Georges Chakra’s Fall 2010 “Edition” features elegant evening gowns and cocktail dresses in a bedazzling display that at times conjures up memories of stylish periods past (40s and 50s) and at others provides a futuristic glimpse of high-fashion looks we expect to see in the not-so-distant future.

One easily gets the impression that the color black is Chakra’s favorite color, which would not be usual for a designer of evening gowns, a Chakra specialty. To add colorful flare, Chakra adds lots of metallic pieces — metals cut with sharp angles and jagged edges inspired by the painter Lucio Fontana whose architectural shapes leave their impressions in the backs and fronts of several memorable pieces. Just when we thought we had Chakra’s collection pegged, out came the fiery reds, which we boldly predict will be seen on celebrities gracing the red carpet this award season, in particular, in one of our favorite pieces of the collection: the red chiffon gown, beaded with cummerbund and tulle bodice.  Fire!

Photos via WWD.com

Samantha Liistro and models

Up and coming designer Samantha Liistro presented her first fashion collection at the Madison Towers. Ms. Liistro exhibited a high quality collection with very luxurious fabrics like laser cut pony hair, lightweight wools and python. Her palette goes from touches of cream to dark cherries, midnight blues, vibrant opals and rich blacks. The collection was modern and the well structure cuts with asymmetrical lines gave each piece a clean and sexy look that brought to mind Yves Saint Laurent’s designs of the 1980’s a la Grace Jones. ARIALIIS is a brand for a sophisticated and elegant modern woman who appreciates high quality luxury design. This is something that Ms. Liistro understands well having worked for fashion houses such as Oscar de la Renta and Loro Piana.

Designer Samantha Liistro and Rene Melchor

Inspired by Hansel and Gretel as a dark fairy tale, the stage was set with lace topped trees adorning the walls for Twinkle by Wenlan’s Fall/Winter 2010 Collection. As the music began to play, the audience was taken to a place that brought each of the characters to life in the tale.

Shades of moss, olive green, mustard yellow, and many other deep beautiful colors created a palette reminiscent of a tale set in a forest. Shiny on matte, geometric prints, sheer fabrics and vintage wool made it’s way through the collection to create pieces that told the tale perfectly.

Short looks dominated the runway in prints and silhouettes that flattered. Chunky knits and collars, along with layered pieces, gave a 3-dimensional feel to some of the pieces. Skinny pants, paired with gorgeous coats, hooded tops and sweaters, and dresses, remind us how easy it is to look beautiful in the Fall.

The tale was told and I was enchanted!

Watch the full Runway Show in HD:

The Women’s Mafia is hosting a full roster of un-missable New York Fashion Week events, including our signature Fashion Show & Fashion Week Kick-Off Party. This February the Women’s Mafia Fashion Show will feature the winners of our “Are You Runway Ready” contest. Established and up-and-coming Women’s Wear designers are invited to submit an application and low-res images of Fall/Winter 2010 looks through the link below. Only a few select designers will be chosen to win coveted spots in a Women’s Mafia Fashion Show and a PR and Branding package worth over $10,000. Runners-up will win a profile on Womensmafia.com. Submit by January 22nd to Marcy@womensmafia.com.

In order to be considered, please include all of the following information in your email:

Name of the Line
Name of Designer
Why should you be chosen as a featured designer for the Women’s Mafia Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Show? (150 words or less)
Are you participating in any other NY Fashion Week events?
How many full collections have you produced?
Where are your collections sold?
Will you have at least 15 new looks ready to choose from by February 2nd?
Contact information (Email, Cell, Website)

We’ll see you on the runway!

When it comes to taking your passion to the next level, there are few that have come as far as the talented Conrad Korsch. Conrad’s notable credits include movies, Broadway performances, television, and working with many well known musicians. Some of the Mafia members had the pleasure of meeting Conrad during Fashion Week and we are pleased that we can join him for his CD release party for “Live Love Leave” this month.

