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On Monday, September 14, designer Malan Breton presented his Spring 2010 collection at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan. The collection contained his label's first menswear pieces in addition to the womenswear he is known for.

Breton, who competed on the third season of Project Runway, had front-row support from fellow Runway alums Diana Eng (Season Two) and Terri Stevens (Season Five). Holly Kiser and Ronnie Kroell (Make Me a Supermodel, Season One) made appearances on the runway. Style expert Nolé Marin, Real Housewives of New York City's Alex McCord, and TV correspondent Maria Menounos were also in attendance.

Inspired by his childhood dance background, Breton had previously described wanting his show "to feel like a night at the Hollywood Bowl or the Met, a night at the ballet." On this count, he delivered. The 30-piece orchestra, courtesy of the Chelsea Symphony, set the tone for the event, which was built around romance and luxury. The refined collection of suits, dresses, and separates was elegantly sumptuous in lace, silk, and tuille. The palette was mostly soft pastels and nudes, with the occasional pop of bright red and blue.

Halfway through the program, the audience members were treated to a taste of the ballet when a male dancer twirled his way up and down the runway to their surprised delight; a female dancer closed the show on a final graceful note.

The post-show buzz was overwhelmingly positive. Despite being pulled in all directions, from reporter to reporter and from friend to friend, Breton seemed endlessly patient and deeply appreciative of everyone's kind words.

Amid the swarm of activity, he graciously granted a brief moment to Chic Galleria. "I started in menswear; I used to make my own clothes," he explained. "So I kind of took my mental vision into womenswear and I just sort of rolled it back around this time for the men." Regarding his future designs, he laughed coyly. "I kind of like to surprise people!"

To keep up with him as he continues his creative journey, visit www.malanbreton.com. 

Pictured: Lana fresca in poppy three-piece suit with cotton dress shirt; nude tank dress with nude camisole in silk with nude and gold hooded kimono sleeved jacket. Photos courtesy of Malan Breton.

On Sunday, September 13, Custo Barcelona showed in The Tent--Bryant Park's largest Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week venue--for the first time. The packed tent's attendees--which included Ugly Betty's Mark Indelicato, Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson, America's Next Top Model judge Miss Jay, and socialite Tinsley Mortimer--bopped to the thumping club beat that set the stage for the fun and vibrant presentation.

Fans of designer Custo Dalmau's customary bright colors and breezy flash were not disappointed. Women walked the runway in fluttering dresses garnished with fringes; men were casually cool in suits with an eye-catching sheen. The parade of eye-popping hues evoked Mediterreanean beaches and a sexy party vibe.  

The Spanish label has dressed Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, and Shakira. Visit www.custo-barcelona.com to learn more.

Photo Credit www.europapress.es

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and my friend, fashion designer Malan Breton, plans to kick off his show today with style. His Spring 2010 imbues a creative journey back to his roots as a dancer, exploring elements of his childhood when he began performing at the age of seven. The inspiration for his spring collection comes from the strength and form of the image "Flight of Freedom," a black-and-white image of his friend and Royal Ballet alumnus Leigh Alderson shot by Pritzel Photography.

"I will have a 30-piece orchestra playing the show, the Chelsea Symphony," reveals Breton. "I wanted the show to feel like a night at the Hollywood Bowl or the Met, a night at the ballet."

Presented by Style 360 and Rado Switzerland, the show will take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan (Sept. 14th at 11 am) and will mark this fashion Einstein's first foray into menswear, further expanding the Malan Breton Collection. He has already dressed celebrities including Minnie Driver, Kylie Minogue, Nikki Blonsky, and Katrina Bowden and soon he will be dressing Hollywood's finest men.

Malan has personally invited five Chic Galleria writers to attend.  Photos and details to follow this week.
 

Season 6 of Project Runway is finally airing on Lifetime TV after much legal drama and a very long wait for fans. I remember Tim Gunn telling our New York based crowd at GMHC's Fashion Forward fundraiser last November they had just wrapped up the taping in Los Angeles.  I'm sure the designers who appeared in Season 6 were ready for Lifetime to take over and the show to finally hit our television sets.

This season started out with Christopher Straub winning the Red Carpet Challenge in Episode 1. Christopher used 6-7 yards of cut petals to cover the top and the skirt of his gorgeous design.  He spent over 10 hours machine stitching each one into place.

Christopher is a 30 year old visual merchandiser from Shakopee, Minnesota.

