Photo: Mike Rosenthal
Jimmy Choo re-imagines Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers for the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.

As part of the ongoing celebration of the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz in 2009, Warner Bros. Consumer Products says it has partnered with FIDM Museum & Galleries to present The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising from June 10-21 in downtown Los Angeles.

The partnership includes a design contest now underway that challenges FIDM students to create the best modern interpretation of Dorothy’s iconic Ruby Slippers, as well as develop a jewelry collection inspired by the timeless film. Accessories designer Tarina Tarantino and FIDM alumnus Nick Verreos (Project Runway) will mentor the FIDM students during the design competition. The winning designs will be showcased at the FIDM Museum & Galleries during The Wizard of Oz Exhibition run.

The Ruby Slipper Collection consists of modern interpretations of the classic Ruby Slippers, as created by noted names in designer footwear and fashion. Debuted in September 2008 at Saks Fifth Avenue to kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, designs from 19 of the fashion industry’s masterminds are featured in the Collection, including: A. Testoni, Abaete, Alberta Ferretti, Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi and Tuleh.

The Inspirations of Oz collection of fine art features one-of-a-kind interpretive works from an acclaimed array of artisans including Angelo Aversa, Romero Britto, Phillip Graffham, Gris Grimly, Marcus Antonius Jansen, Johnny Johns, William Joyce, Joel Nakamura, Nelson De La Nuez, Glen Orbik, Ragnar, Alex Ross, Todd White and Yakovetic.

The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition at FIDM Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising will consist of 2000 square feet of gallery space, and is located at 919 S. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The Exhibition is open to the general public and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 10 - 21.

The Wizard of Oz merchandise and collectibles, including dolls, games, apparel, accessories, novelties and much more is available at specialty retailers. More info at  www.thewizardofoz.com.

Advertisement

Be still our hearts. The Outnet is open.

The Outnet is the just-launched online outlet store of Net-a-Porter, arguably the Web’s dreamiest shopping site. Its combination of designer wear, shoes and handbags is unparalleled (and hey, if you know a site that beats it, please please let us know), but the prices tend to be designer as well.

Which means The Style Insider’s brain threw a little neuron party when we saw some of the numbers on Outnet — 50 percent off, 60 percent off, 70 percent off. We have died and gone to heaven.

The designers are there — McQueen, Sui, Chloe, Choo. There’s Marc (more…)

The Style Insider could not be more tired of winter. Our enthusiasm for dressing in layers has waned, and we are soooo tired of our coats. So we’re looking ahead on the calendar, trying to ignore that “comes in like a lion” thing, and shopping for dresses today. Pretty spring dresses.

And even better, pretty spring dresses that don’t break the bank. (If you have pre-ordered a pair of those hysterical Balmain ripped jeans, this post is not for you.)

(more…)

The shows are still going on, but we started yearning for a purse fix. So we cruised the galleries and found five that we really love:

1. Some of the most precious, fun, wild, colorful and just plain sweet bags were being marched up and down the Marc Jacobs runway, accompanying his equally retro ’80s neon colored clothes. Our first Jacob fave is this little pink clutch, studded with red pyramid shaped embellishments, and a clashy/great red chain strap.

2. Here’s another zany Marc Jacobs look — the leather handbag, all wild pink and green, matches the colors of the clothes exactly. So it’s OK now to get matchy-matchy. (We’ve always wanted to, anyway).     

(more…)

We’re tattling. We’re taking names. We’ve got ants in our pants and we need to get them out.

We’ve taken a long look at the spring collections, and there’s way too much designing going on without any fabric. There are far too many models who are barely wearing clothes. The Style Insider is not a prude, but honestly, we get more coverage at the Victoria’s Secret runway shows. Remember the Emperor’s New Clothes? Recast it as the Emperor’s Spring RTW Collection and you’ve got the idea.  

There are misdemeanors. Vera Wang covers her sheers with patterns that requires us to look sideways to make out the body beneath, but it’s all there. Zac Posen gives us a nearly there vest over his not-at-all-there bodice. Fendi and Thakoon manage to get the opaque fabric just long enough to prevent arrest, as long as there’s not a stiff breeze in the neighborhood. (more…)

We’re celebrating National Wear Red Day today (Feb. 6), surfing around for the prettiest dresses and accessories we can find, all helping mark awareness of women’s heart health. You’ll see women in the workplace in red, women in the stores in red, and women on television in red (we’re hoping for a clean sweep on The View!), so don’t hesitate to pull it out of your closet as well. And we probably don’t have to remind you, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Take a peek: 

               (more…)

It’s the question on every designer’s mind: What will Michelle Obama wear for the inauguration ceremony, and then the inaugural balls? There hasn’t been quite this much buzz about dressing a first lady since Jackie O. stepped foot into the White House in 1961.

So WWD.com, the online incarnation of Women’s Wear Daily, asked some top designers to sketch their vision of an inaugural gown for Michelle Obama. Unfortunately, we can’t show you the sketches, but here are a few choice descriptions:          

Monique Lhuillier has shown some great red evening gowns in recent seasons, and her proposal for First Lady Obama is a sweeping one-shouldered brilliant red gown with gathers in the front and a large sweeping full skirt to the floor. A somewhat similar dress is in Lhuillier’s spring 2009 collection. (more…)