A Little Bit About…Abigail Lorick

 

The mastermind behind “Lorick” is Abigail Lorick. Born on Amelia Island, Florida, Abigail knew the South couldn’t contain her. At the age of 18, she moved to Paris and Milan to model for designers such as Alberta Ferretti and Mossimo while appearing in acclaimed magazines French C’osmopolitan, American Elle and American Harper’s Bazaar. Working as a model only enhanced her love of fashion and led her to move in 2003, to New York City to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology while working simultaneously at T.S. Dixin. By 2004, Abigail was designing T.S. Dixin’s entire collection. After proving her vision over a few seasons, Abigail’s production manager in India, Verma Singh, approached her to createa collection of her own. Quickly thereafter in the Spring of 2007, she conceptualized and launched the Lorick brand.

You’ve probably seen Abigail Lorick’s designs on Gossip Girl.  When the model turned fashion designer started her line, the producers for the show quickly grabbed the attention of the new and fresh collection. They were looking for a real line to dub as the Eleanor Waldorf Collection- for the fictional character/designer Eleanor Waldorf. The designer even got the chance to play Eleanor’s assistant in the series. Where do we sign up for that life?! Blair (Leighton Meester) wears a lot of Lorick designs, and there are scenes where she gives away Lorick clothes to Jenny (Taylor Momsen) as hand-me-downs. Most of her pieces are classic and timeless, but there’s always a twist to them, like the backless dresses that Serena and Blair wore in the park. From the front it’s a classic and then from the back it’s sexy. She really finds that line — keeping that timelessness but being sexy, fun and quirky at the same time.

 

“I’m hoping to inspire women to dress-up again, to wake up in the morning and throw the scarf on, wear gloves in the summer or pair a T-shirt with a full skirt. Women today don’t embrace that excitement.” –Abigail Lorick

New To Kate Spade

Kate Spade has a fabulous new creative director, who starred in Harper’s Bazaar’s February 2009 magazine.

Former Banana Republic executive vice president of product design and development, Deborah Lloyd was named creative director and co-president of Kate Spade in July, when Kate and her husband, Andy Spade, stepped down from their namesake brand to take care of their family. Although they are handing the company over, they both plan on staying in as board members of Kate Spade. 

Prior to Banana Republic, Lloyd, whose expertise is rooted in sportswear, worked as vice president of design for Burberry London for five years.

This all goes hand in hand with a plan to expand the brand’s product categories, which will eventually include Kate Spade apparel. (Which I think, in about 5 years, will be all the rage!)

Michelle Obama’s Picks

First Lady Michelle Obama picked fashion insider Isabel Toledo, 47, to design her Inaugural ensemble. The glamorous, creamy yellow dress and matching overcoat were made of satin-backed wool guipure, a kind of lace used most often in French haute couture. Obama accessorized the look with a sparkling crystal necklace and green leather gloves and shoes. Although the First Lady’s office repeatedly said that Obama would not decide on her outfit until that morning, the choice — including the color, fabric and accessories — shows a lot of confidence and planning on the wearer’s part.

She celebrated her husband’s inauguration on that night wearing a white chiffon, one-shoulder gown covered in fluffy appliques and beading that will now become part of fashion history.

Designed by 26-year-old Jason Wu, much loved in the fashion world but otherwise not well known, the gathered-skirt gown was surprising for its reserve given Michelle Obama’s love of jewel tones and sleek silhouettes.

The gown’s slight train swirled pleasingly and her shoulder-sweeping earrings picked up the gown’s sparkle as she and President Barack Obama danced the evening’s first dance at the Neighborhood Ball at Washington’s Convention Center.

Jason Wu studied fashion design at Parson’s in New York City. He has been designing his eponymous label since February 2006. Here are a few more garments from his collection. (I personally love his garments.)

What is Haute Couture?

The term “haute couture” is French. Haute means “high” or “elegant”. Couture literally means “sewing”, but has come to indicate the business of designing, creating, and selling custom-made, high fashion women’s clothes. Made from scratch for each customer, haute couture clothing typically requires three fittings. It usually takes from 100 to 400 hours to make one dress, costing from $26,000 to over $100,000. A tailored suit starts at $16,000, an evening gown at $60,000.

During fashion’s “golden age,” after World War II, some 15,000 women wore couture. Socialites such as the Duchess of Windsor would order whole collections at a time. Despite the small market, designers maintain haute couture operations partly because the prestige helps sell other products, such as perfume, cosmetics, and their ready-to-wear lines available in stores.

Today only 2,000 women in the world buy couture clothes; 60% are American. Only 200 are regular customers. Often, designers will loan clothes to movie stars or other public figures for publicity.

Marc Jacob’s New Spring Collection

Marc Jacobs has just come out with a beautiful new spring collection full of silhouettes that remind me a little bit of Gossip Girl. Wraps, plaids, metallics, tweeds, and leather were all mixed onto each model. “Familiar yet fresh,” Jacobs said about the line, although nowhere near simple. Printed and jeweled bags, and 40’s style hats, were mixed in as well, along with bulky jewelry. Not your everyday typical outfits, but Marc Jacobs is not your typical designer.