Vote in the Fashion 2.0 Awards

Voting has commenced for the 3rd Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards, which celebrates the merging of fashion and social media. The brands and designers are nominated by their peers in the industry, and the winners are decided by you. 

There are eight awards this year, including Best Twitter, Best Facebook, and Best Mobile App. The nominees range from Betsey Johnson to Coach, but Burberry and DKNY are the front-runners with three nominations each. The voting continues until February 7 at midnight, and you can vote here. 

In recognition of their impact on the fashion industry, Gilt Groupe Founders Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson will be presented with the first ever Fashion 2.0 Visionary Award. Celebrity stylist and TV personality Robert Verdi will be hosting the ceremony from the SVA Theatre on February 8, and designer Norma Kamali is a keynote speaker. For those of you who cannot attend, but still want to watch, the Awards will be streamed live starting at 7 p.m. on http://livestream.com/fashion20.

Text Ashley Amidon

Image and Source Style Coalition

Betsey Johnson Rocks Around the Christmas Tree

With Thanksgiving out of the way, it’s finally time to blast that holiday music, so pop Home Alone into your DVD player, and start gorging on Christmas cookies. (Hey, calories don’t count over the holidays, right?) Just know you aren’t the only one getting into the holiday spirit. Designer Betsey Johnson is already making the season especially bright — as if you would expect anything less from the bedazzling boutique queen. The fashion icon was tapped by the Plaza Hotel in New York City to design their first-ever Christmas tree, which Johnson debuted with a tea ceremony on Monday night. Her creation — an 18-inch tree totally covered in hot-pink feathers, sparkly tinsel, and decorative paper dolls — will be on display until Jan. 4.

While Day-Glo decorations are clearly Johnson’s aesthetic, she also sought inspiration from one of the Plaza’s most famous residents (no, not Charlie Sheen): Eloise, the fictional children’s book character who, to the envy of almost every little girl, lived on the hotel’s top floor in the eponymous book series. The famously frilly and feminine Johnson has already shown that she’s quite a fan of this spunky children’s character. After presenting a fashion show at the Plaza in 2009, the designer-cum-interior decorator took on the task of creating an Eloise-themed suite — another elaborate, pink concoction — for the hotel in 2010. There’s no doubt fellow girly-girl Eloise would be turning cartwheels if she saw Johnson’s creations— after all, the designer admitted that three quarters of her is still six years old as well.

Text Kara Solarz
Image and Source Time

Charming Accessories

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the year of the Dragon. But if you ask Giambattista Valli, he might tell you different. Crawling up the arms of models at his spring 2012 show were jeweled serpents, which made it clear that, in the world of fashion, 2012 is the year of the Snake.

For ages, snakes have been highly respected creatures; they're viewed as mythical figures, and they're even the focus of worship for some cultures. The slithering reptile embodies a number of characteristics, including the powers of balance, rejuvenation, and wisdom. So it's no surprise that wearing a snake-themed accessory may radiate these qualities for the wearer, resulting in an aura of glorified confidence.

Not your typical arm candy, snake motif jewelry is an exotic way to accessorize any outfit. Whether you prefer a snake that's strictly made of metal or one that's peppered with precious gems, all will provide edginess that you might not have had with the usual bling. With pieces available at multiple price points from Betsey Johnson to Emilio Pucci, everyone can be a snake charmer this spring.

Check out some of the many sparkling serpents on the market after the jump...

Tutu Cute: "Too Too" by Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson's latest fragrance, "Too Too," is the ultimate combination of sugar, spice, and everything nice with it's base notes of juicy passion fruit, pink musk, and black vanilla. Inspired by her love of dance, the bottle is perfect for pretty girls who are a bit rough around the edges, with its adorable pink tutu, fishnet stockings, and rockstar black corset topper. Oh, and the figure even has a little lighting bolt tattoo —  too cute! The fragrance, in all it's wild child glory, is great as an everyday scent (day to night), as it contains both sweet and spicy notes.

You can get your hands on this playful perfume both online and in-stores at Betsey Johnson, where you can choose from 1.0 oz, 1.7 oz, and 3.4 oz (from $42-$82). If you're looking for a more on-the-go item, the fragrance also comes in a purse-ready rollerball for just $18. You can also find it at Sephora. 

Text Lauryn Stone

Sources: Betsey Johnson, Sephora

Betsey Johnson's Final Cartwheel

After 30+ years fashions most whimsical and over the top designer is handing over the reins.

After her Spring 2010 show at New York Fashion Week in September, Betsey Johnson will do her last cartwheel on the runway. Rumors have been flying around for months and now although it saddens me to do so I can confirm that the rumors are indeed true. Eric Sartori, who has previously designed for Vera Wang, will become the brand's head designer.

Betsey Johnson brings out the fairy princess in every girl. Her designs look like they were plucked from the enchanted world of Alice in Wonderland. As embellished and outrageous as Johnson's designs might be they still have a certain soft feminine appeal to them.

Betsey Johnson started her own label in 1978 and has since been having the time of her life. She was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame in 2002 and in 1999 the CFDA created the 'Timeless Talent Award' in her honor.

Now I don't know how everyone else feels about this but I am crushed by this devastating loss. But there is a happy ending to this story although Johnson may be "retiring" she still plans to be a part of her corporation.

"...I'll be a mega consultant. And be that - be the inspiration, the light at the end of the tunnel, the fairy godmother that comes down," said Johnson in a press release about her retirement.

"As long as I still have my legs and my make-up I will not retire!"

- Erin Jones

Can We Please Get A Re-Count?

Who wouldda thought that the day would come when John Galliano would tone down anything? Well folks, that day has arrived. It's also arrived for Betsey Johnson, Narciso Rodriguez, Oscar de la Renta, dSquared, and a slew of others. Yes gang, I'm talking about the effects of the *shhh* recession. Let's face it, we're all scrimping and saving, cutting corners and eating a lot more in than out. Well, except for Whitney and her gang of merry models on MTV's The City. It seems like they're actually getting richer. Isn't she just an intern or something? Anyways, the effects are being felt and these top notch designers, designers who have pioneered fashion, who are the best of the best are feeling it too. There has been lots of "edits" we'll call them for the Fall/Winter '09 show compared to the Spring/Summer '09 show. For example, Mr. Galliano went from 47 looks in the Spring to 30 in the Fall, Armani went from 92 to 69 and the biggest loser is Betsey Johnson who started with 51 in the Spring and ended up with 25 in the Fall. I can't help but be reminded of a little point in time known as the Great Depression, when designers had to look to other forms of inspiration to make ends meet (dropped hemlines, backless dresses, and a renewed neo-classic sense of fashion). One can only hope that history repeats itself this go-around. Thumbs up for a brighter future in fashion, thumbs down for getting into this mess in the first place.