It was just over a year ago when the company’s status reached new heights the instant First Lady Michelle Obama sat poised and decked out in a complete J. Crew ensemble on Jay Leno just days before the presidential election. Oprah, herself, admittedly joked having bought stock in the company right then and there! And, no doubt, the First Lady’s fashion statements have won over the masses, with her very American, roll-up-you-sleeves, practical, forward-looking style. J. Crew embodies those American ideals and they are consistently upheld by the creative day-to-day decisions Lyons makes.

The show went behind-the-scenes in New York City to capture the colorful decision-making process, from Lyons’ input with over 100 designers’ creations to her direction and layout design of catalogues. Talking to Oprah, Lyons insisted that one must love what they do in the career they choose in order to find happiness. Lyons also discussed one of Oprah’s favorite topics–comfortable shoes!–and had Oprah rejoicing in the interior platform pumps Lyon had given to her for the show. The interview was topped off with Lyons’ styling tips, which included: statement jewelry, feminine with tomboy mixes, and texture mixes. 

While there’s a mixture of all these stylistic opposites, the J. Crew collection is neatly cohesive—it works and it definitely warrants impulse purchases!

Merging of opposites: FENTON/FALLON™ for J.Crew Carrington chain and needle necklace $195.00; Twisted neon magpie necklace $135.00; Crystal rock bracelet $85.00 (Photos: jcrew.com, oprah.com)

So, it was no surprise that 10 minutes upon entering, the pieces that have garnered the most buzz, the gown and the hot pink tiger print dress, were gone! On the upside, though, I appreciated the vast spaciousness suitable for this kind of fashionista mayhem. It was also loads of fun to try on pieces (albeit behind racks of clothes and sharing 2 mere mirrors), sip on juice, take complimentary photos, and pick out complimentary masks, pins and light rings.

There was something distinctly nostalgic about the whole experience, with the strange combination of playing dress up with girlfriends, being at a prom, yet being out past midnight in the buzzing city. The shopping bash was a well-executed event with some great party-girl pieces priced reasonably. To this, we toast!        

The company launched the interactive website, Art of the Trench, to celebrate the ultra-chic and myriad uses of the classic Burberry trench coat. The site showcases portraits of ordinary people sporting the signature trench on the streets all around the world. The collection of portraits have been shot by Magnum photographers, “The Sartorialist” Scott Schuman, and submitted by Burberry fans themselves.

Particularly great about the website is the side-column filter (gender, styling, weather, etc.) and the Facebook Connect option. Amazingly, Facebook fans reached just over 1 million last week according to WWD. Stylistically great, too, is the website’s grid design depicting the vividly diverse photos and the fluid scrolling ability. The visual effect is like that of standing in a massive room with walls filled with portraits floor to ceiling—the vast trove of meanings each photo represents is very enveloping.

It’s extraordinary to see in this media platform just how far the brand has come and how it encapsulates all the meanings it carries for so many different individuals—quite the journey from a British soldier’s durable coat from the early 1900’s to an urbanite’s fashion-forward trench of 2010. Watch below to see the YouTube video version of the website.

Last night’s Project Runway challenge had contestants create a high-end runway look inspired by the circus. The creative possibilities for this theme are endless–shapes, motions, sounds, colors! Adding to the excitement was the fact that this challenge determined the final Byrant Park competitors. It came down to Mila and Anthony; while Anthony was sent home, Mila was allowed another chance and will be up against the full collections of Emilio, Seth and Jay.

My favorite fashion interpretation of the circus was Emilio Sosa’s, a zany yet sophisticated black and white dress with a splash of red. I felt that the geometric prints were chosen in the spirit of a clown’s costume which was clearly handled with elegance, while the structure and draping simulated a rising show curtain. It was fantastic! Emilio’s model, Lorena, never fails to complete the looks and carry out the individual messages of the fashions. I was happy to see that Seth and Emilio did not cross the line between costume and fashion, as the others had.