BA: Christopher, can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started?

CS: I have always been an artist and have put my focus on fashion design within the past 10 years.

BA: Where do you draw inspiration for your designs?

CS: I am really inspired by nature and natural shapes.  I look for repetition of leaves or ripples in the water...that sorta thing.

BA: What designs have been your favorites?

CS: If you're referring to which designs on the show have been my favorites...From the Red Carpet Challenge, episode 1, I LOVED Carol Hanna's and Irina's.  They both know how to work with fine fabrics.  From the prego challenge, episode 2, I liked mine the best.

BA: What are your future plans?

CS: I have been designing a collection of handbags and accessories for a major retailer.  Also, I have a collection of men's and women's accessories available at www.christopherstraub.com. 









Photo Credit: Kannie Yu LaPack@Lifetime Entertainment Services

Mens Look of the Week at Buckle.com

Chic Galleria sponsors Shane and Shawn Ward were the stars of MTV's MADE which aired May 9, 2009. The guys flew to Arizona in February and worked with a young man named Scott. He is 17 and attends Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Arizona. The twins taught him self-confidence, grooming, and how to approach the ladies. Special guests were the winner and runner-up from the Miss Arizona pageant.  Visit http://www.shaneandshawn.com.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/379769/cooking-class.jhtml#id=1610891

Malan Breton is conducting a course...
not only for fashion designers
looking to market/brand their lines,
but...
for people in all industries to creatively market their ideas, and themselves.
Yes I know many of you are reentering the workforce this is a course that will offer you the tools to getting your foot in the door.

This two hour course will show you the basics to finding success in the fashion/media world. Given by fashion designer and media persona Malan Breton this course is ideal for anyone in fashion and media/entertainment.

By registration only
Monday, May 18, 2009
8:00pm-10:00pm
New York, New York
course price $100.00
rsvp@malanbreton.com


"Only 4 years on the fashion scene, but already this Taiwan-born designer's classic super feminine collections are catching the eyes of the press and celebrities. He got his start for Barney's. And slowly but surely, celebs started seeking Breton as a consultant: Linda Evangelista, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Tilly, to name a few. As Breton worked with these stars, he eventually fell into the design world, launching his first line during New York Fashion Week in 2004. He currently owns an East Village atelier and has a new showroom in the Garment District. " (NY DAILY NEWS)

On September 11, 2009 Malan Breton received a second standing ovation in the Bryant Park tents. Leaving WWD to comment on a"most refined collection, showing a sharp lineup highlighted by simple short dresses in elegant materials". For Fall 2008 WWD called his collection "Beautifully Executed!"

His collections have been called "Classic!" (NY Daily News), "Beautifully Executed! "(WWD), "Clean and Classic" (Glam), "Glamorous" (Cosmo Girl), being praised in The New York Times for his Pajama Trousers, and many other mentions. Breton's designs have graced In Style Magazines Look of the Day for Katrina Bowden, W Magazine for Martha Plimpton, NY Moves for Minnie Driver, Bravo's A list awards for Nikki Blonsky, US WEEKLY for Ricki Lake, CW 11 for Jody Watley, In touch Magazines "Love it look" for Melrose Bickerstaff and many others.

Breton was featured as one of WWD's designers to watch on the runway for the fashion week cheat sheet in 2005, for his first collection. His collection was launched after a stint at ESPN where Malan was the voice of Extreme Sports . His dream of designing from the age of 11 had finally begun. A dream that took him from Taipei, Taiwan to New York City.

Malan Started his career at the age of 7 as a performer, having danced, acted, and sung with some of the biggest performers in the world. It was after a contract as the voice of ESPN's Extreme sports that Malan introduced his first fashion collection. Malan still performs and is set to star opposite Celeste Holme, in the upcoming film My Guaranteed Student Loan the Movie. Breton has created costumes for theatre, and television. Most recently creating the costumes for Alec Mapa's one man show Gaysian American Sweetheart.

Malan will be the subject of a new fashion book out of Japan called PUCE. Malan Breton Collection consisits of four divisions Bijoux (Fine jewelry), Leathergoods, Bridal, and Fashion. He is also creative director for the diffusion line Malan by Malan Breton.

