Wunderbloc New York

Abdul Koroma and Andrew Jones have dared to venture on their own to launch their line, Modernist, in a London presentation during spring 2009 Fashion Week. Koroma and Jones are indeed talented craftsmen and their debut collection is certainly proving them to be visionaries. They continue to keep their day jobs with MaxMara but are looking to materialize their own concepts. The results? Pretty feminine frocks each heavy in details; some mystery with a face distorting chapeaux; and sheer pieces all in the most delicious colors.  

I love the dress pictured complete with the headpiece but I'll have to travel to Paris or London to conduct a fitting of the collection as it is not yet sold here in the States. Koroma and Jones will soon join the ranks of the best in fashon. Perhaps, we'll soon be talking about their own Marc Jacob-like transformation. Meet the unsuspecting designers of Modernist who will soon be the name on everyone's lips.

The collection is part of the Top Emerging Visionaries of 2008.

New Yorker, Alejandro Ingelmo, has made a bit of a stir this year not only because model Agyness Deyn has been photographed repeatedly in his designs but because he was a 2008 CFDA Fashion Fund finalist - not too bad at all. You may be familiar with his men's casual designs particularly in metallic but his woman's line is what is causing the stir now.

Alejandro comes from a line of shoemakers dating back to 1900s Spain. His family immigrated to Cuba and he cites this heritage as the strong influence on his craft. Ingelmo shoes - sky high heels and unexpected patterns and colors. He is most certainly a visionary in women's shoes and I expect to see more of Ingelmo on the pages of the glossies soon. For now, I would LOVE to own a pair of the pumps pictured.

Men's sneakers are currently sold at Neiman Marcus and Saks; the women's line are online at the usual locations - Shopbop.com, Zappos.com, etc.

The Loris Diran flagship store opened earlier this month in the LES. The opening was celebrated with a red carpet event hosted by the gorgeous and elusive Liev Schreiber.

Loris Diran is a young collection with a following from the lower part of Manhattan. The French-Armenian designer creates a demi-couture collection of men and women's key pieces. His specialty is in luxury knits but he has grown his craftmanship into a broader luxury line. This past fall collection consisted of knit suits, organza tops, and tailored men's suits.

The boutique is located at 3 E First Street and Bowery. Stop in and let me know what you think.

As 2008 comes to a close, I did my usual review of what I call the 'top gals with the best shoe game' of the year. I've done this for the past three years now and it is so exhausting. I go over images of celebs with the best style and who were active for that particular year. I comb through hundreds of pics, maybe 60 per celeb, to get an image of their shoes collectively. Today, I can tell you about the shoe habits and preferences of maybe 30 different celebrity women for this year. Whew! The editorial staff then goes over the picks and come to a consensus.

This year, I worked on a list for Examiner.com. The best heeled gal of 2008 is NYC's Kelly Ripa. I know, why not Kate Moss, the Olsens, or Victoria Beckham? When you take a look at celeb shoes collectively, a different picture emerges. Many celebs have a habit of wearing a particular shoe, or a particular style or designer. I think the most popular designs among celebs this year were Louboutin's Pigalle,C'est Moi shoe boots, and platform pumps (Victoria Beckham almost exclusively wears Louboutin), YSL's hidden platform pumps, and Dior's cutout sandals. 

Adversely, other celebs vary in the shoes they wear so much so that the common thread becomes the fact that all their shoes are hot. It's quite interesting. Kelly Ripa is certainly one of those celebs. She ran a High heel-a-thon in 4-inch YSL sandals for heaven's sake. Versatility and casual habits were very important in compiling the list. Everyone can wear great shoes on the red carpet but while grabbing a bite or catching a plane? Not so much.

Other celebs that made the list - Ashley Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Keira Knightley. Celebs that just missed the list - Erin Wasson, Mena Suvari, and Mary Kate Olsen.

Do view my list of 2008's best dressed heels.

Remember that awful time in fashion when trends were so out of control? This was the 80s. I look back with my hands cracked open over my eyes at the photos of gals with their hair as high and stiff as they could get them and guys rocking those awful mullets. You know a fashion trend was a bad idea when there is no chance that the trend will ever repeat itself. All has agreed. (Although some seasons, Marc Jacobs seems to teeter on the edge of this agreement.)

Specifically, remember when it was cool to wear workout gear? ...And these people never saw a minute in the gym? (This actually may have carried into the early 90s.) You might be too young to remember the 80s in this way except for photos of Madonna and Michael Jackson. I assure you that those images are the best of the 80s. Spandex must have been at its high point in sales during this time - biker shorts and sports bras were accessorized with matching hats; little skirts fell over biker shorts ... with oxfords ... and socks. Ouch.

It was so very in to show your navel. I will admit I was very into showing my navel area in those days. Now, I dare not. I can't say if it's more because I think it's in bad taste or is it because my belly is not worthy of baring. Urban Outfitters' spring collection incudes this navel baring look (pictured). These bras are, apparently, making a comeback.

So, I've been detecting the return of some disastrous trends. Some trendmakers like model Irina Lazareanu have been wearing jean shorts with sequins tops for evening. Yes, Cathy Horyn wore shorts to Calvin Klein's soiree last September but, although a fantastic fashion writer, I would hardly say that was a good idea. Someone call Mariah Carey and let her know that she can continue wearing her jean cutoffs. Many a celeb gals have been spotted in this trend for evening.

And in all this let's-make-very-casualwear-okay-for-formal-events, Alexander Wang redefines the tight trend for pre-fall by making them shorter. Or is that the biker shorts redefined and made sheer? Two looks from the pre-fall collection is pictured. Sheer biker shorts. Hmmm....

View Alexander Wang's pre-fall collection here. For more on the pre-fall collections, collectively, click here.

What say you?