Naomi Sims died…she was a huge glamorous model. Andre Leon Talley spoke at her funeral and then again at Sugar Baby…and here he recalls their first meeting and her legacy.

We met at Joe Eula’s house, then at Halston’s house.  That is how I met her, in 1974, and then 1975.

My best memory of Naomi is the Life Magazine cover and the AT& T telephone commercial that she did in the sixties when black models were not gracing mainstream American covers of a weekly family magazine, much less a commercial on television of a major brand like AT&T

The legacy of Naomi Sims is that she left to women of color, of all diversity of color the inspiration to believe in themselves to empower the world with a sense of worth, class, and dignity, through her own example, and through giving back by her self-help books (five of them!) as well as creating a beauty empire of wigs, fragrance, beauty salons. Her legacy as the first true black Supermodel is only part of her history. That is important but there is so much more that she gave to the world. She broke the barriers down for women of color to be in high fashion, as a great model and she went on to empower women and young women with her own brand of Naomi Sims.

You may have heard that DVF was having two shows this Fashion Week… and it’s true. Last night, American Express hosted a DVF show, that (shocker) showed looks that you can see now…and buy now! A revolutionary concept for the fashion world, who is already wishing it was Fall 09, DVF proved that fashion week doesn’t have to be all about the future – it can be about the present.  After a live interview with Andre Leon Talley, Diane herself was on hand to present her Spring collection, Rock Goddess, to over 700 American Express cardmembers.  In addition to all the greatest looks from Spring (Hippolyte dress! Amor pant! Keith top!), the audience got a taste of next season as five looks from the Fall collection closed the show.

Missed the show? Still shop the collection!

Diane with Andre Leon Talley and Fredrica Friedman

Last night, DVF and the CFDA hosted cocktails to welcome Vanessa Friedman, Fashion Editor of the Financial Times UK, back to her hometown of Manhattan. Other guests included Mark Holgate, Sally Singer, Andre Leon Talley of Vogue, Marc Karimzadeh of WWD, Erin Wilson of The New York Times, Catherine Malandrino, and Peter Som. Guests sipped cocktails and nibbled on mini burgers and seared tuna tacos, but the most elated guest of the night, Vanessa’s mother Fredrica Friedman, couldn’t stop gushing about Vanessa’s arrival. And her mom left with more than just her daughter back in town—a great photo of her with Diane and the always fabulous Andre Leon Talley.

(more…)

Diane von Furstenberg unveiled her new shop on Wednesday, May 30th with a celebration fit for the glittering location. The opening of the 2,100-square-foot Meatpacking district store was feted by friends, partners and neighbors including Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Ellen Barkin, Andre Balasz, Calvin Klein, and others. Much like the original flagship on West 12th Street, the new design was inspired by the idea of a shimmering jewel box; a very open white space set against a glossy lilac floor, with constellations of mirrors spiraling across the ceiling. A diamond-shaped “DVF Pink” colored banquette sits in the center of a diamond-shaped room, while a luxe zebra rug created by Diane von Furstenberg for The Rug Company.

(more…)