Style Fix

I’ve heard of dumpster divers. I’ve even heard of freegans and people who dig in dumpsters behind food suppliers to find their meals. Then in the artistic world, I am familiar with making art from “found objects,” meaning that you use materials that might otherwise be considered trash.

But fashion from trash? That’s a new one to me, but it’s not new to Haute Trash, a nonprofit that has been turning trash into high fashion since the 1980s. (Hmm … maybe that’s what bebe was attempting to do with their 2007 dress that looked like a torn trash bag.)

When founder Susan “Polly Ethylena” Lamela was discouraged by low quality expensive clothing, she put together a fashion show where high quality designs were made out of trash bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and duct tape. Today, the Haute Trash fashion shows continue, using refurbished materials including paper, old raincoats, construction site fencing, bottle caps, wrappers, computer parts, and so much more.

Haute Trash has several talented fashion designers, both young and, um, less young, and puts on several fashion shows along the west coast of the U.S. throughout the year. Upcoming events include:

* Oregon Country Fair, July 10-12, in Vaneta, OR. This is Haute Trash’s 10th year of performing at OCF!

* Summer Nights street festivals in Nevada City, CA, Wednesday evenings in July. Look for the 2010 calendar, postcards, and clothing and accessories all made by Haute Trash designers.

* Nevada County Fair on August 14, at 5:30 p.m., in Grass Valley, CA. This will be Haute Trash’s sixth year showcasing at the NCF.

Photo taken by Doug Bulger at the Sixth Annual
ReStore Show.

This week, on Tuesday, June 16, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) held the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted by comedian Tracey Ullman.

The winners and honorees of the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards include:

Womenswear Designer of the Year, presented by Diane Kruger
Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte

Menswear Designer of the Year (tie), presented by Jimmy Fallon
Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders and Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein Collection

Accessory Designer of the Year, presented by Kerry Washington
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Womenswear, presented by Blake Lively
Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Menswear, presented by Blake Lively
Tim Hamilton

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Accessory Design, presented by Blake Lively
Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by musician Jack White of the White Stripes
Anna Sui

International Award, presented by Antoine Arnault and Robert Duffy
Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton

Eugenia Sheppard Award for Fashion Journalism, presented by Patrick McCarthy, Editorial Director of W and WWD
Edward Nardoza, Editor-in-Chief, Women’s Wear Daily

Eleanor Lambert Award, presented by Justin Timberlake
Jim Moore, Creative Director, GQ

Board of Directors’ Special Tribute, presented by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg for her support and commitment to American designers
First Lady Michelle Obama

The CFDA is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 340 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. There is also the CFDA Foundation, which is a separate not-for-profit organization that raises funds for charity and industry activities.

Memorabilia from the iconic, sex symbol Marilyn Monroe will go up for auction later this month in Julien’s live online Summer Sale taking place Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27. The collection includes over 700 unique items from several different legendary Hollywood celebrities and productions, and about 150 of these items are from the personal and professional life of Marilyn Monroe.

Some of the Monroe items up for auction include vintage photographs, the umbrella shown in this picture, belts, her “Some Like It Hot” script, a rhinestone costume, a skirt, and more. View the complete Summer Sale collection online at Julien’s Live now.

Other featured stars include Errol Flynn, Henry Houdini, Greta Garbo, Mickey Rooney, Joan Crawford, a number of silent stars, Ronald Reagan, the Marx Brothers, Elvis Presley’s doctor, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow.

Drew Barrymore has been seen all around town promoting Grey Gardens, her new HBO film costarring Jessica Lange. The movie is a remake of the story of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’s aunt and cousin that lived together in squalor and almost total isolation. Drew’s over-the-top outfits have been telling a different story, one that I can’t quite figure out.

Barrymore has been seen in dozens of outfits this past week and weekend. All have been glamorous. All have been eccentric. But some have been better than others.

It all started with the best of them all at the New York premiere of the HBO film. Neutral tones work for Drew, especially when she punches her lip color up with a deep red. But don’t get too hopeful - it was downhill from here …

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On Wednesday, April 15, Drew got all decked out in anything but your average little black dress for her appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in New York City. Slicking her hair back with such large, um, sleeves? was an excellent choice.

