It's no excuse...

... between the INSANE shoot schedule for the show I am doing on a network I can't quite mention on my blog yet, another show I am taping for another network, my satellite media tours, the book pitch, and all of the Fox Business, Fox News, Fox Radio, foxnews.com Strategy Room and now Sky News appearances I've put my precious blog on the back burner. I also blame Twitter for this as well (if you want a play by play of my days, PLEASE follow me on Twitter it is SO easy for me to update) I've been on location in this small mountain town in upstate New York, and I am back in NYC tonight to judge the Supima Cotton Design Competition. Last November, I was part of a team of judges that poured over portfolios of some VERY talented new designers. We picked our favorites, gave them the task of creating a dress from 15 yards of Supima cotton material and asked them to go to work. I can't wait to see what was created! And for the avid readers of this blog, I sincerely apologize. Part of my plan for 2009 is to somehow find balance in all of the insanity, which means having time for everything. I will post photos from tonight, from the holidays, and of course from the Golden Globes. It's nice to be back.

Judging you.

If you've been reading my Twitter updates, then you know I've been in Zurich for the past two days deliberating on which up and coming designer will get the Swiss Textile award valued at 100 thousand Euros. Well, the awards show was tonight and we the panel decided Rodarte were going to be recipients of the prize. IT was an incredibly difficult decision to make (everyone was so freakin' talented) and we sat in a room for hours discussing it. The awesome Diane Pernet snapped this picture of me and Pat Field. BTW, Diane is what I call an "NFP." That means "new favorite person."  Will explain why in the next entry...

Photo by the talented and gorgeous Diane Pernet. Yes that is me on the BlackBerry Twittering away...

Designing on the cheap.

I asked Emma the other day to do some market research on high end-ish designers creating cheaper collections. This is what she said about BCBGGeneration: "I’m getting mixed feelings. I THOUGHT I would love it ... after analyzing their ads in my magazines and also being a fan of Max Azria’s empire... but looking up close at the collection – to me, it just looks like a more basic version of the high end line and doesn’t look nicely crafted, especially for the price they are asking for…Hmm… "

 so I took a look at the collection and I have to say I agree with her. The collection is crap. Max Azria, designer, chairman and CEO of BCBG Max Azria Group told WWD, "I look forward to offering an underserved consumer, regardless of age, superior fashion at competitive prices."  I have the highest amount of respect for Azria, but I do think this collection missed the mark a bit.

Another reason why I love Diane von Furstenberg.

dvf2.jpg It has nothing to do with her wrap dresses, prints, her ability to revive her brand. It also has nothing to do with her willingness to make time for and do ANY interview with me, or the MAJOR influence she has had on my career as a journalist (for those of you that don't know the story, I will tell you another time.) I love DvF because I just read in Women's Wear Daily she is contemplating writing a book about her late mother, a survivor of three concentration camps. von Furstenberg got the idea after she came across a note written on a piece of cardboard her mom wrote when she was first arrested. Her mom had thrown it on the street with instructions to deliver it to her parents. "It read, (said von Furstenberg to a crowd at her Manhattan studio) ' I don't know where I am going, but I want you to know I am leaving with a smile."

Now that put everything in perspective, doesn't it?

The next fashion trend: private equity

roberto-cavalli.jpgRoberto Cavalli SpA is the latest fashion house to embrace private equity, reports CNN Money. The group is latest in a string of designers who are on the P.E. band wagon including Peter Som, Valentino and Hugo Boss. Designer and owner Roberto Cavalli says the company is looking to sell a stake in order to finance its development abroad. Buyers include US and UK funds Permira, Cinven, Carlyle and possibly Blackstone AND according to Cavalli, he's not accepting any offers that value the company below 1.4 billion euros. 1.4 billion euros??? OBVIOUSLY that Cavalli Vodka must be selling REALLY well!!

Words of wisdom.

vivienne-tam.jpg   "For me, it's most important, a vision, determination, and to never say no to yourself. And be open to criticisms, open to learning, and open to criticisms and knowing nothing about the business; nothing, so you can learn everything by knowing nothing, you know, and be successful in the things that you didn't know." - Designer Vivienne Tam in an interview with CNN's Andrew Stevens.

 I've always been a fan of Tam's collections, but this interview made me admire her even more. We need to be reminded that believing in yourself is 99% of achieving your goals. I know I needed to hear it today!!