YouTube and Maybelline have teamed up to live-stream more than 30 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runway shows.

By Josie Rubio

The looks on the runway during 2011′s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Sept. 8-15, are sure to change from previous seasons, as top designers showcase their spring 2012 collections. One fashion week trend, however, that has been picking up momentum over the past few years will be back in force: the live-streaming of runway shows. This year, YouTube and Maybelline New York have teamed up to present more than 30 shows online. The sartorial jetset can also watch on the go, with a new mobile live-streaming feature at m.youtube.com/liverunway, which offers recaps and archived shows between live streams. Some shows are streaming on other sites, so we’ve included those hyperlinks below. All times given are New York time, i.e, Eastern. Here are some highlights:

9/8, 9 a.m. Nicholas K

9/8, 10 a.m. BCBGMAXAZRIA

9/8, 11 a.m. Richard Chai

9/8 noon Cushnie et Ochs

9/8, 1 p.m. Supima

9/8, 2 p.m. Tadashi Shoji

9/8, 5 p.m. Kevork Kiledjian

9/9, 10 a.m. Peter Som

9/9, 11 a.m. Luca Luca

9/9, 2 p.m. Rebecca Taylor

9/9, 3 p.m. Costello Tagliapietra

9/9, 6 p.m. Nicole Miller

9/9, 7 p.m. Cynthia Rowley

9/10, 10 a.m. Lacoste

9/10, 11 a.m. Jill Stuart

9/10, 3 p.m. Vivienne Tam

9/10, 5 p.m. Alexander Wang

9/10, 6 p.m. Charlotte Ronson

9/10, 7 p.m. Monique Lhuillier

9/10, 8 p.m.  Suno

9/11, 11 a.m. Jeremy Laing

9/11, noon, Derek Lam

9/11, 2 p.m. Tracy Reese

9/11, 4 p.m. Diane von Furstenberg

9/11, 6 p.m. Simon Spurr

9/11, 7 p.m. Custo Barcelona

9/11, 8 p.m. Tommy Hilfiger

9/12, 10 a.m. Carolina Herrera

9/12, 11 a.m. Carlos Miele

9/12, 1 p.m. Rebecca Minkoff

9/12, 1 p.m. Ohne Titel

9/12, 6 p.m. Betsey Johnson

9/12 at 6 p.m. Maria Cornejo

9/12, 7 p.m. Perry Ellis

9/12, 7:30 p.m. Marc by Marc Jacobs (with RSVP)

9/13, 10 a.m. Badgley Mischka

9/13, 11 a.m. Vera Wang

9/13, 11 a.m. Frank Tell

9/13, 2 p.m. Hervé Léger by Max Azria

9/13, 5 p.m. Sophie Theallet

9/13, 7 p.m. Tibi

9/13, 8 p.m. Narciso Rodriguez

9/14, 1 p.m. J.Mendel

9/14, 1 p.m. Jeremy Scott

9/14, 3 p.m. Milly by Michelle Smith

9/14, 6 p.m. Anna Sui

9/14, 7 p.m. Elie Tahari

9/14, 7 p.m. Wayne

9/15, 8 p.m. Marc Jacobs (with RSVP)

VIVMag’s fashion editors will be providing their takes on the collections this week, so check out the VIV Says blog and follow us on Twitter for updates straight from the runway. And if you must have the items immediately, apply to join Moda Operandi, a members-only site that offers virtual trunk sales within 48 hours to several weeks of the runway show. Check out “Chic Clicks” in the Sept/Oct issue of VIVMag for more information and an exclusive invite to our readers! 

Naeem Khan's spring 2011 collection knocked out audiences with a dazzling mix of brights and neutrals.

By Jessica Mahler

New York Fashion Week is in full swing; it’s day five and there are still a bevy of shows that we can’t wait to see. As promised, below is part two of VIV’s insider’s guide to live-streaming shows. Log in to view the runway from your front-row seat!

