Ever want to collaborate with high-end designers to create clothing that is decidedly fresh and utterly you? Then, boy do we have a new internet addiction for you! Cut on Your Bias invites consumers to collaborate with designers to create limited edition collections that will only be specially released to participating members of the site. Though most of the designs are 90 percent completed once uploaded by the designers, site members will get to select the details. Do you want that bow tie to be black or navy? Felt or satin?  Members are also encouraged to send designers feedbck so that they can enter into a direct dialogue. Guess we could all become Fashion Stars.

  Alexander McQueen’s ready-to-wear label McQ collaborated with avant garde theater group Punchdrunk (known for their outstandingly popular rendition of Macbeth, Sleep no More) for what seems like a Snow White rave party in the woods theme for their Fall/ Winter 2012 collection. Enjoy!

Great article in the New York Times today surrounding the plight of the modern man in formalwear and a few how-tos to get it right in time for the Oscars this weekend. (Jake Gyllenhaal apparently always has the perfect fit, while Brad Pitt doesn’t.) In the interview, designer Tom Ford weighed in on the history of men’s formalwear in the United States, the importance of keeping to its strict tradition, while a few other tuxedo designers were more lenient in terms of color and fit. This was a perfectly timed article, with high-society elegance back on the rise in both men’s and women’s wear for Ys (Downton Abbey, anyone?). All were rent-a-tux phobic and required the perfect bow tie. Gentlemen, ready your cumberbunds!

Yesterday, the Orla Kiely collab at Uniqlo officially launched, and it looks great— and like a great way to own a bit of Orla Kiely design that doesn’t break the bank. The collection is simple and subtle- Kiely classic prints on Uniqlo basics. If the brand continues with designer collabs, they could be unique in making famous prints available to fans for less, which could be preferable to the increasingly hyped up designer collections for fast fashion that many shoppers end up disappointed in. 

The first time that this Pugs in Space necklace was on Modcloth.com, it sold out so fast heads spun. Are animals in space the new iteration of the space design trend? 

Was invited to preview Misha Nonoo’s Nonoo last week in The Standard New York’s Highline Room and it was superb! Filled with inspiration of the eternally chic Anouk Aimee (if you can remember the brunette in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, she is the ultimate cool heiress/temptress juxtaposed against the larger than life blonde actress Anita Ekberg), but morever, a very contemporary ladylike cool that seems reenergized for fall. 

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This may be unfair to call this early, but photos surfacing of the Rachel Comey show today are not to be believed. Perfect mix of femininity and modernism for all of the Gen Y women working themselves to death. In all seriousness, I hear many complaints from my friends (and myself) that Y women in the workforce have trouble finding clothes that suit their career ascent and are, well, cool. As one colleague put it, “I need you to be the conservative version of yourselves”. The conservative, work-me loves these lines and textures in the workplace!

Just when you thought you’d have to watch the Superbowl for another Puppy Bowl-esque performance, Vice Magazine hosts its Fashion Week debut with provocateur puppies in fetishwear at a former strip club (god bless them). At first, the puppies seemed a little nervous to be in the spotlight with their clothes on, but as you can see with the puppy above, all he needed was a little encouragement from Daddy. Welcome to Fashion Week everyone!

 Prada just released their Spring/ Summer 2012 campaign video last week, and much to our delight it is all hot rods and Sleigh Bells. The spot seems perfectly timed for the return of Mad Men sixties glamour, the long awaited series premier is almost within reach. Already accepted as the shoe of the season, Prada’s flame-thrower heels deserved no less of a campaign, and will contrast nicely with this season’s palette for pastels.

Jason Wu for Target may not have crashed Target’s website as did Missoni for Target, but it was not without its drama; particularly one pair of resellers at a midtown Miami Target who literally grabbed every single item before any of the early bird shoppers could. Being from Miami myself, I can tell you that doing such a thing is bad business and I’m sure these two ran into some trouble in the parking lot. Could it be Target is converting more of us into ebay resellers?

If last summer was The Great Surf Revival, this summer is primed to be the summer of The Great Tiki revival. Already thoroughly established in cocktail and bar culture, with infamous New York tiki bars such as Painkiller (PKNY) on Essex Street opening up in the last few years and influencers picking up old Bas Sheva tiki beats. The Spring Ready-To-Wear runways of Stella McCartney (above, center), Marc Jacobs (above, left) and Tory Burch (above, mid right) showed that fashion is now adopting the tiki trend. With hints of Havana (tropical floral prints), Hawaii (surf prints and raffia), and overall tropical euphoria, we expect to see more than one Hawaiian-shirted influencer in the coming months.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to this year’s Fashion Group International’s Rising Stars Award Ceremony by a dear friend and founder of Applied Brilliance, and a few  nominees were new additions to my radar. 

The first, Brooklyn-based DS & Durga,  were winners of the Beauty and Fragrance Entrepreneur Award. They base their products off of Native American ritual medicine, Americana culture, “outdated lore”, geography, history and gastronomy. We particularly like their use of nineteenth-century botanical prints throughout their branding.

The second was Torrubia & Torrubia, a pair of Spanish sisters and third generation goldsmiths who’ve taken their family’s workshop tradition into a very architectural, minimal modern era. Be forewarned, I sat across from these incredibly nice sisters, and began to compliment one of them on her gorgeous necklace only to find out that the black pearls were not dipped (Thank you Gigi) and the necklace I had begun to develop a soft spot for was $60,000. 

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