Ciara dons a Gurung gown at the 2011 Costume Institute gala “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.” (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New grandmothers are usually more obsessed with the baby than their stilettos. But iconic editrix Carine Roitfeld’s first words upon holding granddaughter, Romy, in the maternity ward were: “Am I going to fall in my super high heels?” That’s according to a new documentary, “Mademoiselle C,” which profiles the former French Vogue editor. The film, by French director Fabien Constant, offers a peek behind the couture of Roitfeld’s life, including the launch of her magazine, CR Fashion Book, and her entry into grandparenthood after her daughter, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, gave birth last year. Another memorable scene from the flick, out this September, features Chanel designer Karl “The Kaiser” Lagerfeld pushing a stroller with 3-week-old baby Romy inside. (No word yet on who Romy was wearing.)
Grand Central Style
The jet set is now taking the train to Fashion Week. Grand Central Terminal will play host to at least three shows this September, including the Diesel Black Gold presentation, the Kidsrock show and the NFL fashion show. Behind the move is fashion heavyweight Fern Mallis, the former senior vice president of IMG Fashion, who’s credited with inventing Fashion Week as we know it. “I have the keys to Vanderbilt Hall,” she exclusively told Alexa. “To show off New York like this is a real opportunity.” The switch from train tracks to catwalks will highlight the grandeur of the storied train station, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Mallis has hopes of organizing more shows at GCT — anywhere from eight to 10 — next year. All aboard!
Chiang in the Air?
Is Monika Chiang going out of business? Insiders have said the designer, who launched a street-chic women’s collection in 2011 and is the girlfriend of C Wonder founder Chris Burch (who famously feuded with his ex-wife, style maven Tory Burch) may be preparing to close her Los Angeles and New York stores. Chiang has already opted not to show this season at Lincoln Center, where she’s presented the previous three seasons, and has suffered recent staff departures. “First the layoffs, now she’s not showing at Lincoln Center?” mused an insider. “That’s not a good sign.” But Chiang fans — including rapper Eve, singer Estelle, actress Naomi Watts and “Glee” star Naya Rivera — fear not. The designer insists she’s not closing shop, with Neiman Marcus set to begin carrying her wares next week, plans for an expanded shoe collection currently sold at Intermix and relaunching her website Aug. 22. “I’m skipping Lincoln Center this season as I re-examine all the new ways we connect with our customers,” the designer says.
Tag, You’re It!
Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa has started a new trend in accessories — sporting a dazzling dry-cleaning tag on your clothes so everyone knows your look is fresh. At a recent New York screening of “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” the Brazilian designer was spotted wearing his red dry-cleaning tag on the bottom of a crisp white button-down. An unsuspecting Costa modeled the look all night while posing for photographs with fashionable stars, including Rooney Mara. When a reporter asked if he realized he’d left the tag on his shirt, and whether it was a new trend, the designer laughed and playfully answered, “Yes.” You heard it here first.
Small Staff, Big Plans
What do a bartender, an artist and a fashion designer have in common? They all get by with a little help from their friends. Tia Cibani only has two employees at her eponymous fashion house, so when it came time to create a custom runway for her Frida Kahlo-inspired Fashion Week presentation Sept. 4, she turned to her favorite bartender, Brian Kaspr, and his painter wife, Payton Cosell Turner. “This adorable bartender at my neighborhood spot, Txikito, [in Chelsea] is an artist,” Cibani explained. “His wife is also an artist and her work is beautiful. They’re working on a platform for the girls to walk on, using a colorful range of spray paint and confetti, like a fiesta.” We raise an extra-dry martini (Cibani’s favorite drink from Kaspr) to these three amigos.
Prabal and Ciara Rock Out
Fashion has a new pair of BFFs. We hear R&B artist Ciara will be rocking the after-party for her buddy Prabal Gurung’s spring/summer runway show on Sept. 7. The multitalented singer, whose tall, dancer’s figure makes an ideal fashion canvas, first palled around with Gurung during the 2011 Costume Institute gala, when she accompanied the designer to the ball, wearing a textured Gurung original inspired by Alexander McQueen. The pair have since forged a close friendship and it sounds like Ciara has plans to turn his post-show bash — which comes two weeks after she performs at MTV’s Video Music Awards — into the ultimate “Body Party.”