Designers

Fashion designer, Yigal Azrouël, didn’t attend design school. “I didn’t know I wanted to do this!” he confessed yesterday afternoon when he stepped out of his studio for a moment to chat on his current sample sale. Inducted into the CFDA in 2004, Azrouël debuted his first international runway show in Paris in Spring 2005. Heidi Klum, Kirsten Stewart and Katie Lee Joel are all fans of the Israeli-born, French-Moroccan designer. But like every designer, big and small, if he could choose to dress anyone, he would outfit fashion icon, Kate Moss.

How did you know you wanted to be a designer?

I was always attracted to fashion. Then I started making pieces for myself, then for friends. Eventually, I put together a small collection.

What do you consider your breakthrough pieces?

My leather jacket. Our t-shirt. We have a very special t-shirt that is washed with milk – something I developed in Italy. Also dresses. The dresses are a big category for us.

How would you categorize your style?

Simple. It’s not like making collections from the same fabric. It’s making individual pieces work together. Some pieces are fashion forward but in a very simple way. Clean lines, a cool little jacket, pants.

Who is wearing Yigal Azrouël now?

A lot of the cool, downtown crowd. When I go out… when I walk down the street, I see musicians, rock ‘n roll, actors, artists.

So when you spot someone walking down the street wearing your designs what do you think?

Depends who is wearing it, and how they are wearing the clothes. I don’t like when people try really hard. For me, less is more. But for the most part I get excited when I see someone wearing my designs. It completes my day.

I know you aren’t one to follow trends, so where do you derive inspiration?

My inspiration comes from the fabric. Most the day I’m sketching then draping, sketching then draping. Like sculpture – you don’t always know where you are going when you sculpt something, but you are slowly chipping away. I like when fabric surprises me… when it tricks me.

If you didn’t design clothing, what would you do?

I’d be surfing. I’ve been surfing since I was six.  Sometimes on a nice day with good swells, I go to Long Beach and surf then come back. I used to even go in the winter, but not as much anymore. I’m building a house in Costa Rica, and if I didn’t design, I’d live there and surf. And fish, so I could eat.

In one sentence, what do you do all day?

Think. I think all day long.

Emma Dinzebach

Renee DuMarr has “new found energy.” When I spoke with the womenswear designer early Thursday morning, she was at the hair salon dying her dark locks an easy shade of blonde. “You have to change it up,” she said with enthusiasm of a woman whose seven-year-old son now spends his days at school so she can focus on her business. After a twenty year career in fashion (she is the former Vice President of both Perry Ellis and K L Karl Lagerfeld), DuMarr struck out on her own and her namesake label aims to redefine apparel for overcommitted women.

How would you categorize your label’s style? 

Chic, classic, elegant…and a little bit out of the box.

Who is wearing Renee DuMarr now?

30 and up.

What inspired your current line, featured at next week’s sample sale?

My new found energy…and comfort. The line is a product of what I’m feeling. I’m rethinking and redefining all of the aspects of a woman’s life to create something that takes a woman out of her box, which is where I want to be.

In one sentence, what do you do all day?

I multi-task.

If you didn’t design clothing what would you do?

Work on the exchange floor or on a bond desk. I deal with colors, silhouettes, fabrics that are all real…that I can feel. If I didn’t do this, I’d be intellectually creative with numbers: packaging, buying, selling. They’re not really that different – finance and fashion – they just use different mediums.

If you could dress someone famous, who would it be?

Hilary Clinton, although she’s governed by her environment. Demi Moore. Sharon Stone. If Sarah Palin weren’t Sarah Palin, then Sarah Palin. I would love to dress Jackie O, but she’s dead.

After our interview, Renee sent me a text message that read “Thanks Emma! Always enjoy the journey. R” Like Renee, sassy but breezy, her designs reflect her present aim to balance her blessings. Because when you think about it, Lagerfeld or Legos, life yields infinite inspiration when we revel in our journey.

Emma Dinzebach

Sundance is over. There was something about a football game. We are officially over winter and ready for skirts, dresses and the ability to freely wear heels without worrying about scary ice patches. Our body’s are craving a mid-winter dress and warmth.

All hail the winter piece that keeps on giving! We found – or are reporting on – yet another way to way your still bitchin’ fur vest. And your light weight, warmer weather appropriate leather bomber for that matter. Celebs, models and beautiful French women roaming the streets of Paris pair their fancy – see also: staple – dresses with their faux animal top pieces for both style and warmth.The infinite amount of looks you can create will give your sluggish winter brain a refreshing shot of creativity as you can use just about any winter-appropriate dress in your closet. Use your cotton dresses for a more casual look and your fancy frocks with fur for a night on the town. Jason Wu paired his faux fur with a navy band aid dress during Fall 2009 ready-to-wear collection and celebs like Olivia Palermo, Kate Moss, Blake Lively and so on and so forth. Just remember, to choose a less restrictive piece of outerwear to accommodate your frock and faux underneath.

Emma Dinzebach

You name it, they’re participating. Never before has the fashion community united as strongly as they will Thursday, September 10th for much anticipated “Fashion’s Night Out.” Anna Wintour’s brainchild, this evening aims truly aims to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, celebrate fashion and unite industry aspects. There are no tickets, no invitations, no exclusive lists. From 6p.m. to 11p.m. stores will welcome customers with giveaways, sweepstakes, cocktails and mini manicures and more.

The Vogue City normally encourages bargain shopping, widely discouraging full price purchasing, but Fashion’s Night Out is more than just shopping.  All proceeds from Fashion’s Night Out official t-shirt sales will benefit the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. Over 700 retail stores in the 5 boroughs are on board to participate and in addition to celebrating, many retailers are taking a charity angle. A city-wide clothing drive where people can donate new or gently used clothing will kick off to benefit the New York City AIDS Fund. The collected clothing will be distributed to 17 area AIDS charities. For a list of retailers accepting the clothing donations, click here.
With Zac Posen painting one of a kind dresses at Bergdorf and a Patrick McMullen photo exhibit at Lord & Taylor, participation is running the gamut. It wouldn’t be New York and it wouldn’t be Vogue without some star alignment. WWD reports Sienna Miller at Intermix, Hugh Jackman at Jeffery, the Olsen twins at Barney’s, Charlize Theron at Dior, Justin Timberlake at Saks and the list goes on.

Rich, poor or somewhere in between, this is an unprecedented global event orchestrated by the American fashion industry. No where else in the world could such an ambitious, charitable and energetic idea, accessible to every citizen regardless of class, color, or cash flow, ignite a global phenomenon pulling together every teeny aspect of monstrous industry. Despite the state of our economy, shaky decision-making and heart-wrenching loss in some of our most creative industries, we are New Yorkers. Like Bergdorf’s president and CEO, Jim Gold, said a few weeks back, “You can lay down and do nothing, or beat the drum and create excitement.” In New York, we’re drum beaters.
Fashion’s Night out is an initiative supported by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, The City of New York, New York & Co., and Vogue. For a list of retailers, timelines or other information, visit www.fashionsnightout.com. 

Emma Dinzebach