The loveable and uber-chic Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have shown yet again that they are a duo to be reckoned with. Last night, the pair snagged the coveted Womenswear Designer of the Year Award at the CFDA Fashion awards for their label, The Row. They are in good company as past winners include the boys of Proenza Schouler- Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Marc Jacobs,  Kat and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Altuzurra, and Alexander Wang.

As if their keen eye for effortless silhouette and their contemporary design sense wasn’t enough, the honor certainly intensifies their fashion authority in the industry. Other evening highlights include Johnny Depp’s award for Fashion Icon and Philip Lim’s Award for Emerging Menswear Talent. Billy Reid deservedly received the title of Menswear Designer of the Year.

Another milestone for the awards comes this year as for the first time ever, The 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards will be available for all to see, today at noon EST on Style.com. CFDA has been celebrating the broadcast with photo sneak peaks and will continue with highlights and bonus material after the broadcast. According to the CFDA itself, the actual digital broadcast  “will feature the awards ceremony from red carpet highlights and interviews through the final bow of the night. Style.com’s Tim Blanks will serve as the red carpet host speaking with some of the most influential names in fashion, entertainment, sports, and music. In addition to acceptance speeches and short films, this year’s Awards will include several special live moments paying tribute to the CFDA’s legacy.”

Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA said, “We are thrilled to be able to share American fashion’s biggest night with the public for the first time and to be working with Style.com on this incredible project. This is an amazing opportunity to expand our audience as we open this exclusive industry event to fashion lovers around the world. It is not to be missed. Tune in and watch as we celebrate this year’s winners.”

The winners for all of the awards for this year are as follows:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: The Row
Menswear Designer of the Year: Billy Reid
Accessories Designer of the Year: Reed Krakoff
Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Womenswear Design: Joseph Altuzarra
Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Menswear Design: Phillip Lim
Swarovski Award For Emerging Talent in Accessory Design: Tabitha Simmons
CFDA Media Award: Garance Doré, Scott Schuman
International Award: Rei Kawakubo–Commes des Garcons
Founders Award: Andrew Rosen
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Tommy Hilfiger
Fashion Icon Award: Johnny Depp

By: Sarah Humphries

Photos: Styleite, The Front Row View

Los Angeles-based designer Louis Verdad has experienced some major ups and downs with his eponymous line. However, the newest collection to come from this creative mind literally wow’d us, and the rest of the audience. The designer opted for the casual setting of a West Hollywood art gallery to debut his spring/summer 2012 collection. He had quite the stylish turnout, because in all honesty it’s a smart a idea to host a fashion event well after the madness of fashion month has passed. Full of springtime hues, jeweled details, and colorblocked to perfection, his line boasted everything from red carpet gowns to everyday ready-to-wear.

In the past his pieces were slipped on by major celebrities including Madonna, Cate Blanchett, and Christina Aguilera and now Verdad is reviving his brand with help from his Latin roots to appeal to the luxury market. You don’t have to be A-list to wear his dresses either, as his garments are frequently spotted in department stores and high end boutiques across the country. Verdad says it best himself, “Fashion is emotional… it creates a cultural statement of status and taste, where style plays the leading role…”

Well… more than a few pieces from his show were leading role ready! A few of the standout looks included a gold leafed skirt, colorblocked brights, and a stunning gown with a pleated colorful surprise under a sheer floral print. Sorry fall knits, spring needs to come soon so we can add these looks to our closets.

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Around the world today are events honoring the fight against HIV/AIDS and promoting awareness and education. World Aids Day marks progress in the fight against the disease that is “one of the world’s most infectious killers, claiming more than 25 million lives over the past three decades” as stated by the World Health Organization. More statistics are below..

• - There were approximately 34 million peole living with HIV in 2010.
• - HIV infection can be diagnosed through blood tests detecting presence or absence of antibodies and antigens.
• - A cure for HIV infection has not been found but with effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs, patients can control the virus and enjoy healthy and productive lives.
• - In 2010, around 6.6 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries, but over 7 million others are waiting for access to treatment.

The  Join(RED) campaign’s goal is fight for an Aids Free Generation by 2015. The organization boats, “we can virtually end the transmission of HIV from moms to their babies, one of the markers for the beginning of the end of AIDS.”

Va va voom! Lily Donaldson models a hot frock for the perfectly titled “Best Black Dresses” editorial in Harper’s Bazaar.

Now here we have an edgier piece we’re excited about photographed by Robert Lynden for an editorial in Genlux magazine titled, “Film Noir.”

The LBD goes bandage with this extra little number in Mixte magazine modeled by Ali Michael for the editorial entitled, “Noir Sur Blanc.”

The lovely Diana Dondoe poses for i-D magazine in this interesting number.

Whatever comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving- whether it be turkey’s, spiced drinks, or Tom Ford wearing a Native American headdress- we hope you’re having a splendid holiday. Enjoy the time with loved ones and make sure to reflect on what you’re thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Cheers!

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is like a lingerie party on steroids. It’s laid out like a typical fashion show, but goes wild with a glittered catwalk, models wearing next to nothing, and extreme winged creations. Celebrities, rock stars, editors, and bloggers all flock to the fantasy world VS creates. This year proved to be even more over the top than ever!

