Naughty and Nice

Can I tell you …about my favorite Christmas party? Every year I get inundated with invites to celebrate the holidays.  Which one to go to and can I go to all of them? Such a dilemma! It had been such a dour year (recession hello!) that I was looking forward to lifting my spirits and ending the year with some yuletide cheer. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to every party but there are a few on the top of my list. One of them is Chandelier Creative’s Holiday Bash. Their first party last year was so much fun. I met a lot of new people, almost bid on some art and had copious amounts of champagne.  So when I got their grandiose invite this year I put it in my outlook calendar marked urgent.

Richard Christiansen, Chandelier’s creative director and Anthony Keegan, Commonwealth Utilities’ designer (dressed as Rudolph) certainly know how to throw an extravaganza with flowing drinks (served up by studly Santa’s helpers), a full gospel choir (singing disco and R&B classics) and a silent art auction to benefit the New Museum on the Bowery. They were determined to up the ante for their second annual event and that’s exactly what they did.

The Noho loft where their offices are was filled with balloons, a towering Christmas tree, a hot dog and popcorn stand as well as the requisite open bar. The crowd was equally fabulous as one might expect from this boutique design firm. Designers Francisco Costa and Peter Som, Gossip Girl’s Amanda Setton, fashion editors Stefano Tonchi and Marcus Teo, models Jessica White and Julie Henderson sipped champagne, nibbled on hot dogs and got their photos taken with a hunky Santa (a trainer in Richard’s gym).

Last year I missed out on the art and there were some amazing pieces. So this year I was hoping to get something from the auction. Limited edition prints and original artwork from contemporary artists, fashion and art photographers like Stewart Shining, Ian Wright, Lorenzo Martone, Douglas Friedman and Shun Kawakami filled the wall. As soon as we perused the silent auction, Peter and I made our choices. Peter eyed an Arthur Elgort portrait of 70’s model Lisa Taylor while a couple of pieces caught my attention; a print by Lorenzo Martone and another by Ian Wright. 

We hovered by the wall monitoring our bids while mingling with friends. Hunky Santa provided a welcome distraction and a great photo op. Fashion photographer Chiun-Kai Shih (we call him Chunky) was so besotted that he kept snapping away at Santa. And who could blame him? Santa claimed someone stole most of his costume…yeah, right! Fortunately, Chunky takes his camera with him wherever he goes and was happy to share these delicious photos with me.

As the hour drew near the bidding got a little heated as people kept upping their bids on their favorite pieces. I was determined to win this time but Lorenzo’s print was getting dangerously close to slipping out of my hands. At the very last minute, as my competitor walked away I penciled my last offer and won! Phew, that was a close call. Peter got his Elgort print as well. In life, timing is everything! The auction raised almost $15K for the museum.

Lorenzo was thrilled I won his piece and told me that he only made one print of this image so I have a one of one! I also won the Ian Wright print. That’s what I call a win-win situation and a great way to end 2009. I just love a happy ending!

Fast and Furious

Can I tell you…about Hong Kong. It’s Fast and Furious. It even makes New York look sleepy. I’ve been coming here for so many years it’s like my second home. As soon as I land, I hit the ground running. There’s no time to get over my jet lag.

 There are places to go, people to see. I run over to Causeway Bay to check out all the small boutiques that carry local designers and do some shopping. They’re on trend and cost a fraction of the price compared to the major labels. Who doesn’t like guilt free shopping!

Like New York, there’s always something happening and new spots to check out. Fortunately, my best friends Shirley Hiranand and Reyna Harilela who run their own PR firm Bonvivant & Bellavita, invite me to all their events. I attended a private tour and preview dinner at Hullet House, David Yeo’s ten-bedroomed, all suite boutique hotel in the old historic Police building in Kowloon before they opened it to the public. Each room is lavishly decorated with a different theme.