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It was all about big hair and big jewelry at the Los Angeles premiere of Grey Gardens on Thursday, April 16.

At the “Inside Grey Gardens” panel discussion on Friday, April 17, in Hollywood, California, she rocked a draped sea foam dress with one full-length sleeve and one shoulder bare. As for her shoes? Could work with the right outfit, but this dress was their perfect match. Don’t miss her mini head piece.

No comment on her outfit from Saturday, April 18, at day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

Hey, celebrity, what did you wear this weekend?

Carrie Underwood wore a gorgeous Greek goddess gown to the 44th Annual Country Music Awards today in Las Vegas, Nevada. The American Idol and sexiest vegetarian alum is nominated for three awards at the award show that is going on as I write this.

Tennis pro Anna Kournikova looked sleek in her athletic gear at the Second Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon in Miami Beach, Florida, today. But, then again, is there any workout gear that Anna doesn’t look sexy wearing?

Actor Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and actress Carla Gugino attended the Race To Witch Mountain film premiere today in London, England. I don’t know what they wore, because I can’t get past her neon pink 80s lipstick.

It’s the year of the eco-friendly fashion designer. Consumers want sustainable, organic, and animal product-free fabrics, and designers are providing.

When talking about green fashion, it’s impossible to avoid mentioning the queen of green, Stella McCartney. Last night, Monday March 31, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) honored McCartney at the Forces for Nature gala. The gala featured entertainment by Saturday Night Live comedians, dinner vegetarian style, and daffodil centerpieces that were replanted after the event.

Stella’s dad, Sir Paul McCartney, was also in attendance and spoke highly of his daughter’s accomplishments: “A love of nature has been instilled in [Stella] as she grew up, but I don’t want to take any credit. She’s a smart girl. When she came in to the fashion industry, she came in to Gucci, which is leather city. I was really wondering how long it would be before she’d have to cave in to the economic pressures, but she just hung in there.”

Newcomer to the fashion world but not the animal-free life, Pamela Anderson has teamed up with Heatherette designer Richie Rich to create their own eco-friendly line. The collaboration, which will be called Muse, will include leather-free shoes and casual clothes such as skirts, bathing suits, and hooded tops. Between sex kitten Pam and glitter-loving glamorous Richie Rich, Muse will surely be the first collection to successfully mix organic with sparkles. During fashion week, after Pam walked the runway for Richie Rich, she said, “I prefer to be naked, but if I’m not, I want to be wearing Richie Rich.”

Ladies (and fashion conscious gents), spring is upon us. Get out your flower prints, your bright and pastel colors, your dresses and skirts. Dig out your shorts, sandals, and tank tops, and get ready to celebrate the warmer weather, just as these celebrities already are …

The premiere of the new British comedy film, The Boat That Rocked, was attended by many a springy outfit in London today, March 23. Best dressed of the evening was actress Gemma Arterton, who plays Desiree in the sixties ensemble flick. Her toga-esque dress was draped in a flattering way, and gave a pop of color with a shimmer of gold framing he face.

Former Spice Girl Geri “Ginger” Halliwell came in a close second with her golden globes.

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, shown here alongside her husband Crown Prince Frederik, proved that your outfit can scream spring even if the temperature isn’t quite there yet with her shorter sleeved, slightly open, cherry jacket over top of a flowery dress. The couple attended the opening of the Climate & Energy Conference in Chicago today, March 23.

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Fergie, queen of the Black Eyed Peas, has been out and about a lot lately, showing us multiple examples of how to dress for spring. Last week, on Thursday March 19, she headed out on a shopping trip in Los Angeles wearing khaki shorts at the perfect “older than 25 but still sexy” length.

And then Satrday, March 21, she went out to promote her new shoe collection at Nordstrom, again in Los Angeles. This time she dressed up a bit with a fun shirt dress that only works because she belted it. Both times she wore a gladiator sandal.

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Aside from a red sweater on Christmas day, I am not a fan of themed dressing. However, the gorgeous Reese Witherspoon (who can d nothing wrong in my eyes) convinced me this weekend that subtle correlation between a chic, trendy dress and the event that you are attending can work.

