VCNY Presents Tulips & Pansies: The Headdress Affair

For their 8th annual, VCNY (Village Care of New York)presented a fashion show called Tulips & Pansies: The Headdress Affair. It was not an ordinary show where models walked at the runway with designers' clothes. In addition to great dresses, the florists made the models flaunt their bulky but stunning headpieces adorned with tulips, pansies and other beautiful flowers.


Left: Sara Claire & Esther, in collaboration with Fleurs New York.
Right: b. Michael, in collaboration with Cote Fleurie Studio.


Left: Zang Toi, in collaboration with Golf Srithamrong of Tantawan Bloom.
Right: Hunter Dixon, in collaboration with Rachel Cho.


Left: Form New York, in collaboration with Preston Bailey.
Right: Alvin Valley, in collaboration with Gotham Gardens.


Left: Thierry Mugler, in collaboration with Michael Gaffney for NY School of Flower Design.
Right: Chado Ralph Rucci, in collaboration with Zeze Flowers.

This fund raising event was held for the benefit of the people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.

View the rest of the headpieces at Harper's Bazaar.

Ageless Fashion Styles: Little Black Dress

As you would notice, the fashion trends nowadays are just reincarnation of the fashion styles before we were born. They are the improved versions designed by those who have gone before us. The fashion styles that I will present in a series are ageless fashion styles because they still exist through the test of time.

1930: Little Black Dress (LBD)


The little black dress was first seen in May 1926 issue of Vogue magazine when Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel drew the design of the dress for the said issue. First, it was called “Chanel’s Ford” because it is compared to the affordable black Ford automobile.

“Chanel’s Ford” rocked the fashion world in both positive and negative ways. Chanel made a bold effort in her design by choosing black as the color of the dress. Some people had a bad impression about it because black clothing was linked to clergy, servants, or death. However, most of the women were allured by its simplicity and its cost. Accessorized with pearl necklace or worn with high-heels, everyone can pull it off with flying colors.

The popularity of little black dresses became uncontrollable. After its first appearance in Vogue magazine, celebrities also succumbed to LBD phenomenal trend. A little black dress made by Givenchy was worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tifffany’s. It was also used by Max Fleischer as the outfit of the infamous Betty Boop cartoon character. Since then, little black dresses are worn by middle-class to elite women in every dinner, cocktail party and night out.



To cope up with this fashion demand, almost every well-known designer included a little black dress in their collection by the end of the 20th century.

Inspiration

Fashion Styles at the 2009 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

Last Saturday (May 9), the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) held the long-established dinner for US President Barack Obama and the first lady of the country, Michelle Obama.

This tradition originated way back in 1920s and it has been recorded that the very first WHCA dinner was graced by Calvin Coolidge (1024). As a rule, this occasion requires the attendance of US President and Vice President. Since then, the dinner is customarily held every last Saturday of April at the Washington Hilton.

Before World War II, the annual dinner highlights include singing between meals, a home-produced movie and an hour-long, post-dinner show with famous performers. However, these past few year years the attendees were entertained by a comedian roasting the President.

This 2009, stars came down from their pedestal and gathered to toast for the First Family. Let’s have a sneak preview of the red carpet fashion during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.


Michelle Obama in pink sheath dress by Michael Kors



Natalie Portman in black Balenciaga gown


Eva Longoria Parker in pink-ruffled Ports 1961 gown


Alicia Keys in white dress with ninja stars


Tyra Banks in her black number


Natasha Bedingfield in a sparkling silver dress


Rachel Leigh Cook in a metallic gown


Padma Lakshmi in see-through scarlet gown

Photo Source