Hong Kong It Girl and Tatler Favorite Audrey Chiu hosted an intimate dinner for me at the members only China Club. The ambience is so 1930’s Shanghai complete with a lounge singer dressed in a fitted silk Qi Pao. The walls are filled with Contemporary Chinese Art that David Tang amassed over the years. After dinner, we head over to another members only watering hole, The Kee Club in Lan Kwai Fong, for a night cap. Marina Bullivant is the hostess with the mostest and always has a bottle of champagne waiting for us whenever we come.

This trip was extra frenetic because aside from my usual work, I’m also here to do a trunk show for Harvey Nichols. They’ve built a following for me over the years so we thought we would up the ante this season with a Rafe shopathon. All of Hong Kong’s best dressed girls showed up and shopped!

By the end of the evening even the display mannequins were bare! To celebrate the evening’s success, we went straight to Dragon I, one of Hong Kong’s coolest nightclubs. This place attracts a very attractive model-y crowd which is always a plus in my book and they also serve really good Chinese food. Tao Miu ( pea shoots) are in season and I can’t eat enough of them.  Next stop was the Roxie, a new members only club. DJ Joel Madden was in town from LA and spinning to a very enthusiastic crowd of clubbers. As I was making my exit, I heard a Black Eyed Peas song come on. “I got a feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a good night…”. Indeed it was and I’m ready to do it all over again, on my next trip!

Fall in Love

Can I tell you... how much I'm loving my Fall 2009 collection. This season I channeled the glory days of New York City’s nightlife in the late 80s. All those nights spent at Susanne Barstch's Copa parties and Jackie 60 on 14th street translated into pieces that let Uptown girls flaunt their Downtown Edge.
My modern day muses are venturing into Williamsburg with their iPods loaded with The Ting Tings and Karen O. They have a flair for mixing and layering making it all look so effortless. The heels are higher than ever and the bags are gently distressed and occasionally perforated with carefully placed zippers, studs and chains. All these elements add up to that tough yet sophisticated vibe so prevalent this season.

Let's start with some of my loves. I am obsessed with function. I believe in accessories that truly help make your life easier. When you marry function with design, the results can be spectacular. Take the Bethany glazed leather hobo inspired by details from the classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket. There are 3 outside pockets and 2 inside organizational compartments; details that you have come to expect with every Rafe bag. It's stunning in black but in bordeaux, it's a traffic stopper!

Next up, the Shenae motorcycle bootie. This is so kick-ass sexy it's on everybody's wish list. It's got a cool rock'n'roll vibe to it. Pair it with skinny jeans for day or your LBD (little black dress) and it changes your whole look. I like mixing tough and feminine elements, it makes the look less predictable.  For slumming around the city, I highly recommned the small Shenae cross body in perforated lambskin with a gold underlayer so there's a slight hint of metallic. It's the perfect size, trust me! I love it in black but I love it even more in taupe.

I'm having a major plum moment. It's a rich deep color that goes with almost everything. This Jordana ruffled convertible hobo in buttery soft washed lambskin is a key piece. You can lengthen the straps so you can wear it across your body leaving your hands free or snap the strap back unto itself to wear it on your shoulder. Two looks for the price of one, what's not to love?!

New Yorkers love to walk and these Rebecca suede boots were certainly made for walking. The mid cone heel gives you just enough height but won't have you in pain after a few hours. You can tuck your jeans into them or wear them with wool tights and shorts,(yes, shorts!) if you have the gams and the guts for it. In this photo, she's wearing it with the Elizabeth ruffle large tote in brown washed lambskin. It's the lightest and easiest tote out there. You're in and out in a snap, literally! The leather gets a nice patina the more you wear it and bang it around.

I love the nightlife, I love to boogie...you know the rest! New York has the most amazing nightlife and the best parties. Head over to the BoomBoom Room with the Pixie clutch and you'll be sure to bypass the velvet rope. It makes a bold statement and holds all your evening's necessities and then some! And don't worry about the sequins coming off, they're printed on leather! Isn't that genius?! I know some girls who have bought both silver and gold versions. For evening, gold and silver are basics in my opinion.

