Fashion News 12/21-12/23

Season Greetings!!!!!

Caroling in the Lobby

HSFI HOLIDAY SPIRIT!!!!!!

Simon Doonan and Fox 5 Celebrate the Holiday Window Unveiling!!

Congratulations to the visual students and Ms. Selleck who did a marvelous job on the Holiday Windows. You truly outdid yourselves!

Library News and Notes by Ms. Dahill, Librarian 12.16.2015 

Exciting new titles thanks to HSFI Advisory Board:

·         Alexander McQueen: genius of a generation by Kristin Knox. Color photographs showcase the work of fashion designer Alexander McQueen, featuring selections ranging from the spring/summer collection of 1995 through fall/winter 2010.

·        Scaasi: a cut above by Bernadine Morris

With former New York Times fashion editor Morris, fashion designer Scaasi looks back over his glittering career. Born Arnold Isaacs, the son of a Montreal fur merchant, he first made his mark in 1955 when, at the age of 20, he revolutionized the American fashion industry with luxurious imported fabrics and dramatic designs featuring almond-shaped coats and split-level jackets. Changing his name to Scaasi (Isaacs spelled backwards), he quickly rose to fame, first with ready-to-wear creations and later with extravagant couture for women willing to spend $6000 -$20,000 for a dress-stars such as Joan Crawford, Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor; socialites Charlotte Ford, Blaine Trump and Brooke Astor. First ladies from Mamie Eisenhower to Barbara Bush have been dressed by him. Replete with 100 color photographs of models and celebrities wearing the designer's exuberant clothes, this lavish book, which includes brief descriptions of Scaasi's working methods and accounts of his friendships with his affluent clients, provides a tantalizing glimpse of the world of high fashion.

·         Lanvin by Dean L. Merceron  Review from Elle.com 10.2007

Alber Elbaz's most recent collection for Lanvin was an inspired study in romance, fluidity, and, maybe most importantly, winning the hearts (and checkbooks) of every buyer and editor in town. His flowing gowns and intricately embroidered dresses were also celebrated for their ability to reference the house's history while still moving very much forward. A new book by Dean L. Merceron, out next week, traces the ever-progressive history of Lanvin, from its founding in 1909 by Jeanne Lanvin up to the current reign of Elbaz, with a focus on the key collections from the first half of the twentieth century. The book is overflowing with images of gowns culled from the atelier's archive, collectors, and museums, giving a visual history to one of the most influential labels in French fashion, then and now. Harold Koda, chief curator of the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, puts it best in his introduction: "Masterful old techniques come to life with contemporary relevance...the original spirit of Lanvin has been transposed to the present."