Even though the show doesn’t air until November 29th, we found ourselves entranced by all the dramatic and colorful lingerie. For a fashion show, there’s not much clothing, but there’s a TON of creativity and model crushes. We’re so proud of darling Karlie Kloss (bottom right), who walked in her first show. Meanwhile, Miranda Kerr (bottom left) is no stranger to the glitz and was given the coveted position of sporting a $2.5 million bra. Yowza! The sexy Doutzen Kroes wow’d the crowd after giving birth just a mere nine months ago. Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio (top) of course show’d all the girls how its done! And everyone let out an “aww” when singer Adam Levine (below) escorted his real life love, Anne Vyalitsyna down the catwalk as he sang. He wasn’t the only one behind the mic, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West (with a surprise appearance by Jay-Z) all had their turn. Of course, in true Victoria’s Secret fashion it was the models who came out on top and celebrated with a confetti-filled finale on the catwalk.

The lingerie themes for this year’s show included superhero styled designs, dramatic dark pieces, and under the sea, and ended with a disco PINK party! Experience the fun before the air date by browsing our image gallery below.

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(images via HuffPo, Fashionista)

Versace for H&M is like the coolest party you weren’t invited to. It’s okay, neither were we; but we did scour the internet to find awesome shots of last night’s fashion fete. Celebrities including Jessica Alba, Chace Crawford, Uma Thurman, Blake Lively, Selma Blair (where has she been?), Zachary Quinto, Coco Rocha, Mark Ronson (in pink), and more were on hand to watch the runway presentation. Along with these big names Prince and Nicki Minaj were both front row, this turned out to be foreshadowing for events later in the evening when each performer took the stage and wow’d the crowd with their lyrical skills. The fashion for the evening was clearly Versace, Versace, and more Versace (all for H&M, of course).

Live vicariously along with us with the red carpet video below. We personally love any opportunity to see Donatella speak, she’s like a plastic surgery fascinating creature of the night and we love when she comes out to play.

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[images via Racked]

Fashion month week and Fashion’s Night Out are long gone for us in the states, but Japan’s Fashion’s Night Out was in full effect with all of the Vogue editors in attendance for the festivities in Tokyo. Over 400 retailers participated in the extravaganza, which is much akin to FNO across the globe with shopping parties and free flowing bubbly. There was a greater presence put on Japan for the evening as the goal was to reinvigorate the retail economy after the dreadful earthquake that shook the nation. Thankfully, the country is proving resilient and is, of course staying fashionable.

You may remember that picture we tweeted showing all of the Vogue editors in an awkward photo (they couldn’t even get seats for everybody?), the image marks a momentous occasion given it’s first photo of it’s kind. Having every Vogue editor present is rare, but we  love to focus on “the Anna’s”, as in Anna Dello Russo and Anna Wintour. Both editors became stars for the night! Japanese fans trailed Wintour and her daughter, Bee Shaffer when they walked from store to store. Meanwhile, Dello Russo was busy dressing mannquins at Prada. Wintor didn’t let her have all the fun though because she pulled out a hammer and smashed up some rice cake paste at Theory. Pretty amazing!

Along with the Anna’s and other Vogue editors, Michael Kors, Jennifer Hudson, and more made appearances in support of the event. Of course there was another awkward school photo of everyone present for the official opening ceremonies in Tokyo.

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[images via WWD]

Love this! A prego Rachel Zoe with hubby Rodger Berman from the mind of @Sazankaa.

Her Twitter name says it all, makeup looks created by @Ooh_La_Lashes!

Rock & roll for the win with @afurundzic! It’s Slash & Axl Rose.

Who wants to play rock, paper, scissors with @ygila?

This gorilla aka @Ms_Fab_Kel wore an itty bitty red bikini.

Hmm… Does Progressive auto insurance now cover flying brooms? Witches can direct their claims to @CatMason.

Of course we have to end on a fashionable note with Anna Wintour (@nalay) & Pele (@JayinTheBigA).

“Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it. The hard-core girls just wear lingerie and some form of animal ears.”

This is what we learned from Lindsay Lohan as her role of the social awkward Cady Heron in (one of my favorite films) Mean Girls and sadly the saying rings true as the upcoming holiday morphs from childish fun to Slut-o-ween at some point in our lives (I believe middle school to be exact). Well, combating this stereotype Nicole Richie made a comment on her Facebook page, which as gone viral in the form of a pledge, urging girls of all ages to swap the lingerie-esque costumes for something a little more covered up.

If you’re like me, then you’re eagerly awaiting a weekend full of Halloween parties with a few costume changes in between and personally I see Nicole’s point of view and agree. I think the best and most memorable costumes aren’t the skanky ones, they’re the ones that make you laugh or encompass a great pulp culture reference.

There’s nothing wrong with showing some skin and the festivities are all about having a good time, just please (for the sake of my eyes) don’t be the one showing off a muffin top.

What are your thoughts on Nicole’s comment? Will you join her Halloween pledge?