Women’s Mafia: With a repertoire that consists of acoustic and electric bassist/multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and educator, tell us how you do it all.

Playing bass is the main thing that pays my bills. When I’m not on tour with Rod Stewart I work with other well-known and not so well-known artists in live concerts, in the studio, on TV, etc, as well as running around NYC playing in Broadway pits, jingle studios, private parties, jazz gigs, and some teaching at the collegiate level. About 1/2 dozen years ago I started a music production studio called “Scrumptious Music” which, in addition to recording bass tracks for people, I’ve used to compose and record music on a variety of instruments for various commercial enterprises, as well as produce my own record and music for other artists.

Women’s Mafia: With credits including playing with Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Andrea Bocelli, Bette Midler, and Clay Aiken, to name a few, is there any one that inspired you to go on to to release “Live Love Leave”?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that any one of them has specifically inspired me to release my CD, but I’ve learned alot from having worked with all of them in the supportive role of their bassist, and Rod has been particularly selfless and supportive of me in my musical endeavors outside of his band, which is great. This record was a departure from my “bass” world and gave me a chance to contribute on a much broader level by writing all of the music and lyrics, singing, playing many different instruments and even arranging and conducting a string quartet.

Women’s Mafia: When did you realize you could make your passion your career?
I honestly never considered any other options. By the time I finished college (I earned a B.A. in Jazz Bass Performance from Temple University) I was already supporting by myself playing music and never looked back.

Women’s Mafia: Where are you from? Where do you live? What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
I was born and raised in Philadelphia, moved to Manhattan 2 months after graduating college, and I’ve already been here 15 years…in Harlem on the west side for the last 5. With all the touring I do, people often ask me where my favorite place is and I always say New York City. I’m sure it has something to do with being “home”, but NYC is undeniably one of the best cities in the world, and if I really thought someplace else was more interesting I’d probably be there!

Women’s Mafia: What can the Women’s Mafia make happen for you?
Help spread the word about my independantly released CD “Live Love Leave” (and CD Release Party/Concert at Joe’s Pub 1/24/10 @ 7:30pm!) to creative and intelligent people who can appreciate a unique and intimate collection of music and stories as an alternative to the commercial offerings we are all exposed to without the help of a hip magazine like Women’s Mafia!

For more information, please visit:
www.conradkorsch.com

For tickets to the CD Release Party/Concert:

http://tickets.publictheater.org/calendar/view.asp?id=11845

What an honor it was to have the chance to interview Deana Martin, the influential American singer, actor, best-selling author and proud daughter of American icon, Dean Martin. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet her and to chat with her about her music, her life, and her iconic father.

WM: We just wanted to start off talking about your recently released album “Volare,” which is an incredible compilation of standards that you’ve recreated which includes songs by your dad, Charlie Chaplin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and many more. We’ve listened to the album and it’s fantastic!

What was your inspiration to pick the specific songs that you picked for the album?

DM: All the songs picked have a special meaning to me. First, I always loved “Volare” which means, “to fly” in Italian. My husband and I are both pilots and our plane’s name is Volare. It also was a huge hit for my dad, a long time ago, so I knew I wanted to do that one and it is a fantastic arrangement. My mother wanted “What A Difference A Day Makes.” That is one of her favorite songs. My husband John’s mother liked “A Kiss To Build A Dream On.” I adore Elvis Presley and his song “Love Me Tender” and thought it was so beautiful and the way they did the arrangement John thought of is just so sweet. And of course [for] Frank Sinatra, uncle Frank, I had to do “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” I wanted to do it in a different arrangement than the Nelson Riddle one. “I Will” was one of my favorite songs that my dad recorded and of course “Smile” from Jerry Lewis, who loved to smile, is such a pretty arrangement also. Jerry Lewis actually did a duet with me on my last album called “Time After Time”. Sometimes you get an album where you have a couple of really good songs that are recognized, but you don’t usually get 15 really fantastic songs.