Reese showed up to the California premiere of her new, animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens today, Sunday, March 22, wearing the perfect futuristic, metallic, mini dress that paid simple homage to her character, Susan Murphy a.k.a. Ginormica, seen here alongside the actress. The 3D animated movie hits theaters this Friday, March 27.

The other stars in attendance - Rainn Wilson, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Rudd - did not theme dress. And, being all men, most wore boring pants and jackets.

Yves Saint-Laurent’s estate auction brought in $484.6 million, more than $100 million over the estimated potential earnings. But not all of the money is in the bank just yet.

Two pieces sold during the historic art collection sale, 18th-century bronze Qing dynasty fountainheads of a rat and a rabbit, went to an anonymous Chinese collector via phone call. The sculptures were two of 12 fountainheads stolen by Anglo-French forces from the Old Summer Palace, Beijing, during the Opium War from 1839 to 1842.

According to WWD, “Cai Mingchao, a consultant for China’s National Treasure Fund, an organization created to buy back looted and stolen relics,” has come forward as the mystery telephone bidder. He also said that he has no intention of paying the 15.7 million euros ($20.3 million) that he bid to win these lots.

Read the full story at WWD.

A new photography exhibit in Milan, Italy, “Extreme Beauty in Vogue,” is paying homage to Vogue magazine’s history of unique beauty pictures. The exhibition, on display from March 4 through May 10 at Milan’s Palazzo della Ragione, was created and curated by American Vogue with design and art direction by Jean Nouvel. Featured photographers include Klein, George Hoyningen-Huene, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz, and Helmut Newton.

The show is made up of a selection of iconic images from the past 75 years of the magazine. They were shot by some of the world’s most renowned photographers, and as a collection they seek to take a deeper look at “the role of beauty in our culture.” The series focuses on non-traditional opinions of what is beautiful, with shots featuring creepy crawlies, nudity, flexibility, intense makeup and accessories, and more.

“The exhibit shows the contribution of these photographers to issues of health and beauty,” Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue told the Associated Press.

A star-studded party, with guests such as Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Eva Mendes, March 2009 Vogue cover girl Freida Pinto, Lauren Hutton, Claudia Schiffer, and Scarlett Johansson, launched it all in the midst of Milan’s autumn and winter 2009 fashion week. Dolce & Gabbana, both of whom attended the party, celebrated the launch of their debut makeup collection alongside the exhibit.

If you don’t have to means to jet set overseas, view a slide show of the 22 photographs online by clicking on the image here. The photo shown is Annie Leibovitz’s Comme des Garçons from the September 1997 issue.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the New York City area next Thursday, March 12, check out the exclusive Shoshanna event at NYC’s Saks Fifth Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dress and swimwear designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, a Manhattan native, will be on site, presenting her latest collection and offering personalized styling tips.

View the promotional flier for this event here. Click on it for a larger view.

For more information, or to make an appointment for this meet and shop with Shoshanna, call 212-940-4806.

For those outside of the New York City region, view designs and styles by Shoshanna online at Shoshanna.com.

Shoshanna’s self titled line was catapulted to designer fame soon after she established it in 1998. Her debut collection of three-piece sets - sundress, thongs, and bag - became her signature look. Since then she has grown and expanded, but continues to embrace her original inspiration: the sundress.

One of the major fashion happenings of last year was when legendary French fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent passed away on June 1, 2008.

They say artist are even more famous and popular after their death, but surely that couldn’t be possible for YSL, the man who took over for Dior at the age of 21, then started his own line which instantly created dozens of signature looks for him, and was highly revered and awarded worldwide. But the quip seems to have held true, even for someone of this magnitude.

The estate sale of a lifetime - a three-day auction of art and furnishings that belonged to the late fashion designer - was assumed to bring in more than $380 million.

The 700-piece collection, presented at the Grand Palais hall in Paris, included paintings and sculptures, Matisses and Picasso, gemstones and bronze items.

YSL willed his half of this extravagant collection, co-owned by his partner Pierre Berge, to be sold and benefit the foundation that they started and ran together. However, Berge went ahead and sold the entire set to create a new foundation dedicated primarily to scientific research in the fight against AIDS.