Breton is also very active in the media, having been the host of Bravo's The Malan Show, the co creator of L'ag Magazines Designer 2 Designer column where he interviews designers like; Luca Orlandi of Luca, Luca, Max Azria of BCBG, and John Bartlett. He has also appeared on numerous talk shows and hosted Australia's Next Top Model for a telelvised catwalk show for its final three contestants. Malan was also a contestant on Season 3 of Bravo TV's Project Runway. Also appearing as a guest host on MTV Detox with Jim Cantiello. He has also contributed to The Dallas Morning News, Bravotv.com, Out Magazine, HX Magazine, The New York Times, and others. Celebrities at Malan Breton's fashion shows andevents have included, Pete Wentz, Cat Cora, Christine Ebersole, Martha Plimpton, Kiera Chaplin, Lala Brooks, Wendy Williams, numerous stars of reality television, broadway and more. Breton's last two Bryant Park shows have been sponsored by Michael Buble. As a lecturer and mentor he has spoken at Princeton Universtity , Cooper Hewitt, and has a series of books to be released this fall based on his lectures. He understands the importance of sharing his knowledge and time and does so with numerous charity organisations. These include DIFFA, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, SUSAN G. KOMEN For the Cure, Project by Project, Action Against Hunger, CACF Coalition for Asian American Children & Families, Chefs for Humanity, Live out Loud, GLAAD, The Actor's Fund, GMHC, and amFAR.

Malan and his fashions have been featured in style magazines like W, Harpers Bazaar, The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, Style.com, ELLE, ELLE decor, Paper Magazine, Newsday,New York Magazine, Z!nk, Rolling Stone and numerous other print media. He has also appeared on NBC's The Today Show, E!, BRAVO!,NY1, MTV, VH1, CW11, Fox, CMT, Entertainment Tonight, and Access Hollywood.

"Breton is self taught and never went to design school. Talk about raw talent! " (NY DAILY NEWS)
www.malanbreton.com

Project Runway alum, designer Jack Mackrenroth, is dishing up Fashion Week in NYC at NewNowNext.com!  Chic Galleria is thrilled to have the opportunity to share his articles.

Done with that madness at Michael Kors',  I headed over to the New York Public Library for the 1909 Victorinox menswear collection by Pierre-Henri Mattout. He's super handsome and really cool. I enjoyed chatting with him immensely. Victorinox/Swiss Army was founded 125 years ago so Pierre-Henri is modernizing the collection by designing a more cutting edge younger line. It's his second season as Creative Director and I loved the collection.


Pierre-Henri told me he was inspired by the Amish rumspringa where adolescents explore the world and decide if Amish life is right for them after their worldly adventures. The looks were a combination of comfort, function and fashion.

I was backstage for about an hour before the show and I just want to mention one thing. The models were all flawless of course but there was one kid named Jamie Jewitt from VNY models who was RIDIC!!! Most of the models are straight now and when you hear them talk you remember that they are 19 but it's fun to imagine. Anyway-Book him. He's gorgeous. 

Visit NewNowNext.com and leave Jack a message.  I know he'd love to hear from Chic Galleria readers!

Project Runway alum, designer Jack Mackrenroth, is dishing up Fashion Week in NYC at NewNowNext.com!  Chic Galleria is thrilled to have the opportunity to share his articles.

From Twinkle I dashed back out into the cold to see the Tim Hamilton installation. I like his clothes-although I can never fit into any of them-but again I am a sucker for menswear designers and male models. Although the models are so young now I'm beginning to feel like a lecherous old troll as I ogle them and take photos. Oh well. It's all in the name of fashion.

I went to his show last season and it's cool because the models just chill and even drink beer and chat with each other. The clothes are hip and well tailored though they do look better on a slim guy.

Read more about Jack's day at NewNowNext.com.

Project Runway alum, designer Jack Mackrenroth, is dishing up Fashion Week in NYC at NewNowNext.com!  Chic Galleria is thrilled to have the opportunity to share his articles.

One of my favorite shows every season San Francisco's Academy of Art MFA student show. It's usually really innovative because they don't have to worry about buyers or price points so they just create their vision and make fashion art.

I had the privilege of interviewing all the designers backstage before the collections came out. Scott McFarland designed a really cool men's knot wear collection. He said his customer would be the guy who wears Galliano and McQueen so I expected some really out there pieces, but in fact his collection was quite wearable. I didn't love the light pink and blue color combos but I could see myself wearing much of it-just not head to toe. And the models were HOT. 'Nuff Said.

Leave Jack a comment at NewNowNext.com!