WM: Is there one in particular song that has special meaning to you?

DM: They all have a special meaning to me. “I Will” was a hit for my dad in 1965 and I just always loved it. That year we had a party for the Academy Awards and I remember my dad sitting and I sang a little bit of it to him and he said “Maybe one day you’ll record it” and I said “you know what, I will” so finally I did all these years later.

WM: It’s clear that you’ve developed a unique style and a fresh approach to these classics. What inspired you to do them differently?

DM: Most of all, I wanted to appeal to a whole new generation of younger people. When I think of Frank Sinatra, he did “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” five different ways. It was his different phrasing at different times of his life where everything meant something distinct. That’s why I wanted to bring my own interpretation into it, my life and how I feel about it. “Please Don’t Talk About Me” is a bit sassy and kind of cute. I’m doing the Great American Songbook in a fresh new way.

WM: What message do you hope the music from “Volare” will deliver to people today?

DM: I want people to get back to the classics and lyrics that have meaning you can understand. I want them to know that what is classic and timeless is still relevant today and that we should remember the old traditions and hold on to those and make it new and fresh.

WM: You grew up among legends. Are there any other people from your childhood that were influential in your career?

DM: Picture Christmas Eve and Rosemary Clooney is there with Andy Williams and Tony Bennett and all these people were sitting around and singing Christmas carols. Singing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” with Rosie after reading her life story and growing up with her and her kids was overwhelming. You just heard her fabulous voice and saw her movies and everything, but you never saw what she went through in life. She was my ideal of the perfect singer and entertainer. And there I was just sitting with her singing. It was a life’s dream for me.

WM: The world adores your father Dean Martin. Is there any one memory, growing up as Dean Martin’s daughter, that stands out most for you and your decision to become a performer?

DM: Probably seeing him at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas when I was very little sitting in the front row. The stage was dark and the announcer said “Ladies and gentlemen: the Sands Hotel is proud to present the star of our show, direct from the bar, Dean Martin.” The light would shine on him as he walked out with a glass in his hand and a cigarette. He walked up to the microphone and he said “How long have I been on” and it was just so cute to hear the audience go “Ah, here he is.” He sang and told some jokes and when he started to introduce his seven kids, the audience applauded and he said “don’t, it only took me seven minutes.” Well, I didn’t know what that meant back then, but the audience laughed. And then dad introduced me and said “Deana stand up and let everyone see how pretty you are.” The light was shining on me and the people were applauding and I thought I have to do this.

WM: Being his daughter, did you feel any pressure as a performer?

DM: Sure. He was so incredible and loved for so many years and I never heard anything negative about him, so I have a lot to live up to. I am very lucky that I am not a boy so the comparison would be Dean and Dean junior. People are a little kinder to me because I am a girl. I’ve studied very hard. So far I’ve been received very well. People like what I do so I didn’t feel that pressure. I put pressure on myself to be as good as I can be. Once I’m out on the stage, I’ve got to really pull it out of my head and perform for you.

WM: Your best seller, Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter’s Eyes, will be turned into a movie soon and your first choice to play your father’s character in the movie is Johnny Depp. Tell us why.

DM: First of all he is so handsome and has the same hairline as my dad and he is really a fantastic actor, so I think he could pull it off. Plus he is a musician, he sings, and he is cool. He has a bit of that swagger. I think there are quite a few people that can do it, but there is just something about him and that he has that “magic in a bottle.” Who knows what it is but I think he’s got it. I have no idea if that would ever happen. People have said maybe George Clooney or Harry Connick Jr. and I’m sure there are a million fabulous looking great Italian singers and actors out there that would be wonderful, but there is a great name that goes with Johnny Depp or any of the other guys. It’s very exciting for me.

WM: That brings us right to our final question: What else is there you would like to accomplish?