Contradiction and unexpected combinations makes for distinctive and memorable design. I thought it would be cool to mix different metal finishes with different sizes of chain then hand stitching them unto the flap of a bag. This way you never have to worry about matching your jewelry, not that anybody really does anymore. Can I tell you... it's beyond fabulous! Everybody, and I mean everybody who sees the Erin flap clutch falls in love with it. I imagine Rachel Zoe seeing this clutch and uttering her famous phrase, "I die!"

Check out the rest of the Rafe collection online. I'm hoping that you'll fall in love with a piece or two or three! Drop me a line, post a comment!

The Tough Go Shopping

Can I tell you…about Fashion’s Night Out? We've all heard the line, “when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping” and up until recently lived by that motto. But as the economy crashed, the 'tough' stopped shopping resulting in a devastating domino effect that forced businesses to close leaving legions of people unemployed. As sales plummeted, retailers went into a panic, slashing prices left and right training consumers to only shop on sale. For anybody in the fashion industry, this was HELL on Earth! The situation needed fixing!

Anna Wintour to the rescue! Vogue, along with the City of New York and Council of Fashion Designers of America masterminded Fashion’s Night Out, “ a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion”. Last September 10, after much anticipation and hoopla, hundreds of stores across the five boroughs ( and overseas) stayed open late for one big shoppathon hoping to lure back customers to shop.

Designers were asked to do personal appearances, come up with special items and even show off their hidden talents just for the evening. Everything from designer aprons ( Peter Som), printed canvas totes ( Proenza Schouler) ,singing ( Isaac Mizrahi and Oscar de la Renta), manning the cash register (Pharrell Williams), bartending ( Olsen twins) to catwalk lessons ( Alexander Wang).

Besides all the VIP appearances and activities, there was a limited-edition FNO T-shirt with 40% of the sales’ proceeds donated to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

First stop was Bergdorf Goodman. Padma Lakshmi the host of Top Chef was hosting a cookoff and had designers Peter Som, Cynthia Rowley, Naeem Khan, Gilles Mendel and Lela Rose submit their favorite recipes and had the restaurant pass them out to partygoers to try. My favorite, and not because he’s my BFF was Peter Som’s panko fried oysters with blood orange gastrique and tartar sauce. The restaurant was packed like sardines, I could barely breathe!

Everywhere else in the store was just as jampacked. Bumped into 70’s supermodel Pat Cleveland and her gorgeous daughter Ana van Ravenstein while I was on my way out.

 

Next up was Henri Bendels. The store was a zoo with shoppers everywhere. It was cool to see some cute girls wearing Rafe bags! After hobnobbing with my buyers and some customers we made our way downtown to the Meatpacking district to Stella McCartney. Vogue editor Tonne Goodman and actress Kate Hudson were hosting the party.

Right outside the store they were making fresh pizzas and let me tell you…the mob descended on those pies like piranhas each time they entered the store so much so that the pies never made it past a few steps from the door.

The scene was hilarious. “Nothing comes between me and my pizza”, remarked one very hungry fashionista. On a marathon evening like tonight, we all need our sustenance! But Kate was either running very late or we were just restless.

On our way further downtown we passed by Bleecker Street to see what Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren were up to. Between the two of them, they have practically turned this once quiet street into an outdoor mall.

You can always count on Marc to do something fun. They were inviting customers to line up and get their photos taken in a special Marc Jacobs set simulating a fashion shoot. Passed by Ralph to get a glimpse of Nacho Figueras but he had already left.

Eventually we ended up on Crosby Street to go to Opening Ceremony but that was a madhouse. So we decided to turn back and head towards the Bowery to Patricia Fields. Ugh, same situation.

At this point, we were just hungry and exhausted. Thank God Five Points (one of my favorite restaurants) is in the neighborhood.

So did the 'tough' go shopping? For everybody's sake, I certainly hope so but it’s tough to say. I do know a lot of T shirts were sold!

