Pink Rock Candy – Top fashion trends, news and shopping of 2010

Blake Lively and Elettra Wiedemann front row at DVF’s S/S 2010 show.

Celebrities are like evil step-children to the fashion industry. You deal with them for the sake of your spouse— the public, in fashion’s case—but you generally wish they would simply go away. I’ve met and been around my fair share of “listed” people, from A-list to D-list, but seeing and meeting them is very underwhelming to me, and compared to meeting designers or editors, the excitement is negligible. So, when I read “How Much Fashion Brands Pay For Celebrities to Sit in Their Front Rows” on Fashionista.com, the outrage at the rates paid to celebs for sitting front row almost outweighed the bemusement of the post.

Here, on Pink Rock Candy, my celeb name dropping is few and far between. There are a few starlets whom I believe actually love and appreciate fashion the way industry insiders and even us bloggers do, and I respect them for that. The males of the celeb-world are a different story complete, but suffice it to say, they are generally chalked up to eye candy.

Being informed that some celebs are getting paid almost six figures to sit their meticulously toned tushes in a front row seat many people, fashion lovers and socialites alike, would give anything to fill, kills me.

I know public relations enough to know celebrities are a necessary evil, but charging a fashion brand to enjoy it’s latest work in one of the best seats in the house is a bit excessive. To me, that process is almost as ignorant as it would have been to charge Michelangelo to create a sculpture for you, as if it was an honor for him.

This may come as a surprise to many celebrities, but their presence at fashion events though often, and unfortunately, is a necessity to gain public notoriety, is anything but an honor.

As my little brother once said of homework, “It’s a have to do, not a want to do.”

What do you think of celebrities charging fashion brands to grace the front rows with their presence?

Photo Credit: Style.com

One of my favorite parts of the pre-fashion week prep is receiving preview sketches of the upcoming collections. This insight is only trumped by actually receiving a show invite and actually being able to make it to the show. Rebecca Taylor has officially been the first designer of the season to make me doublely excited by providing me with both a sneak peek sketch of the collection and an invite to their Valentine’s Day show.

It’s amazing how palpable the fashion week excitement is on the Internet. Aside from a few friends in my life, and co-workers of course, to most of my friends and family, fashion (read clothes) just happens like eating or breathing. So, when speaking to them of fashion week and any other thing having to do with the industry, I receive blank stares and humoring nods. However, when I open my inbox or read my favorite blogs, the buzz is everywhere this time of year, along with a bit of the romantic spirit sprinkled throughout, of course.

Luckily for those Valentine’s Day naysayers, the hearts and KISS MEs haven’t seemed to blur into the fashion week hysteria, as evindent in the neutral colors and slight hippie aesthetic seen in the sketch— Also, simply seeing the phrases Parisian and New York City girl in the same sentence makes me love this collection already.

p.s. Taylor Swift wore a Rebecca Taylor tunic, which I loved, during her performance at the Grammy’s, and I can’t wait to see, first hand, the new beauties Rebecca will send down the runway for Fall 2010.

Yesterday, an article about the last New York Fashion Week held at Bryant Park was seen in WWD, and since then, all I can think of is how sad I will be to see it leave the location for it’s new Uptown home at Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center.

I’ve only been to NYFW a grand total of three times— though, I guess, to most people, going to NYFW three times is a feat— but, I will be sad to see everything change.

I only have one request of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Lincoln Center’s new director of all things fashion week. Please have a nice discussion with MTA and get them to fix all the construction issues with the 1 train. It would also be nice if you can make it so the train runs more often during non-rush hour times too— I’ve stood on the platform waiting for the 1 train for almost 30 minutes during a non-peak hour.

Goodbye, Bryant Park. I will never forget the memories I’ve had almost breaking my ankle in 5″ heels on your cobble stone ground. Perhaps, In February, everyone will be able to take a piece of the last Bryant Park tent with them— Fingers crossed!

Photo Credit: Stylist Stuff

The Spring/Summer 2010 Dries Van Noten collection was inspiring, but there is one thing I don’t understand.

The way Dries always seems to turn printed fabrics with headache-inducing potential into beyond chic pieces of clothing without loosing one bit of “wow” factor, makes me adore him. Like a good student of fashion, if I don’t know/understand something I have to ask the tough questions.

Therefore, Dries, though I am practically in love with this collection, what is up with the one-armed blazer look?

From the apparent arm straps, I am assuming there is actually another half to the look. Why send models down the runway looking like I do while struggling to juggle putting on my jacket, carry my over-stuffed bag, and text friends simultaneously?

In no way does this a-symmetry change my feelings for the collection. I’m just confused, and I hate being confused.

Any thoughts on the half-jacket?
Photos: Style.com