DM: I want to do Broadway and hopefully this album will get a Grammy. There is no end to what you can do and I think you are never to old to go after your dreams. I think there is a time for everything in your life. I take it one day at a time and one thing leads to another. Just set your goals high and dream big and that’s what I’ve done all my life and so it is all coming true.

At the conclusion of the interview, Ms. Martin expressed her interest in the Women’s Mafia and what we were doing. She encouraged us to keep up the good work and said that women are so strong and great and that now it’s all coming around and there is no stopping us.

Ms. Martin is currently promoting the release of her new hit CD “Volare,” and her upcoming tour around the United States. For more information about Deana Martin and her upcoming tour dates and events, please visit her official site.

“China-ism” is the new solo exhibition by Anton Skorubsky Kandinsky, the great-grandson of Wassily Kandinsky, whose collections feature themes of inter-nationalism, greed and political ideology and are selling very well nationally and internationally. His new show opens Oct. 1st from 6-8pm at Art Next Gallery in New York (530 West 25th St. 3rd Floor) and specially invited guests include: Marc Ecko (Curated previous show of his work), Axel Rose (Kandinsky’s work featured in “Chinese Democracy” album art), Beth Rudin DeWoody (Collector), Ai Wei Wei (Featured in portrait), Tobi Rubinstein-Schneier (Collector), Howard Stern (featured in a military portrait) and Woody Allen (Featured in a military portrait)

Please enjoy a press release about the show and images of Kandinsky’s work below!

Would you like to RSVP for the Opening on Oct. 1st?
RSVP to Marcy@womensmafia.com

Press Contact: Yellow Sky Agency
212.729.9619, Marcy@yellowskyagency.com

“China-ism” by Anton S. Kandinsky – An Art Interpretation of Contemporary China

New York, NY. September 18, 2009 — Art Next Gallery is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of Anton Skorubsky Kandinsky entitled “China-ism”. The exhibition will be held from October 1 to October 31 at Art Next Gallery, located at 530 West 25th Street, 3rd Floor.

The China-ism exhibition presents a series of paintings and two installations on the subject of Contemporary Chinese Art including Culture, Politics and Economy that inspired a non-Chinese artist, Anton Skorubsky Kandinsky, who lives and works in New York.

If contemporary China had become a locomotive that drives the World economy, then Contemporary Chinese art became “the new Hermes” for today’s art world. Anton S. Kandinsky asserts that the world was introduced to “China-ism” by Andy Warhol, who in 1972 created a large size pop-art portrait of Mao Zedong. This was the entry point for Chinese symbols and iconic figures to establish a strong presence at the contemporary art scene. Today one can find presence of these symbols at a growing number in art galleries, art museums and art auctions, where Chinese Contemporary art remains firmly attractive to art collectors.

“China-ism” has become a ubiquitous landscape. But how should the Western viewer interpret it? Is the rise of Chinese art establishing itself as a “savior” of the world’s creativeness or is it just a hopeful “myth” for contemporary art? To answer these questions we just need to wait and see.

Anton Skorubsky Kandinsky is known for his “Gemism” paintings, works inspired by and decorated with gem stones. A movement founded by the artist in New York in 2004, Gemism, consists of realistic images of gemstones that are intermingled with flags, ideograms, political figures and celebrities mixed with symbolism from China, the former Soviet Union and American pop culture.

Art Next Gallery is dedicated to creating an East-West discourse by spotlighting the greatest artistic talents ascending across Asia and emerging here in New York. By featuring both emerging and established artists from Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and New York, Art Next offers the Chelsea gallery community a unique confluence of cross-cultural vitality, shifting perspectives, and the newest voices of artistic identity. Art Next Gallery, located in the heart of Chelsea, functions as a gallery and event venue for artists, auctions, and various private events.

China-ism exhibition is curated by David Rong and Alex Demko.

For additional information, please contact Gallery Director, David Rong at 212-206-1668 for up to date information please visit www.artnextgallery.com.

