President and First Lady Host Private Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and Wife Akie Abe

SATURDAY AT THE TRUMPS’: Amidst reports of North Korea firing an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the president and first lady stepped out solemnly with Japan’s Prime Minister and his wife tonight in Florida. After a full day of golfing, a private tour of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a light lunch and some official business, the first couple wound down their Sunshine State weekend by hosting a private dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and his wife Akie.
Prior to the dinner, Trump ignored a question shouted by reporters about the North Korean missile launch (although both he and Abe addressed it later) as well as one about whether he planned to watch “Saturday Night Live.”
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were seen emerging in formalwear before the appearance at the main entrance by President Trump, Prime Minister Abe and their spouses at Mar-a-Lago. They headed to a waiting black SUV that whisked them off, according to pool reporters.
While the dinner at the resort was held in honor of the Japanese delegation, Trump and Abe were undoubtedly distracted by the news of the North Korean missile launch, which they addressed shortly after the dinner.
Appearing in front of U.S. and Japanese flags, the two

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Coach Cofounder Miles Cahn, 95

Coach cofounder Miles Cahn died Friday at the age of 95.
The New York City native founded Coach in 1961 with wife Lillian, who died in 2013 at the age of 89.
The husband-and-wife duo famously developed hides inspired by baseball glove materials — using the leather in bags and small accessories to forge an all-American aesthetic.
Coach began as a family-run workshop in a Manhattan loft in 1941. The company started with six leather-workers who made men’s leather goods. Five years later, the Cahns joined the contractor, then known as Gail Leather Products. The Cahns were owners of a leather handbag manufacturing business and were knowledgeable about the business. In 1961, the Cahns bought out the factory’s owners in a leveraged buyout.
At Lillian’s suggestion, the Cahns started making women’s handbags with leather used to make baseball gloves. Through excessive wear and abrasion, the leather in the glove became soft and supple. Under the brand name Coach, the sturdy cowhide bags were an immediate hit and earned a reputation for being nearly indestructible. In 1961, the Cahns hired sportswear pioneer Bonnie Cashin to design Coach handbags. She revolutionized the product’s design, making handbags with side pockets, coin purses and brighter colors.
In July 1985,

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Samira Wiley, Lauren Morelli Sit Front Row at Christian Siriano Fall

“Orange Is the New Black” was in the house for Christian Siriano’s show. Samira Wiley, Lauren Morelli and Danielle Brooks sat front row next to Alexa Chung, Coco Rocha and Gigi Gorgeous. As is the case for every show, the final minutes leading up to the start were mayhem, but not so hectic that Wiley couldn’t reminisce.
“The very first dress I ever wore out to an awards show, the Emmys, was a Christian dress,” she said, wearing a pantsuit she picked out from Siriano’s showroom. “It was a beautiful canary yellow mermaid dress that fit me like nothing other. I love the way [Siriano] designs his gowns. They really do fit me like nothing other. My fiancée [Morelli], who has a very different body than I do, she steps into one of Christian’s dresses and she looks amazing. I’m excited about how innovative he’s been in his career and I’m just excited to see what he brings today.”
“Christian brings such a sense of fun to fashion and is so inclusive of bodies and women,” said Morelli. “I feel like you go to a lot of shows and it’s very self-serious. Christian’s really good at making sure it’s always fun.”
And they had fun — or at

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Rubin & Chapelle RTW Fall 2017

Sonja Rubin and Kip Chapelle have always followed their own point of view. And that view is more about ease and comfort than reinventing the proverbial wheel. “I don’t think clothes should be bound by seasons or trends and should also be cut for ease and comfort,” insisted Rubin. For fall, that point struck a decidedly loungewear chord for the designers that surfaced in gowns and even coats. A white-piped, black satin long tuxedo dress was wrapped like a dressing gown; slender bias-cut charmeuse gowns were as simple as slips, and the beige mohair or taupe melton long cardigan coats with low patch pockets had the nonchalance of classic robes.

The designers did not abandon structure when they shaped silk satin jackets that were faced with organza to add body or cut a few crisp cropped pantsuits. For some sporty printed looks, Rubin & Chapelle had only to look out the window of their new showroom and studio in a warehouse at Hudson Yards. They interpreted the skyline and architecture in strong graphic patterns. These were cleverly rendered but the softness and glamour of their lingerie niche was their strong suit.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Kuho RTW Fall 2017

Kuho is a South Korean-based contemporary label, which has a big business in its homeland, offers chic, everyday garb for women on the go. For fall, designer Hyunjung Kim noted that the inspiration was “scent collector.” At her presentation, thousands of burgundy rose petals were piled along a studio set where models stood and sat in chic, minimal, fluid silhouettes in a palette of burgundy, neutrals and pops of vivid hues. Styled with slicked-back hair, the models looked ready to take on the office or go out for dinner with friends. Therein lies the strength of what Kim offers — it isn’t trend-driven fast fashion, but enhanced wardrobe staples at an affordable price. “I think the collection is what women want, especially in a global market,” said Jean Colin, vice president of Samsung Fashion Group, the parent company of Kuho. Sharply tailored coats, like a cerulean version styled with cropped flares and a cream-colored one featuring a ribbed waistband on only one half, ticked the box for universal appeal.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Lacoste RTW Fall 2017