Robert Geller: Modern Romantic

Can I tell you about…Robert Geller. I met Robert last year through a common friend over lunch and I was instantly smitten. He’s laid back, thoughtful and genuine. He’s also a rising star in the menswear industry. Hailing from Hamburg, Germany, he moved to the USA to study at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. Upon graduating, he worked at Marc Jacobs, then became a partner and co-designer for the label Cloak and eventually launched his eponymous menswear label in 2007. He was recently named the winner of GQ magazine “Best New Menswear Designer in America” competition and was nominated for the CFDA Perry Ellis Menswear Designer of the year. Levis also collaborated with him on a capsule collection that just launched this September in Bloomingdales. Over al fresco lunch near his downtown Tribeca studio; we caught up and talked about everything under the sun…style related of course.

Rafe: The first time I saw your collection I was completely blown away. They were clothes I hadn’t seen before. Your designs are original, thoughtful, and provocative with unique details that a modern dandy can appreciate. What made you launch your own label?
Robert: Thank you! I started my own label because I felt that the clothes that I wanted to make had a client. I like to have a mix of toughness and sophistication that I don't think exists in the market. I think that this is essential when you launch a label. There is so much competition, it is easy to get lost in the crowd.

Rafe: What are 5 items you can’t live without and why?
Robert: My I Phone because it is my organizer and reminds me of my schedule. My old bicycle because it gets me around New York City and makes me feel like I live in a small town. A Margiela trench that I bought in Paris in 2000. It is just the right weight to take me from spring into summer. My wedding ring because it reminds me everyday how lucky I am to have found the partner of my dreams. My sketchbook that I have with me at all times, because it allows me to record my ideas whenever they may come.

Rafe: I think men are starting to dress up again and there’s a resurgence of haberdashery (neckties, bowties, hats) and tailoring in the market, even if it’s worn with high tops. What’s your take on this?
Robert: I think, especially in America, there has been this tradition of casual dressing that men are finally sick of. There is a real interest in men's clothing and some of the greatest accessories are ties and scarves and hats. Mixing this with a comfortable stylish look is not easy, but when it is done right, it can look really good.

Rafe: What does American style mean to you and how does your brand reflect it?
Robert: I think that American style embodies this sort of casual attitude that we are talking about. When done right it is a very sophisticated, comfortable style, but when it is bad, it can look sloppy. I like the aspect of comfort in clothing, while still looking fresh and pulled together.

Rafe: What do you think of the current trend of ‘pleated pants’ and slouchy proportions? Do you think they have any mileage or do you see it moving on and to what?
Robert: I think this slouchy oversized look is kind of cool and is a reaction to the super shrunken silhouette that has been popular in the past years. I think the future will be a mix. I don't think everyone will be wearing MC Hammer pants in the next five years, but playing with proportions is going to be very important.

Rafe: Music is often a key ingredient when designing a collection, what were you listening to when you designed your Fall Winter 09 collection, how did that influence you and by contrast, are you listening to something new now?
Robert: I always get more moody for the fall collection, I think that it is natural. I always listen to a lot of the Cure and Mazzy Star and I was listening to a bit of Gustav Mahler. Very poetic beautiful music. When Spring comes around I want energy. I fell in love with the Kooks last spring and still really like their Inside in/Inside out album. I also recommend the New Order playlist on Pandora.com. Lots of New Order, the Cure, the Smiths and Depeche Mode.
Rafe: As an accessory designer, I have to ask, what kind of bag do you carry every day?
Robert: When I carry one, which is not every day, I take the tote bag I made for my last spring show. We attached a hand-sewn leather flower to it. It is simple but it looks good.

