The 2011 CFDA Awards

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), is a non-profit trade association of over 350 of the nations top apparel and accessory designers. It was founded in 1962 and its goal is to advance the status of fashion design as a branch of American art and culture. Diane Von Furstenburg was elected as president and Steve Kolb is the executive director. Each year, the CFDA hosts an awards ceremony for the top designers of the year. It’s like the Grammy’s or the Oscars for fashion. This year it was hosted in New York at Lincoln Center. Swarovski underwrote the event for its 10th year in a row.

Celebrities and fashion icons alike came together to attended the event:

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson

Diane Kruger

Chanel Iman with designer Lubov Azria

Chloë Sevigny

Michael Kors with Ashley Greene and Miranda Kerr in his designs

Kanye West, who as previously reported, presented the International Award to Phoebe Philo of Celine

Liv Tyler in Proenza Schouler with Jack and Lazaro of Proenza Schouler

Marc Jacobs after winning his Lifetime Achievement Award

Lady GaGa went on to win the Fashion Icon Award of the evening

The winners of this year’s ceremony are as follows:

• Womenswear Designer of the Year - Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler
• Menswear Designer of the Year - Michael Bastian
• Accessory Designer of the Year - Alexander Wang
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Marc Jacobs
• Fashion Icon Award - Lady GaGa
• International Award - Phoebe Philo of Celine
• Founder’s Award - Hal Rubenstein of InStyle
• Media Award for Excellence in Journalism - Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph
• Board of Director’s Award - photographer Athur Elgort
• 3 Swarovski Awards which honor emerging talent: Womenswear - Prabal Gurung, Menswear - Robert Geller and Accessories - Eddie Borgo

It’s great to know that there is a committee dedicated to keep fashion design as a known art form and we thank the winners and all the nominees for contributing to the great world of fashion.

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Pleats Please!

This summer, “boho-chic” has brought neutrals into full swing onto a classic style: pleats. Pleats had a real hold on the fashion community in the 1970’s and now neutral pleats are back in style. Seen below are ways to incorporate this trend into your everyday style.

This two-toned pleated tank from Banana Republic is great for wearing with a pair of jeans or dressing it up with a nice pair of slacks.

This Trina Turk ‘Shaye’ skirt from Nordstrom is lightweight so it will be great to have during the hot summer months. The color is actually Heather grey which is great to mix-n-match with your wardrobe.

These pleated wide-leg trousers from Top Shop are definitely for the inner-hippie in us all. This lightweight fabric will be perfect to wear to dinners around town or to see a local band. The color is great for just about every skin tone, further proving they are a must have.

This black pleated dress from H&M is perfect for cocktail hour with your girlfriend's or to make a great first impression on a date. It’s sexy but also simple enough that you can wear it just about anywhere.

The revamped Halston Heritage line, thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker who became the creative director a few years ago, is all about the 70’s styles, expressly pleats. This dress is an iconic Halston Heritage and for any special occasion this dress would be perfect. Its classic lines will look beautiful on any body type and so will the color.

With these pleat ideas, you will be rocking the updated boho-chic style while looking like you just took a piece out of the back of your closet. Pleats look good on just about everyone but stick to smaller lined pleats if you want to appear trimmed down, while wider pleats will have the adverse affect.

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Savage Style

Its one thing to have a fashion blog, its quite another to have a fashion blog that embodies the idea of Savage Style. Meet "J", a fashion devotee who created J's Everyday Fashion for women who are on a budget but still want to maintain a stylish appearance. Working within the confines of a monthly clothing allowance, J provides stylish tips and tricks that women of all shapes and sizes can apply to their wardrobes.