Work by Anton S. Kandinsky featuring depiction of artist Chuck Close and artist Ai Wei Wei as the President of China

I have good news. Magic is cool again. Hip, young and handsome magicians such as our friends “Vanishing Vinny” and Patrick Terry are bringing a suave, contemporary vaudevillian aesthetic to this timeless craft. Patrick Terry is producing “Mysterious Delights” starring Vanishing Vinny at Galapagos in DUMBO on Sept. 30th. Enjoy the Women’s Mafia TALENT Q&A below and RSVP to me for a special rate…

Vanishing Vinny – Mysterious Delights PromoCard
WM: Soo… You are a bit cuter than your average magician – do you have groupies? Do you want some?
VV: Awww! Well thank you!
Sadly I don’t have groupies unless of course you count that one time after my high school talent show when my friend’s mom… actually that’s probably not appropriate.
Anyway, groupies would be nice. Wanna help with that?

WM: How old were you when you learned your first magic trick?
VV: I was six when my father finally taught me the vanishing hanky trick that came from his fathers old shoebox o’ tricks. Although he wouldn’t tell me for weeks he finally let me in on the secret. From then on, I enjoyed annoying my family. I still do. It’s great.

WM: You are known as an expert in illusions – what is the biggest thing that you have made disappear?
VV: The biggest thing I’ve made vanish besides my chances at being America’s next top model (long story), would probably be my six cast members from my last show. We all got into a cabinet and disappeared – it was fantastic. Oh and also my afro in the 90’s. Don’t ask.

WM: When did you realize that you could take your love of magic and make it a career?
VV: Just now! Thanks!
You girls have got some great ideas!

WM: What can the Women’s Mafia make happen for you?
VV: The only thing I’d like from the Women’s Mafia is your undying love and support ;) Oh, and maybe a t-shirt.

WM: Please don’t hold back now – what is the funniest thing that ever happened to you on stage?
VV: I would have to say when I brought up a 7 year old kid on stage and purposely stepped on her balloon animal dog while yelling “play dead”. She gave me a mean look and ran off stage. I then magically brought it back for her (I’m not that heartless) and she took it from my hands (still with a mean look and squinted eyes) and told me that it wasn’t funny. This girl is my set designers daughter and is currently in my new show Mysterious Delights on the 30th. She & her sister are quite talented and quite hilarious.

The Spring 2010 collection by Alexandre Herchcovitch, the brand’s new creative director, reminds us what it’s like to be feminine and playful. Each of the swimsuit designs was an architectural masterpiece that would make any woman feel glamourous wearing them. It is easy to see how he took his inspiration of the Brazilian lifestyle and the charm and elegance of lingerie to create his first line for Rosa Chá.

Beautiful crystal appliqué adorned bandeaus, dresses, shorts and high waisted bikinis were reminiscent of the 1950s pin-up girl. The complimentary pieces that matched the suits easily could take a woman from a day at the beach to an evening out on the town.

You can imagine yourself on a beachfront in Brazil when you see the beautiful striped layered swimsuits, strapless dresses, and coordinating pieces that would compliment any woman’s body.

The most intricate pieces combined vibrant orange and yellow tresses to create beautiful bikinis, monokinis and one piece swimsuits. The detail on the pieces was artistically created with figure flattering shapes and patterns.

The collection’s bright colors, stripes, and incredible detailing define what it is to be feminine and beautiful. It’s not going to be hard to feel glamourous at the beach next year!

Event Details
We love all things Kate Moss!
Supermodel. Fashion maven. Designer. Philanthropist. Sexy and scandoulous.

The Kate Moss tribute:

- $5 for any drink with coke (the cola)
- Kate on film on every tellie
- video style shoot featuring your best looks
- This Is a Shakedown DJ Set
- Play Rockband in the CultIndie VIP
- Open Pool Tables
- Pixie Sticks
- Music from Kate’s favorite bands including Babyshambles, Semi Precious Weapons, the Gossip, the Horrors and more.

For more information or to RSVP email marcy@womensmafia.com.