Designer Spotlight: Loeffler Randall

If you can believe it, the brand Loeffler Randall is just a baby. Even though the company has only been in existence since 2004, it has made a boom in the fashion industry. Mixing up textures and silhouettes in a way that has been foreign in the shoe market. The norm has been to push the heel height or the color or the materials. But Loeffler Randall also decided to play with the design of the shoe. For me, that is what sets them apart. Here are my favorites from their Spring 2009 Collection.

Sydney, Shop Bop (www.shopbop.com)



Mazzy, Milk (www.shopatmilk.com)




Mabel, Barney's New York (www.barneys.com)




Poppy, Intermix (www.intermixonline.com)




Flynn, Shop Bop (www.shopbop.com)




Darby, Shop Bop (www.shopbop.com)




Delphine, Goldyn (www.shopgoldyn.com)



Clover, Marissa Collections (www.marissacollections.com)



Ever, Saks Fifth Avenue (www.saks.com)



Birdcage, Cusp (www.cusp.com)



Gracie, TwentyThirtyForty (www.twentythirtyforty.com)

Designer Spotlight: Georges Chakra

He thought that he wanted to be an interior designer. But after two years of study, he realized that his heart belonged to fashion. So he packed up and headed off to Canada to obtain a degree in fashion design at the Canadian Fashion Academy. And that was that. Lebonese designer Georges Chakra has shown two collections at Paris Fashion Week every year since 2002. This year was no different. Here are my favorites from his Spring/Summer 2009 collection. If you have a black tie affair coming up, one of these fab gowns will make folks stop in there tracks when you walk through the door. See his entire collection on his web site.

Designer Spotlight: Margi Kent

Los Angeles-based fashion designer and celebrity stylist Margi Kent, who has served as fashion designer and personal stylist for A-list Hollywood and music personalities including Meryl Streep, Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Kim Cattrall, Teri Hatcher, Neil Diamond, Don Henley and the late Beatle George Harrison, debuted her highly anticipated Fall ’09 Collection this week in NYC. This collection takes inspiration from Kent’s love of conceptual art, sculpture and architecture. You can see her entire collection on her web site.

Designer Spotlight: Stella McCartney @ Net-a-Porter

I love Stella McCartney. She has never tried to use her famous name to get ahead. She rested on her own laurels to get where she is and her daddy said so! She also comes across as one of the most down to earth folks in the fashion industry. I really became a fan when I saw her on Sundance's Iconoclast with artist Edward Ruscha. I love how their collaboration was brought to life in her clothes. Amazing. So I was excited about her exclusive collection for Net-a-Porter. So I went and checked it out. I love her clean lines and simple, but elegant styling. Just wished there were a few more pieces. Here are my favorites. See the entire collection at Net-a-Porter.

Designer Spotlight: Alena Akhmadullina

Russian designer, Alena Akhmadullina studied at the St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design form 1995 to 2000. She presented her first collection, Autumn/Winter 01/02, at Russian Fashion Week. Her design astethic is heavily influenced by Russian culture. It is evident in the patterns she chooses. It is also evident in the rusts, blues and greens and burgandy colors in her Spring/Summer '09 collection. There are also very deliberate silhouettes that remind you of the tops of Russian cathedrals. Here are my favorites. You can see her entire collection on her web site.

Designer Spotlight: Anya Hindmarch

British accessories designer, Anya Hindmarch got the bug when her mother gave her a Gucci bag. That bag started something in Hindmarch that ensured that she was destined to design handbags. We are so glad that it did. Her bags are outrageously chic. The perfect accessory to any outfit. You can see here entire collection on her web site.

Look Who's Turning Heads: Angg by Angela Gao

Our choice for the designer who's turning heads is Angela Gao and her wonderful collection, Angg. I love the flowing silhouettes of her clothes. Her line is clean and modern with strong architectural details that make each piece interesting. She wants to design clothes for every woman not just a particular body type. I love that. Wins me over every time. She has a shop in Brooklyn at 325 7th Street at the corner of 5th Avenue. Her line is also available at over 50 stores including Oak. The first dress is my absolute favorite.