Christian Lacroix could become affordable

I almost broke into tears when we learned that Christian Lacroix went bankrupt last year, I was about to try waterproof mascara when heard that the couture fashion house failed to find any investors.

Lacroix, truly believed in couture and every single of his fashion shows were fully charged of the extravagance and the real concept of couture, including the challenge of making money when tailoring über expensive clothes for a few clients.

But I turned into a Wal-Mart-ish smiley when learned that Sascha Walckhoff, who was named creative director of the French fashion house after 18 years there, would not have a problem into creating a line for a mass chain store like H&M or Target.

Walckhoff told to the Hufftington Post that he is open to the idea of doing a collection for such outlets.

"... its part of what I've been wanting : to get people to touch Lacroix at last. Brands like Target and H&M would be ideal for that," the designer said. "Of course, I won't do a couture dress for a mass retailer , but to do a small collection for one would be lovely," he added.

Wackhoff recently presented his first collection for the brand: menswear for spring 2011. The collection, developed as a license, received good reviews.

While the designer thinks that "Lacroix is luxury" he also recognizes that "the brand's DNA, as the Spring 2011 collection shows, is about mixing the luxurious and the rough. This creates a large territory to play and craft something everyone could love.

This movement can certainly mean some fresh air at Lacroix, a territory common to Walckhoff, who has been there since 1992. It's similar to Sarah Burton, who took Alexander

McQueen after 16 years there and has managed to keep the late designers legacy and taste.

Lacroix is certainly all about richness and extravagance, Mr Lacroix, now busy designing coins for the French mint, already gave up part of his name to the masses when he designed limited edition bottles for evian, Chivas Regal and even a fragrance for Avon.

While Lacroix is no longer in the couture house he created, Walckhoff is giving it all to revive the brand he certainly knows. And also he is willing to step into new territories, which may include a stationary line, to pay all the bills that the great French couturier left.

I don't know what do you think, but I would certainly line up in many days in advance to get some affordable Lacroix.

The Rockettes are wrapped by DVF, soaked by rain

While the rain didn't allow group of 24 Rockettes to perform their iconic dance in Vienna's City Hall as part of the annual Life Ball, the biggest charity event that supports people with HIV or AIDS, the Cut managed to get some behind-the-scenes pictures of them while rehearsing.

Living legend Diane Von Furstenberg designed a special t-shirt and wrapped the dancers in her iconic wrapping dress. Von Furstenberg made sure to include her signature bold prints.

The dancers posed in front of a Mini Cooper revisited by the Belgian born designer and that was later auctioned for charity. Clavin Klein's Francisco Costa and Kenneth Cole also designed a Mini. You can see the three of them in this video.

I particularly liked the picture 4 of 5, which shows Diane backstage with the Rockettes, whose image resembles to a sort of vintage flight attendant but with a poppy touch. I loved the assymetric shoulder white dress Diane wears: it truly matches and reflect her philosophy of design.

While it has not been established whether her collaboration for the Rockettes was just a simple collaboration, Diane tweeted that "the Rockettes and DVF have a future together... it about optimism!!"

Marks & Spencer goes kawaii with Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty is probably one of those characters turned license that "inspire" brands and designers alike, prompting a lot of special collaborations and luxury and limited-edition products that include $1,995 watches, wedding dresses and even a line for men. Yes, for men... All of them filled with the kawaii (cute in Japanese) halo of the little cat owned by Sanrio.

But apparently Hello Kitty is recession savy and now will be featured in a make-up collection for British mass retailer Marks and Spencer. The make-up products will hit shelves at the end of July. Sanrio Town blog -yes, I read that blog!- says that the collection "can be snapped up at pocket money friendly prices!"

The British retailer has not disclosed any information but pictures show that, unlike the special collection for M.A.C. , the products, which include lipgloss, lipbalms shadows and even a shower capseem to be really childish and girly, but after all, can Hello Kitty be different from that?.

What do you guys think of this new adventure of the kitten?

Nina Garcia does Target

It seems that too much is never enough for the fashion Director of Marie Claire Nina Garcia, who, besides being the director of one of the most important sections of one the most renowned magazines, an author and a judge in "Project Runway", will now be a fashion expert for Target.

According to WWD, the Colombian former fashion director of Elle has been signed as the new fashion expert for the retailer but the official announcement is still pending.

Garcia, who is due with a new book this August, has already been a guest blogger for the retailer's StyleBoutique since late 2009 and we have also seen her doing an excellent job promoting Target's own brands like Mossimo, Xhilaration and Merona while providing savy advice for shoppers through small videos featured in Target's website.

Mexico's Christian Cota in the finals for CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

Since this is a Mexican fashion blog it is a "must" to talk about the announcement of the list of the 15 finalists for the 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Not only I was excited to see names like Prabal Gurung, Pamela Love and Robert Geller, but I was particularly delighted when my eyes spotted Mexico´s Christian Cota.

Why?

The fund, created in 2004 by the glossy Condé Nast magazine and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, intends to help emerging designers by granting some cash ($200,000 for the winner and $50,000 to each of the two runners-up) to inject into their businesses and also provides mentorship by industry experts in a wide range of areas such as business planning, production, marketing, etc.

Cota graduated from Parsons in 2005 and two years later he presented his first collection. Since then, his collections have debuted during Fashion Week, he already sells in outlets like Harvey Nichols ans Saks Fifth Avenue and his business includes his namesake label and his casual line, Agua Cota, but the designer still has a long way to go.

In 2009, Cota already received the Raising Star Award from the Fashion Group International but considering that previous winners of the CFDA/Vogue fund include Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang and Doo.Ri, the fund could be the boost that the Mexican designer needs to turn his label into a real international one.

The 28 year old designer didn't get into an easy battle since his name shares space with others like Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung and Billy Reid. But even a runner-up prize could put Cota in the international radar. Even if he doesn's take the big prize, the expectation will be high.

Today we all know Rodarte, Phillip Lim and Thakoon. They are all outstanding names and their creations have been donned by First Lady Michelle Obama... and Thakoon was even featured in "The September Issue". Interesting thing is that none of them took home the first prize, they were just runners-up but see where they are.

If Cota makes to the final three, it will be a double triumph: one for Cota himself and other for the Mexican fashion scene, which is in need of having a name that truly represents it around the world.

Here is the complete list of the finalists. Winner and the runners-up will be announced in November.

– Joseph Altuzarra: ALTUZARRA
– Billy Reid: BILLY REID
– Christian Cota: CHRISTIAN COTA
– Eddie Borgo: EDDIE BORGO
– Gregory Parkinson: GREGORY PARKINSON
– Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow: LODEN DAGER
– Moss Lipow: MOSS LIPOW
– Pamela Love: PAMELA LOVE JEWELRY
– Prabal Gurung: PRABAL GURUNG
– Robert Geller: ROBERT GELLER