last week’s bridal runway extravaganza do not have bridal jewelry lines, and they often team up with a bridal jewelry designer to bejewel models for the catwalk and for photo shoots. Second, this year the toughest critics (often the best critics) took note of the fashion forward thinking incorporated into the lines of almost all the designers.  If bridal trends continue to move forward in concept and design, which we believe they will, then won’t the jewelry move forward as well?  And the accessories? And the bridesmaid’s accessories?  With bright colors the trend de jour these days, and collections of gowns that are all inspired from the rest of the ROY G BIV color spectrum, the looks seen on the runway call for jewelry that is more colorful, more playful, and more eccentric.  The days of all white gowns with classic platinum/pearl/diamond jewelry will stand the test of time, but outside-the-box accoutrements will certainly join the mix more and more every year.   

Why you will know next year: You can check out all of the shows at NY Mag online, but to give you an example of where YOU will fit in to the equation in the next year, I would like to focus on two of my favorite wedding dress designers.  First up, the line by Monique Lhuiller (see photos above), who is no stranger to adding color to wedding gowns, was full of trims and draping that had an air of exquisiteness that can only be found in something vintage/something unique/something authentic.  Her aesthetic is a throw back to a time of decadence and aristocracy, and the jewelry should match.  Intricate or vintage-like pieces and non-traditional metals like rose gold, green gold, or oxidized gold would compliment beautifully.  Next on my list is Reem Acra, who sent a fresh line down the runway, which was inspired by such outrageous characters as Alice in Wonderland and Raggedy Ann (see photos below).  This fantasy like collection requires jewelry which is as mystical as the designs themselves.  Bright and big cocktail rings, colored diamonds and gemstone, and big statement pieces, would bring out the underlying personality of Acra’s line.

Furthermore, Aja Magnum (NY Mag) reported that the biggest trend for bridesmaid’s dresses is black gowns that are multi-purposeful.  Too bad nothing matches black…oh wait…everything matches black.  The possibilities of jewelry for bridesmaids are endless.   

It comes down to the ultimate question:  Do you take thee (non traditional bridal jewelry) to be thy (non traditional bridal gowns) mate?  I do!

 

Photos from NY magazine online and Fashion Wire Daily.

Emerging Trends from Fashion Week

There are some moments in life that just surpass all normal levels of excitement and reach the level of all-out, oh-my-goodness, ear to ear smiles, and girly screaming excitement.  Included in this category: a huge bonus, a great sale, the perfect attention from a significant other, a new pair of killer shoes, etc.  So what got my heart racing this morning?  When watching the Paris shows from yesterday, I almost squeaked at the site of layered long necklaces draped across the décolletage’s of models on the Givenchy runway.  I took a detailed eye to this trend which popped up sporadically on the Oscar’s red carpet, and I love when I spot a trend before it is confirmed by one of the greats – and if you have been paying attention to the last few Givenchy shows you know he is one of the greats.  That means we are looking at competing trends for the future.  Is it all about the big bracelets or all about the layered necklaces?  There might just be a piece of the action for everyone!

See the whole collection!

Cuff Em' - A wrist-hold on the future trend of jewelry

There is only one thing better than a great fashion show: back to back great fashion shows.  So, it was no surprise that when Paris fashion week came up to bat in the all star line-up of fashion weeks, we saw one jaw dropping runway collection after another.  We took special note of the jewelry filled show by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, who’s expert taste level confirmed the upcoming jewelry trend of statement pieces, and most prominently, big statement bracelets.  Ghesquière took it one step further then fellow fashion trend makers by pairing big chunky bracelets (and we mean chunky in the good-full-of-diamonds-and-gemstones way) with matching necklaces.  It remains too soon to tell whether the matching bracelets on both arms were runway drama extravagance or a more literal style with an underlying note of futuristic protective armor. Either way, we suggest keeping a sharp eye out for this wrist adornment trend, for the masses are sure to follow.    See the full Collection!

Trend Report: Flip Flopping - The big and small of it

During a presidential race, you expect to hear the term “flip flopping” thrown around the blogosphere, but we here at Lup HQ remain reluctant to delve into the sometimes sensitive topic of politics, and choose to stick to the always fun buzz on jewelry and accessories. So, who then are we accusing of flip flopping? Belts and Bracelets. The thinly stacked bangles and big chunky belts of yesteryear have swapped places with the skinny belts and chunky cuffs of the trendy today. “In My Choos’s” blogger gives you the skinny on how to wear the shrunken belts of spring, while other favorite blog “All About Jewelry,” reaffirms everyone’s need for a big cuff or statement bracelet. These two trends pair perfectly together, and translate across a span of ages and styles, making it the perfect en vogue look for you and your clients. (We pulled these images for you from some of the top designers showing at New York Fashion Week.)