Felipe Oliveira Baptista took Lacoste on a cosmic voyage for fall as he delved into the life of founder René Lacoste, who joined the aircraft industry following his tennis career and eventually founded the company Air Equipement, which led to the development of the Concorde and Airbus programs in France. “My dad was a pilot himself, so I have always been obsessed with planes and sci-fi,” Baptista said backstage, noting the collection’s mix of aerospace references. “I like this idea of looking ahead as well, especially in these times. It’s good to try to push things forward.”
With the exception of a couple of looks featuring iridescent galactic prints, Baptista tread gently on his space motifs, working Nineties street and grunge vibes through his women’s looks. In the latter category, he rendered buffalo plaid into a pair of dresses — one featuring sleeves wrapped around the waist, a trademark grunge look — and an oversize mohair cardigan worn with a leather miniskirt. He also mixed classic and technical fabrics, as in the black-leather trench accented with colorful patches of nylon that opened the show or the patchwork leather flight suit that followed.
For men, Baptista offered a tight lineup with the same streetwear references that continue

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
VFiles RTW Fall 2017

Some things in New York are comforting in their predictability: the coffee at La Colombe, the traffic jams at the Lincoln Tunnel and the VFiles show starting over 40 minutes late at New York Fashion Week.
Luckily, those who arrive on time can pass the time by people-watching — the show always yields some eccentric street style in the front row. Held this season in the Viacom building at 1515 Broadway, VFiles’ fall runway highlighted the collections of three up-and-coming lines: Daniëlle Cathari, Snow Xue Gao and Strateas.Carlucci, designed by Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci. They were selected from thousands of submissions by the VFiles team and a group of mentors, who this season included makeup artist Pat McGrath, stylist Mel Ottenberg and designers Jerry Lorenzo and Tommy Hilfiger.
VFiles never fails to deliver on the live entertainment front, and the show eventually got underway with a pair of energetic dancers from Atlanta, Meechie and Toosi, and a soulful song by Chicago rapper Joey Purp. Rapper 21 Savage later closed the show with a laid-back performance of “No Heart.”
Snow Xue Gao, a New York-based designer who presented her spring collection at the 2016 Parsons MFA show, was up first on the runway. Aiming

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Taoray Wang RTW Fall 2017

There was a lot of excitement this season since Taoray Wang dressed first daughter Tiffany Trump for President Trump’s swearing-in ceremony; Tiffany showed her support for the designer as she sat front row with her mother, Marla Maples. Backstage, designer Wang Tao said she was inspired by a contemporary Chinese drama depicting Qing Dynasty characters crossing over from ancient times to the present-day world. So Tao mixed lingerie-inspired pieces with masculine staples, showing plenty of tailored suits that mixed bold lines with delicate lace. Key looks in the collection were the belted long blazers layered over sexy lace dresses; a feminine skirt suit with a chain-link closure; a sharp blazer with a zipper shoulder, and a fitted double-breasted jacket tucked into wide-leg trousers. Tao also showed plenty of strong outerwear, ranging from a dramatic belted plaid topper to a chic tuxedo coat. There was just the right balance between conservative and sexy, giving the first daughter plenty of options to choose from.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
First Lady Melania Trump Chooses Calvin Klein Dress for Morikami Gardens Visit

First Lady Melania Trump has been showing some solidarity for American designers.
For this morning’s visit to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s wife Akie, FLOTUS wore a Calvin Klein sleeveless white cashmere knitted tea-length dress with a long belt. With the school week over for her son Barron, Trump resumed her non-New York responsibilities and was back to protocol, taking in the 16-acre gardens with her guest from Japan. The greenery and flowery grounds are named “Roji-en,” meaning “Garden of the Drops of Dew.”
In honor of her visit, Trump presented Abe with a porcelain piece of art titled “Rose in Bloom” from the American artist Vladimir Kanevsky. The gift was meant not only as symbol of our nation’s flower, but also as one of beauty and freedom. Kanevsky works in Fort Lee, N.J. where his work attracted the attention of Carolyne Roehm, Charlotte Moss, Deeda Blair and the late Oscar de la Renta.
Senior adviser to the first lady Stephanie Winston Wolkoff said today,”Our first lady has such a fond appreciation and respect for other cultures and is hopeful that she will inspire our youth to nurture their minds and relax their bodies in order for them

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

12.02.2017No comments
Miss Universe Seated Front Row at Lacoste

WHO RUNS THE WORLD?: Fresh off her win as Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere was seated in the front row at Lacoste. The 24-year-old beauty queen, who hails from Lille, France, said she was attending a few fashion shows this week and will be walking the runway Monday at the Sherri Hill show. Mittenaere said that she will be working this year for the charity Smile Train, which helps children with cleft palates. After her reign as Miss Universe is over, she plans to become a dental surgeon.
Also in the crowd was blogger Aimee Song, who pens the fashion and interior design blog Song of Style.
 

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

12.02.2017No comments