Occasion: Fox 4 morning news interview

Dress: American Eagle
Belt: Gap
Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: H&M
Watch: Michael Kors
Bracelets: Forever 21
Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Occasion: Casual Friday

Leather jacket: Banana Republic
Shirt: Banana Republic
Necklace: Banana Republic
Jeans: Gap
Belt: Gap
Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Occasion: Work

Shirt: Banana Republic
Necklace: Banana Republic
Pants (rolled up): Banana Republic
Shoes: H&M

Occasion: Work

Necklace: Banana Republic

Shirt: Banana Republic

Skirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: TJ Maxx

Occasion: Dinner with my hubby

Earrings: Banana Republic
Dress: Target
Belt: The Limited
Shoes: Endless.com/Rampage

On the site, J answers several questions posed by her avid followers, including her style aesthetic:

"One of the funny things about this blog is that I'm really not an authority on fashion. That's part of the appeal - I am just an average girl, so if I can do this stuff, then you guys definitely can too! My sense of style is completely self-taught. I didn’t grow up fashionable, no one in my family is particularly interested in it. For some reason in college I started experimenting and really started to love the creative outlet it provides. I also paint, but fashion is a way to wear your art, literally, and express how you’re feeling every single day."

Occasion: Shop with J for a Day in KS
Sweater: H&M
Shirt: Forever 21
Shorts: The Unique Closet
Belt: American Eagle
Necklace: Forever 21
Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Occasion: Family function

Sweater (left): J.Crew

Shirt: Moda c/o MJR Sales

Shorts: Gap

Shoes: Guess/DSW

Watch: Michael Kors

Bracelets: Forever 21

Gold necklace: Stella & Dot

Turquoise necklace: Stella & Dot

Occasion: Flying home

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack
Jeans: Gap
Belt: H&M
Shoes: Chinese Laundry/DSW
Necklace: Stella & Dot
Watch: Michael Kors
Bracelets: Forever 21

Occasion: Work or weekend

Jacket: Banana Republic
Necklace: Banana Republic
Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Aldo

As J herself says, "J’s Everyday Fashion is founded with the belief that style is not reserved for women with tons of money and time, and that it can be learned (J is living proof). J is here to help, inspire and encourage women everywhere. Now let’s get started on this fabulous fashion journey."

Occasion: Dinner and drinks with my hubby

Dress: H&M
Belt: H&M
Necklace: Banana Republic
Shoes: Steve Madden/DSW

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!

Oprah: A Media Icon Through the Years

Through the years, Oprah has been invited into homes across America as a friend and mentor to men and women alike. In those years, we've watched Oprah grow an empire, starting with her daytime talk show and expanding to own and operate her movie and television production company (Harpo), O Magazine, and most recently OWN, her television station (yes, the Oprah Winfrey Network!).

Not only has Oprah shown the world her extraordinarily keen business sense, she has also changed many lives by adopting her children (who reside in South Africa), helping to kick-start the careers of Dr. Phil, Suze Orman and Dr. Oz and giving away millions of dollars through charitable donations and fabulous merchandise on her “Favorite Things” episodes.

Still, her greatest philanthropic effort has to be a tie between the Angels Network, not only for the amount of relief and aid given to people in need of all walks of life, but because she was able to create such an interest in giving that thousands of people across America felt compelled to help Oprah help others. Another major milestone was was opening the Leadership Academy for Girls, which she financed entirely to give 150 underprivileged girls in South Africa a chance at success through education; a truly remarkable feat.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to highlight some of Oprah’s most memorable looks.

Oprah, seen here in the beginning of her career as a news anchor in Nashville, TN. Natural hair and makeup allow her beauty to shine through.

Oprah and Barbara Walters in the first of many interviews the two would have over Oprah’s 25 years in television.

Big hair and larger than life guests would become a trend throughout her career. Oprah famously rolled out approximately 70 pounds of animal fat on stage to show her audience how much weight she’d lost over the 5 months prior to taping. Her battle with weight is one that she has shared with her audience openly. Her hair was as vicious as her new body; during this period, Oprah really turned up the drama when it came to her hair beauty choices.

Seen after gaining the weight back, Oprah still keeps her style and beauty on trend during the 90’s.

Oprah lost the weight again and opted for a change in hairstyle; a shorter, layered look that suited her nicely, giving her a very girl-next-door look for the middle-aged woman.

Seen here at the opening of The Color Purple on Broadway in 2005, Oprah wears tight curls for an elegant, but nontraditional red carpet look.

This is my personal favorite hairstyle of Oprah’s. I love the loose tendrils that give her a fun, approachable look. Her choice to wear a natural-looking face compliments this hairstyle perfectly, allowing for the focus to be her hair, without going too far.

