I was instantly struck by the maturity of his designs – Nima specializes in feminine, elegant cuts with a decidedly modern twist – and by the fact that he produced a full range of shoes and bags (really, really good shoes and bags) to accessorize his thesis collection. And I wasn’t the only one impressed. Within months of graduating, Nima’s collection was hanging on the racks at Saks Fifth Avenue. Not bad for a fashion world newbie.

Today, Nima continues to sell at Saks, along with specialty boutiques worldwide, and his designs have been featured in WWD, ELLE, InStyle, and Harper’s BAZAAR. We’ve kept in touch, whether it’s during NYFW (when I’ve reviewed his collections for TFI and Vogue.com UK) or socially, as we have friends in common and tend to travel in the same circles.

A few weeks ago, we met up for dinner at Corsino Cantina, one of our favorite haunts in the West Village. “You have to try the beet salad, it’s incredible!” he urged as we settled in at our table overlooking Horatio Street and ordered two glasses of rosé. “You only like it because it has pistachios,” I teased (Nima was born in Iran, a huge supplier of the little green nuts). “You’re probably right,” he laughed.

He also suggested that I run, not walk, to check out the newly opened section of the High Line park – “it’s beautiful!” – which culminates near his apartment in Chelsea. Over beet salad and Spanish mackerel with asparagus for me, tagliatelle with pork ragu and mint for him, we discussed the benefits of living in Brooklyn or Queens versus Manhattan (in a nutshell: larger living spaces and open sky vs. the convenience of getting around quickly).

Nima told me about his plans to continue growing his business and explained that he prefers pop-up selling days (which are held in stores on season) to trunk shows (which take place months before the merchandise arrives for a particular season, meaning customers can only see sample garments – and can’t try things on if they aren’t a sample size). In the last “crazy, crazy” year, Nima’s pop-up selling events took him to San Francisco, Houston, Naples, Palm Beach, Bal Harbor, Dallas, Boston, D.C., Chevy Chase, and Chicago (where he does the annual fashion show benefit for Children’s Memorial Hospital). “It’s interesting; the clientele is completely different – with a completely different look – in every city.”

He confided that he hadn’t had a summer vacation since he left school – “I can’t, I’m always working!” – but that he usually sneaks away for some R&R in late September (this year’s destination: Europe, possibly Berlin), and always goes to Aspen for a week of skiing following the February shows.

We discussed our mutual ex-Parsons pals Tim Gunn and Carmela Spinelli (she’s now the Dean of the Fashion Department at SCAD – the Savannah College of Art and Design – and he’s … well, you know what Tim is up to). We also agreed that life feels more manageable without TV (neither of us own one) and leaves more time for things like reading books, such as “The Hunger Games,” Nima’s current fave. “It’s great,” he said with a laugh between sips of vino. “You die or fight to the death, and there’s lots of fashion. It’s so much my life!”

As we headed back out onto the sweltering sidewalk, Nima told me he was planning a “more low-key, intimate” presentation for September Fashion Week to showcase his Spring 2012 collection, which promises to be “fun, colorful, uplifting, and chic.” Just like the man himself.

BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER

Mother Nature was in a great mood Monday night – great news for the fashion flock, who turned out en masse for the 2011 CFDA Awards at Lincoln Center, hosted by Anderson Cooper. They were dressed to the nines, of course, with Lady Gaga (this year’s Fashion Icon Award honoree) making the photogs gaga in her custom Nicola Formichetti for Mugler spiked bodystocking/corset/ball skirt ensemble, which revealed as much as it concealed (worn with a bobbed green wig and 24-inch black leather platforms, natch).

Other red carpet stunners included Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors, Karlie Kloss in Jason Wu, Phoebe Philo (the International Award honoree) in her own design for Celine, Alessandra Ambrosio in Prabal Gurung, Chloë Sevigny in a leather-and-lace look from her 2012 Resort collection for Opening Ceremony (what, you didn’t know she’s a designer now, too?), Guinevere van Seenus in vintage James Galanos with Eddie Borgo jewelry, Leelee Sobieski in a stunning white suit by her hubby Adam Kimmel, Liya Kebede in Derek Lam, Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo in a neon orange Jil Sander pantsuit, and Sofia Coppola in a white strapless Marc Jacobs dress (she was presenting her designer pal with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, or “half-lifetime achievement award,” as she jokingly called it when introducing the 48-year-old Jacobs onstage).