Sports Illustrated 2009 Swimsuit Issue cover model Bar Refaeli joined Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, Robert Buckley of Lipstick Jungle, and Frankie Delgado of MTV’s Bromance and The Hills at House of Blues Anaheim, California, on Wednesday, February 25, to judge “Walk the Walk,” a fashion design competition developed by skating clothing company Hurley. Hurley founder Bob Hurley and Rosemary Brantley of OTIS College of Art and Design also joined the celebrity judges.

The competition allowed artistically inclined high school student to express their fashion sense. Hurley collections were redesigned by high school students and paraded in front of the judges in theatrically staged and performed shows. The shows were modeled, produced, and produced entirely by local high school students.

Fountain Valley High School took home top honors, which came with a hefty $5000 donation to its art and music program. Gahr High School won a special design challenge and will see their two original head-to-toe designs featured in a future Hurley collection.

And Hurley is not stopping there for inspiring young, upcoming designers! This event also served as the launch of the Hurley Microphone for Youth t-shirt design competition. Now through March 30, aspiring designers and artists can submit their artwork at Hurley’s Web site for the public’s vote. The designer of the winning tee will be announced on April 1, 2009 on Hurley.com, will receive a prize of $5,000, and will have their design sold through Hurley’s online store.

Through all of their contests, Hurley hopes to inspire creativity and confidence among future generations.

The 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards were held this weekend, Saturday, February 21, at the Santa Monica Pier, California. Lots of directors, actors, and movie execs came out to celebrate, ad filled the red carpet with both good and bad fashion choices. Many celebs chose great spring dresses and colors, while others, well, others failed.

Actors Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke seemed to have been attached at the hip as there were close to 50 pictures of them together. Mickey aside, Jessica looked very fresh, light, girly, and perfect for spring in her lavender, fitted dress and pastel pink shoes, cardigan, and shiny clutch.

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I had to read the caption twice on this photo. Cameron Diaz strayed from her typical style with this red and black, wide striped dress. I like it, but something about it gives off a little girl feel.

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And then there was Teri Hatcher. And that’s all I have to say about her outfit, or her pose. It all speaks for itself.

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This snapshot of actresses Catherine Keener and Michelle Williams is really more about Michelle for me. Her makeup flatters her wintry pale skin and gives her a springy glow. And the dress, pockets and all, is just adorable.

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Others in attendance included Ellen Page, Mary-Kate Olsen, Penelope Cruz, Ben kingsley, Zooey Deschanel, Andie MacDowell, John C. Reilly, Emile Hirsch, Lucy Liu, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and more.

Film Independent is an “organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision.” The nonprofit’s annual Spirit Awards are the major awards event for the independent film community.

Celebs were out and about last night hosting Valentine’s Day parties and concerts. Some were solo, some were out as a romantic duo, but all of these females ruined an almost perfect outfit with a tacky accessory.

Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and their adorable twins Max and Emme all showed up for Marc’s performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. They looked like such a happy, cute little family - even though the kids were a little taken back by being on stage. But check out what J.Lo wore below the knees …

Eek! Those shoes are too much! The dress’s ruffles are a perfect amount of sweet-sexy, her hair and makeup were done just right, but those shoes! Tacky!

Then, over at PURE Nightclub, Las Vegas, Nevada, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt celebrated together with plenty of fake posed photos. Heidi’s dress is on the tiny size, but it’s color and texture, and her overall look, are stylish. But those fingernails! Super long, fake, pure white with decals that appear to say “I [heart]” something … tacky!

And finally we have P.Diddy’s Danity Kane singer Audrey O’Day at P.Diddy’s alcohol brand, Ciroc Vodka, sponsored party at 944 in Phoenix, Arizona. Again, the dress is a tad itty bitty for my comfort level, but the cut of the bust and neck line is fun - and this purse is to die for! I love it! Too bad she ruined it with not one, but two unfortunate accessories: her over-the-top fake boobs and one size too small shoes that are shoving her toes over the edge are tacky!

Hope your Valentine’s Day was less tacky than these celebs’!