Through the years, Oprah’s look has changed dramatically; she’s had many hits and just as many misses. Regardless, we all love and respect Oprah and our televisions will join us in missing her every afternoon at 4pm.

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New Fashion Line by Kanye West?

Kanye West is ever present in the fashion world, whether he's sitting front row at shows around the globe, or making bold statements with his own wardrobe. West tried to capitalize on this notoriety by creating his own line in 2008-2009 called Pastelle.

In Sept. of 2009, after a year of devotion to the project, West was said to have only produced three articles of clothing and a belt. Images from his look-book were then released, but West's rep told the press that the line would not be produced. Some say he was too meticulous with the designs and was never satisfied with the samples. Others speculate the clothing line was just a trick to gain more press.

West told Ellemagazine that same year, “Did you not see the Lindsay (Lohan) and Ungaro collection? That was 911 for celebrities doing fashion. After that I thought ‘Well I can't do a line now’."

In May 2011, West released a limited run collection of scarves inspired by the artwork from his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

West collaborated with M/M (paris) to produce five silk-printed scarves sold exclusively on M/M’s website, the RSVP Gallery in Chicago and the French Boutique Colette. Only 100 of each scarf print was produced and were last quoted at selling around $410.

West's additional forays into fashion include: working alongside Nike to release his popular high-end "Air Yeezy" sneakers, collaborating with Louis Vuitton in developing a line of casual footwear for the company’s 2009 spring/summer lineup and interning at the Italian luxury brand Fendi while staying in Rome around the time of his album 808s & Heartbreak's release.

According to a recent report by the UK's Telegraph, a sources close to Kanye said he will start working on a new clothing line in Paris shortly. This high-end collection will be for both men and women. It is rumored that he is setting up shop there to receive inspiration and to study from the world-renowned designers that also create there. Not that he hasn't already been seen cramming. During this year's Spring 2011 shows, West was seen on the front rows for Rodarte, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Alexander Wang, Sonia Rykiel, Givenchy, Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood, and Jean Charles de Castelbajac.

He is rumored to be presenting Céline designer Phoebe Philo with an award at the CFDA Awards today, June 6. This may come as little surprise since he's mentioned her in his music ("...and my chick in that new Phoebe Philo,") and recently got a lot of flack for wearing a Céline blouse to perform at Coachella.

Hopefully, West will continue to make his mark on the fashion world, through his own style and perhaps (yet another) pending clothing line. While there is no fixed date for West's first showing, it is believed that a presentation-style format is slated for September, in time for the 2012 spring/summer season collections.

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Shopping for Chapeaux’s (Hats!)

In many areas, the summer heat wave has already begun...and its only the beginning. But in addition to the “barely there” clothing you would typically grab to stay cool, why not top off your outfit by reaching to the top shelf of your closet and add on a fabulous hat! Hats as we all know, have been worn as fashion statements for centuries, but they've also been the best way to keep your head cool and protected in the summer (not to mention warm and covered in the winter).

The key to a summer hat is the material used. Look for straw, linen or cotton to create your own shade and help you stay cool while looking cool. Here are some great looks where the star of the outfit is our shady friend.

Women

Ashlee Simpson looking boho-chic with her long locks and a classic fedora. This hat looks great with just a pair of long jeans or jean shorts, a boho top, and a pair of gladiators.

Nicole Richie is wearing a longer brimmed fedora. This hat looks good with a casual outfit, such as the one she is wearing in the picture, or you can dress it up with a great pair of slacks and a tucked in button-down.

Jennifer lopez is wearing the famous “floppy hat”. This hat is probably the most versatile of them all. You could wear it lying out at the beach, with a super casual outfit, or a very glamorous outfit, such as the one she is wearing in the picture. Also what is great about this iconic hat is that it works with just about any size head because it’s so dramatic in size.

Besides Samantha Jones from Sex and the City: The Movie, only a few choice people could pull off - or on! - this exaggeratedly extra large-brimmed hat.

Men

Matthew Morrison, from Broadway and the hit tv show, Glee, wears the classic "pork pie" hat in straw to demonstrate how to beat the heat in the most attractive way. I've seen guys wearing this hat with a pair of wayfarers, a tank top and shorts for a great "beat the heat while running the streets look".