The event was a veritable lovefest, with seemingly every American designer, editor, buyer, stylist, and fashion photographer in attendance (look, there’s Anna Wintour! And there’s Terry Richardson! Over there, it’s Inez and Vinoodh! There’s Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! Hey, it’s Joseph Altuzarra! There’s Mary Ping and Sue Stemp! And isn’t that Haider Ackermann, Daphne Guinness, and Karlie Kloss?). And so it went.

Kanye West presented Phoebe Philo’s award, Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington gave the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award to legendary lensman Arthur Elgort. A stunning (and very pregnant) Jessica Alba presented the Founder’s Eleanor Lambert Award to InStyle’s Hal Rubenstein, and veteran British journalist Hilary Alexander (who has been with the Telegraph for 25 years and is retiring in June to study archeology) was honored with the Eugenia Sheppard Media Award.

Lady Gaga told a hilarious story about getting a text from Anna congratulating her on being named 2011’s Fashion Icon, and she wrote back, “Yes, bitch, we did it!,” thinking it was her friend, Anna. Turns out it was Anna Wintour (d’oh!) who texted back, “That’s lovely.” Ha!

In more serious style news, the Swarovski Award for emerging talent went to Prabal Gurung (for womenswear), Robert Geller (for menswear), and Eddie Borgo (for accessories).

The CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award was given to Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, with Michael Bastian nabbing the Menswear Designer of the Year award and Alexander Wang taking home the Accessory Designer of the Year prize.

Then 21 designers took to the stage to honor Nadja Swarovski for her ongoing support of young talent. The lineup of past Swarovski Award winners – Alexander Wang, Doo.Ri Chung, Zac Posen, Rag & Bone, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Shipley & Halmos, Devi Kroell, Brian Atwood, Jessie Randall, Phillip Lim, Eugenia Kim, Justin Giunta, and Philip Crangi (among others) – drove home the point that today’s fashion newbies are tomorrow’s fashion stars.

CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg closed the show (explaining that Anderson Cooper had to leave early to deal with “a Weiner matter”). And then it was on to the Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel for the CFDA After Party, where Gaga removed the remaining outer layers of her outfit to reveal a sheer unitard with black pasties and a G-string, and belted out a duet with Patti LaBelle. No rest for the wicked, my lovelies!

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor. ]]> http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/06/09/celebrating-fashion-at-the-2011-cfda-awards/feed/ 1 http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/05/12/discovering-new-talent-at-parsons%e2%80%99-senior-show/ http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/05/12/discovering-new-talent-at-parsons%e2%80%99-senior-show/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 20:15:48 +0000 Lauren David Peden http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=4190 BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER

Marc Jacobs. Anna Sui. Donna Karan. Narciso Rodriguez. Proenza Schouler. Prabal Gurung. Doo.Ri. Tracy Reese. Vena Cava. Isaac Mizrahi. Chris Benz.

All of these designers — and hundreds more, both famous and not — are graduates of Parsons The New School for Design. So it’s always exciting when the Parsons senior show rolls around each spring, as it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to discover at least a few new fashion stars of tomorrow. The school was first established in 1896, and for the past few years I’ve been on Parsons’ senior thesis panel, which takes place a few weeks before the show and involves the graduating fashion students presenting their collections to a group of industry insiders (this time, my fellow panelists included designer Maria Cornejo and Teen Vogue Fashion Director Gloria Baume). A separate panel then votes to name a Designer of the Year in the womenswear, menswear, and children’s wear categories, which are announced at the gala event.