Rafe: Every season, designers are pressured to come up with something new. How do you manage to stay true to your vision, evolve and still manage to surprise your audience?
Robert: It comes from my moods. I really just follow my instinct. There is no formula. I design what excites me and I think that my customer is similar to me and will also get excited by it.
Rafe: Being New Yorker, I always get asked for my inside scoop and favorite haunts. So I'm going to ask yours.
Weekend Brunch? Gigino at Wagner Park. Sit outside with the most beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island. It feels like you’re on a vacation.
Work Lunch? Le Pain Quotidien on West Broadway and Warren. This one is special and like my meeting room. The food is great and the atmosphere bright and very relaxed.
Dinner? Still Bacaro. This place opened a little more than a year ago and is hidden on Division street in the heart of Chinatown. I still have trouble finding it and I have been there over 40 times. Great atmosphere and great people on a weeknight.
Bar? I love the bar at Friedmanns, it is very beautiful and the atmosphere is great.
Weekend get-away? See Above...I don't get out much : -)
Art Gallery? Klaus von Nichtssagend. Super unpretentious whole in wall gallery in Brooklyn, but great taste and great art.
Museum? The Museum of Natural History. It is really magnificent.
Store? Odin. It has managed to really put together a great roster of designers. Every man that comes to New York should take a look.
Rafe: What are you absolute style faux pas? Please name 3 and why
Robert: I don't really have any. Things that look ridiculous on most people look great on some, it all depends on who can pull it off and who can't.

Rafe: Who is or who are your style icons?
Robert: The coolest guy in my opinion that has ever lived is Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Rafe: Since the title of my column is “Can I tell you”, what can you tell me that I should invest in this season?
Robert: I would say a nice pair of running shoes. If you are skinny, then everything looks good on... and off.

Robert’s collection is being sold at over 50 of the world’s most influential boutiques, including Isetan in Japan, Lane Crawford in Hong, Odin in New York and Fred Segal in Los Angeles.
To read more about Robert, check out his website: www.robertgeller-ny.com

Mid Summer Night

Can I tell you…about David Straube and Jim Kloiber’s rooftop party. Every year since I’ve known David and Jim they throw a fabulous sunset cocktail party to celebrate the summer. It’s a much anticipated event and one I don’t like to miss.I went with my PIC(partner in crime), fashion designer Peter Som and we met up with Jim Larkin and Aidan Kemp.
Who can resist a rooftop party with spectucular views of the city from every vantage point. Their rooftop is perfect because it spans the entire length of the apartment building so it can fit a large crowd quite comfortably and they've renovated it so it feels like you're on the chic Above 60 Thompson rooftop bar lounge.They always manage to draw in a great mix of friends; editors, stylists, publicists, art directors, writers, designers,event planners and random cuties. You can be sure to run into several people you know which always makes for a good time.There wasn’t a required dress code but since the guest list are comprised of people who are sartorially inclined, within the first hour the “theme” was pretty obvious. We were mad for plaid! And by that I mean madras plaids or ginghams. From shorts to shirts, this pattern kept turning up as guest upon guest ascended up on the roof.At one point, Sam Spector asked Prabal Gurung, “Did I miss the memo?” Shai Tertner on the other hand loved the pattern mix. “I feel like I’m part of the ‘in’ crowd”, he teased.The second theme was the solid navy polo shirt…Ralph, Lacoste or Abercrombie. I mean, really are they any others worth wearing?
As the sun set and the drinks flowed, things got a little out of hand…quelle surprise! Chris Constable got hold of one guest’s ginormous black and white hat and before you knew it, people were trying it on and striking campy poses.Eventually Chris grabbed Tenten Wu’s stilleto and started vogueing.Then he got up on one of the deck chairs in effort to mimic Jennifer Beals…much to everybody’s amusement. And when David tried to offer him a hand to get down, Chris mistook it as an invitation to dance. At this point, everybody was in tears laughing so hard. I love Chris’ joie de vivre!As the evening wore on, some of us were getting a little peckish, so when Bruce Pask mentioned that he felt like getting a burger, we all got excited. It was all so spur of the moment but we dashed out and headed to the East Village. Bruce took us to Black Iron Burger; a tiny pub known for its selection of micro brews and its signature Black Iron Burger. The menu is straight to point: burgers, a couple of salads, sandwiches and fried green pickled tomatoes. Several beers later, burgers and fries consumed and appetites sated, we rolled out unto the street and called it a night.I love summer nights like this. A great party with friends, a last minute dinner, and lots of laughter. What’s not to love?! Soon enough, the season will be over and it will all seem like a mid summer night’s dream.