Among other designers, Diane von Furstenberg has just launched a new App for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, which offers access to exclusive products, new collections, photos, backstage and runway videos, look books, a store finder, mobile commerce, and news tweets.

To celebrate the new App, a signature DVF Lip iPhone cover is available here for $20. Your iPhone can be as stylish as any print Wrap dress…sealed with a kiss! 

Proenza Schouler: Look 13, Look 27

Passing a newsstand on Bleecker Street this weekend, I was struck by the juxtaposition of April’s InStyle and Vogue magazines that each showcased pieces from Stella McCartney’s spring/summer collection on their covers. InStyle features Gwen Stefani in a cobalt pleated chiffon blouse ($1675), a too-perfect piece to embody the “color issue” concept. Vogue, on the other hand, features Gisele Bundchen in a silk cotton short  ($585), which is a great leg-flattering piece that is perfect for the shape issue. As is evident below, fashions must have the ability to embody a magazine’s concept with such powerful visual impact amidst so much competing covers. 

Magazines like Interview and Marie Claire, as well as newspapers like the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, have already created apps and subscription plans for iPad customers, offering yet another extraordinary media paradigm in what Henry Jenkins calls our Convergence Culture, Where Old and New Media Collide.

Not only are the economics of the publishing industry—production costs, subscription fees and advertising dollars—going to be revolutionary on the producers’ end, but the traditional activity of reading a magazine will be equally revolutionary on the consumers’ end. (Not to mention, clearing our clutter at home and saving a few trees).

Simply put, the activity of iPad reading is a merging of the traditional magazine-format page with the interactive depth and expansiveness of being online. A reader can interact with the magazine content by watching behind-the-scenes photo shoots, saving articles, watching interviews, relaying back to Facebook and much more…the magazine comes to life. The device allows readers to engage with content in new, fascinating ways, making the iPad magazine a real page-turner! Watch here:

Marie Claire iPad

Interview iPad

With Earth Day approaching this month, I felt it appropriate to help beat the drum for eco-fashion initiatives by reviewing one of my favorite books. Style, Naturally, written by fashion model and staunch environmentalist Summer Rayne Oakes, upholds a simple mission: “to elevate the profiles of environmental and social issues through style.”

Throughout, Oakes insists that style does not have to be sacrificed for substance and advocates a more conscientious consumer lifestyle. The author goes deep and far, covering a vast array of sustainable brands (clothing, shoes, beauty products, handbags, and jewelry) and explains the social, economic and ecological impact that our everyday purchases have on a larger scale. One will see that each product listed in the guide—from the high-end luxury of Stella McCartney to the eco-denim of Scott Hahn to the vintage material of Hetty Rose heels—is beneficial on an individual and global level. 

The book is well-written and flows smoothly, with its clear format, color-coded products,  images, interspersed with several designer profiles and “Girl on the Street” Q&A sections. I agree with Oakes in her concluding assessment that, one day soon, eco-fashion will certainly be the norm—as soon as more individuals and corporations are made aware of the positive impact they could have on the environment when producing or consuming fashion and beauty products. 

As I perused Oakes’ book, I was particularly interested in Safia Minney’s People Tree, a company deeply involved in the Fair Trade movement while also promoting sustainable methods of production. Minney’s efforts in economic development and helping women and children in developing communities around the world are very inspiring, and I encourage others to contribute to her cause in their next fashion purchase. 

I found some lovely organic pieces at the People Tree website, which definitely prove that substance and style is quite possible. 

 This particular collaboration is by far so much more eclectic, exquisite and electric! Like many, I’m thrilled to see cutting-edge fashion become more and more accessible to the consuming public. The democratization of fashion that is taking place alongside so many other major social shifts is clearly redefining our concept of luxury. And that’s not such a bad thing.

Other designers for Target have included Jean Paul Gaultier, Rodarte, Thakoon, Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui and others.