Monday’s show honored Parsons alum Reed Krakoff (who designs his own signature line and is the Executive Creative Director at Coach), and was held at Pier 60 along the Chelsea Piers. It featured the work of 34 graduating designers on the glossy white X-shaped runway, which was surrounded by four huge video screens, with additional student work displayed on mannequins throughout the sunny, waterfront space.

“[Going to Parsons] was an amazing gift; I’m indebted to them,” Krakoff told the audience before announcing that senior Joel Harding had won the Coach Project “It’s All in the Details,” which involved reinterpreting the iconic Coach duffle bag. He was awarded a $2,500 cash prize and a summer internship at Coach.

Then the lights dimmed and it was sh-sh-sh-showtime, folks! First out was the cool urban kids’ line by 21-year-old Serena Chang from Tucson, Arizona (who took home the Designer of the Year prize in that category), followed by a dizzying slew of menswear (the award in that arena went to T. Young Hwang, 30, of Seoul, South Korea - though I also loved the fashion-forward menswear by Grace Hu).

Not surprisingly, there were a ton of really terrific womenswear collections as well. Standouts included the handcrafted floral embellishment of Snehal Bathwal, painterly prints by Andria Crescioni, luxe sportswear from Brian Suter-Maury and Paige Kettering (the latter of which put me in mind of Chado Ralph Rucci), great chunky knits by Joanna Akkaoul, and highly architectural fringed and embellished pieces by David Ferron, who was named Women’s Wear Designer of the Year.

Afterwards, I wandered around the venue checking out the other student clothing and accessories displays, where I ran into the gracious Mr. Krakoff, who was happily posing for photos with the graduates.

As always, I discovered some wonderfully creative designers — and I can’t wait to see which of these talented newcomers will join the ranks of Marc, Donna, and Proenza in seasons to come.

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER

On Wednesday night, the Roger Vivier boutique hosted a party for the book Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange. I received a review copy a week earlier, and had been savoring it like a delicious box of chocolates, reading a chapter or two each night before bed, trying to make the experience last as long as possible (what can I say, I’m a sucker for an illustrated fashion guide, and this one is especially insightful, informative, and irreverent).

Ines, as you probably know, is a legendary French style icon/model, designer, muse to Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier, International Best-Dressed List Hall of Famer, brand identity consultant for Roger Vivier, and the newly-appointed face of L’Oreal, a gig she nabbed at the ripe young age of 53 (she turns 54 in August and has been modeling since the 80s).

So when I received an invite to the book signing with Ines and her co-author, French ELLE fashion scribe, Sophie Gachet, of course I said yes. American ELLE was co-hosting, and editor-in-chief Robbie Myers — whom I first met ten years ago when I began writing for that magazine — was also on hand to pay her regards.

Stacks of the little red books beckoned from the window, and more copies were on display throughout the shop, surrounded by silver Eiffel Towers, gorgeous bouquets of flowers and (my fave) sexy RV sandals and buckle-trimmed flats — Vivier’s signature shoe, which Ines has made one of her signatures as well.

Upstairs, Ines and Sophie signed copies of Parisian Chic while cute waiters plied partygoers with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, and French/American jazz quartet Bon Musique entertained the crowd, which included fashion insiders Joe Zee, Kate Betts, Lynn Yaeger, Jamee Gregory, Fabiola Beracasa, Derek Blasberg, Mark Holgate, Amanda Ross, and Andrew Rosen.

I asked Ines how she hit upon the “Not-So-Basics/Magnificent Seven” wardrobe must-haves outlined in the book (aka, a blazer, trench coat, navy sweater, tank top, LBD, jeans, and leather jacket). “Opening my closet!” she said. “I’ve been working with Sophie and she’s blonde, she’s young — just the opposite of me — and we agreed about all of these things; that they can be solutions. These pieces work for everyone.”

So what makes a trench coat more Parisian than New York in style? “It’s the way you wear it,” Ines replied. “In the evening with a chiffon dress it can be really great. And maybe some women think for evening they need to put on heels and diamonds and a fur coat. It’s much chicer with a trench coat, non?”

Oui!