Justin Timberlake is one celebrity who's never shied away from hats, especially the aforementioned "pork pie" but here he wears a "driver/ivy" hat that comes in a variety of colors and materials that are sure to add to any outfit. Go for an unexpected color like coral - one of the summer's most covetable colors - and add some zest to a stripped t-shirt and shorts outfit or a linen suit.

The baseball cap, or "fitted", has to be one of the most iconic and steadfast hats worn by man of late. Here, Jay-Z wears his signature NY Yankees cap (with his lyrics embroidered under the brim) to the side but for optimal sun protection you may want to wear the brim to shadow your face. But really, however you choose to wear it - with jeans and a t-shirt or a business suit - you're still keeping the heat off your head. And with a pair of sunglasses you'll still get the desired "cool on top of cool" effect.

The great thing about hats is their versatility. If you're looking for more styles, this site has been featured before and is such a great resource for hats it had to be mentioned again. Combining their knowledge of hats with your desire to wear one, you should be able to beat the heat throughout the summer in style with no sweat, or at least none on your brow!

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Savage Style

In Her Shoes

Maggie Feller: "Shoes like these should not be locked in a closet! They should be living a life of scandal, and passion! If you're not going to wear them... don't buy them! Leave them for someone who's going to get something out of them."

Rose Feller: "I get something out of them! When I feel bad I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good... food just makes me fatter... shoes always fit."

Every savage styler can agree that sometimes when the wardrobe isn't cooperating, that you can always count on your accessories for solace. And there's no better accessory to accent an outfit than a great pair of shoes.

There will be no argument from Sea of Shoes mom-and-daughter duo bloggers Jane Aldrich (pictured below) and her mother, Judy. For over four years the Aldrich women have chronicled their obsession for shoes - and their love of the fashions that they pair with them.

Bolero: Vintage

Grey jeans: Current/Elliott

tank top: Free People

Jewelry: Vintage

shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti

As it says on their site:

"We plan to include anything and everything to do with shoes, meaning present trends, future trends, ideas on how to wear them, critiques, designers we love-and some we don't. We recognize that you cannot neglect the other important aspects of the fashion world, and plan to share our ideas about jeans, accessories, bags, and anything else that pops in our minds. In the process we hope to meet other fashion devotees."

Dress: Lula B's

Jacket: Jean Paul Gaultier for Target

Tights: Hue

Boots: Alaia

Velvet jacket and bracelets: Free People

Jeans: Current/Elliot

Booties: Maison Martin Margiela

Leather jacket: Bicentennial at Cheap Thrills Vintage

Jeans: Hysteric Glamour

Boots: Balmain

There's no question Jane got much of her love of fashion from her mother, a former fashion insider. And now, she has her own bevy of devoted followers who not only admire her covetable footwear, but cultivated sense of style and styling.

"Blogger turned fashion-insider Jane Aldridge has since gone from everyday high school girl to serious tastemaker. Her site exists as a photo diary of her skillfully styled ensembles, comprised of cool mash-ups of vintage and designer pieces paired with incredible, covetable shoes, of course. Aldridge has directly influenced sales for designers and has gotten in on the design game with an Urban Outfitters footwear collaboration as well as a project with her mother Judy for contemporary label Gryphon."

Cashmere turtleneck: thrift store

Jeans: AG jeans

Stole: Vintage

Glasses: Vintage

Pumps: Prada

60's shimmery gold balloon sleeved, palazzo pants suit: Vintage

Gold platforms: Yves Saint Laurent

Men's shirt: thrift store

Skirt: Jelly Garcia

Ballet pink tights: Hue

Gold jewelry: Vintage

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Its warming up to be a very hot summer - in fashion and Fahrenheit - so don't be afraid to make a splash in shoes that dare to be colorful, eye catching or deemed a tad strange. And even if you don't make it to the beach to cool off, you can still plan to do a few laps in your own sea of shoes. Let the Aldrich's steer you through the choppy waters and towards a guaranteed good time full of fun, fashion and best of all, footwear!

Tunic: Vintage

Jeans: AG jeans

Turqoise jewelry: Vintage

Sandals: Roberto Cavalli

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!