“I thought it was really chic,” Robbie Myers said of the book. “And it’s very her – it’s down-to-earth but also sophisticated. It is a very French thing; it’s a cliché but it’s true: they’re very relaxed about how women are — how they should be — in the world. That you should pay attention to your own needs and desires. And, of course, have a good skinny white jean and blue sweater.”

Done and done. Thanks, Ines!

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor. ]]> http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/05/04/elle-and-roger-vivier-celebrate-the-book-%e2%80%9cparisian-chic%e2%80%9d-by-ines-de-la-fressange/feed/ 0 http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/04/11/scottish-designers-are-dressed-to-kilt/ http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/04/11/scottish-designers-are-dressed-to-kilt/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:24:33 +0000 Lauren David Peden http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=3832

BY LAUREN DAVID PEDEN/THE FASHION INFORMER

I’ve been covering fashion for a while now, but last Wednesday night was my first time checking out the annual “Dressed to Kilt” reception, which took place at a two-floor showroom on Madison Avenue, adjacent to the Whitney. Presented by the Scottish Textiles Industry — with a wee bit o’ help from honorary co-chairs, Sir Sean and Lady Connery — the event introduces Scottish designers to New York buyers and press.

On Tuesday night, Hammerstein Ballroom had played host to a “Dressed to Kilt” fashion show, the theme of which was “Country Chic (Where Scottish Couture Meets Country Cool),” with celebs like Rosanne Cash, Katrina Bowden, Billy Connolly, Amy Grant, Matthew Settle, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Marcus Schenkenberg walking the runway in creations by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and House of Holland, among others. I opted to skip that OTT tartan fest in favor of the more intimate cocktail reception the following evening, which gave me a chance to see the designs up close and talk to some of the younger talent who’d come Stateside for the occasion.

Glasgow-based Iona Crawford is perhaps the best known of the “Dressed to Kilt” emerging designers, having launched her line four years ago after studying at the Edinburgh College of Art. Known for her sharply tailored feminine silhouettes and painterly prints (which are based on her own, highly accomplished, artwork), Crawford has already won the 2009 London Calling Competition, been nominated for a Scottish Fashion Award, been invited to show her collection at Tokyo Fashion Week, and had an audience with the Queen of England. Not bad for a newbie.

For Fall 2011, Crawford collaborated with renowned Scottish menswear brand Skopes (the people behind the world’s most expensive suit) on a tailored womenswear collection offset by her signature painterly silks; this season, her prints are inspired by the graceful elegance of birds. You can see the collection, dubbed Ailsa, in this video, which was shot at her parents’ farm in rural Scotland – where she paints the animals and livestock that feature so heavily in her work.

Equally multi-talented is textile and fashion designer Claire McInally, who launched her line of geometric print blouses and origami-like, wool-and-woven-leather sheath dresses less than a year ago. Her beautiful, figure-flattering creations spoke for themselves – this is clearly a designer to watch.

As is ten30’s Alan Moore, winner of the 2011 Designer of the Year prize at the Scottish Variety Awards, who proudly showed me a one-of-a-kind tweed jacket with an elaborately embroidered back panel that took nearly 30 hours to complete. Other standout pieces from his collection include digital print day dresses, embroidered sheaths and easy trousers with hand-embroidered cuffs. The adorably scruffy Moore, visiting NYC for the first time, was as excited about his newly-acquired souvenir (a Yankees logo tattooed on his upper arm) as he was to show his collection to New York’s fashion flock.

The knitwear line Jaggy Nettle (sumptuous cashmere pullovers emblazoned with quirky prints or phrases) and shoe collections by Emily Lamb (chic, colorful pumps) and Mandarina (plaid kitten heel slingbacks), were also worth noting.

Crawford told me that she, Moore, and McInally are planning to form their own Scottish design collective with the aim of supporting and promoting local up-and-comers. I, for one, can’t wait to see what this incredibly talented trio has up their well-tailored sleeve for the future.

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor. ]]> http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2011/04/11/scottish-designers-are-dressed-to-kilt/feed/ 3