• 2/15, 10 a.m. ET Badgley Mischka: The designers behind Badgley Mischka usually have brides on the brain, as wedding dresses — and red-carpet-worthy gowns — are their calling card. But their excellence in elegance always translates exquisitely to their ready-to-wear, leaving the Everywomen of the world rejoicing. Expect to fall in love again this time around.
• 2/15, 11 a.m. Vera Wang: We’re used to associating the Divine Ms. Wang with her signature romantic yet artsy take on fashion. But since her boyish, Kill Bill-inspired spring 2011 collection stunned us senseless in September, we’re unsure what to expect. Which couldn’t excite us more!
• 2/15, 2 p.m. Herve Leger: Face it: Hear the name Herve Leger and you automatically think bandage dresses — the two have gone hand in hand since the dress’s inception in the late ’80s. And though the tried-and-true figure-sculpting style — that is wearable on everyone — has left us somewhat bored in past collections, Max Azria‘s leather-and-lace update on the classic for spring 2011 has us hoping for more surprises this go-round.
• 2/15, 4 p.m. Marc by Marc Jacobs: We told you Jacobs was the king of mash-up, so his diffusion line lets mixmaster Marc break any rules he hasn’t broken before. He understands that girls just want to have fun, so this kid sister line’s laid-back attitude is always popular — and always coveted. (RSVP required.)
• 2/15, 7 p.m. Tibi: Since the brand launched in 1997, designer Amy Smilovic has been creating edgy, perfectly on-trend pieces season after season. But before crafting her spring 2011 line, Smilovic confessed that Net-a-Porter convinced her to inject more of her personal style into her designs, and what came down the runway were chic, updated takes on classics that felt much more feminine and laid back than collections of yore. Will she look to herself for inspiration again for fall? We’re dying to find out, too!
• 2/15, 8 p.m. Narciso Rodriguez: When it comes to womenswear, Rodriguez is all about femininity, minus the frills. His dresses have the tendency to be sleek, ultramodern and seriously streamlined — the toast of Tinseltown, as far as A-list clients like Sarah Jessica Parker and Rachel Weisz are concerned. We’re expecting more of his fabulousness.
• 2/16, 10 a.m. Michael Kors: Kors has made his name by basing his brand on uptown chic. Always sophisticated, MK has become a house that we can rely on to make us look effortlessly put-together. We know he’s a brilliant designer who loves a good theme, so we can’t wait to see what this season’s motif will be.
• 2/16, 11 a.m. Nanette Lepore: In Lepore’s world, there’s no such thing as being too girly. Pinks, prints, paisleys, ruffles, plaids, flowers — all are welcome, and with her boho-gypsy palette, she gives these decidedly feminine detailings a sophisticated edge. Count on anything the designer sends down the runway to be fun and flirty.
• 2/16 1 p.m. Oscar de la Renta: It feels like the Big O of the fashion world has always been the Big O; the designer apprenticed with Balenciaga in Spain and Antonio Castillo at Lanvin in Paris before branching off on his own in 1965. He consistently creates refined, feminine wares that could make even a punk-rock queen elegant.
• 2/16, 8 p.m. Proenza Schouler: The Proenza Schouler boys have a way about modernizing fashions usually associated with the uptown set by injecting youth and fun into their collections. For spring, they sent models down the runway showing a little less leg and ditched sky-high heels for plain-Jane pumps. Will prim and proper make another appearance this time around?
• 2/17, 2 p.m. Calvin Klein: The house of Calvin Klein has always made clothes that every woman wants. After he was crowned creative director in 2003, Francisco Costa has since been playing with minimalism in his designs. Once the lone ranger in a sea of excess, Costa was resplendent in all of his glory during spring 2011, when less-is-more became the ubiquitous fashion. Now that everyone has followed the leader, will he change his course?
• 2/17, 7 p.m. Naeem Khan: Khan’s dazzling dresses tend to be ornate, from the intricate detail of beading or sequins to the handmade fabrics they’re sewn to. A go-to designer for celebs like Eva Longoria and Angie Harmon, his collections always boast the “wow” factor, and we’re expecting nothing less.

For the latest updates on Fashion Week, follow VIVmag on Twitter today!

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

Vivienne Tam's spring 2011 collection featured a global vibe. To see her latest designs, check out her live-streaming show on Feb. 12.

By Jessica Mahler

Last year, we told you how much we enjoyed watching the fall 2010 runway shows online, and now we’re excited to report that a whole slew of designers are in on the trend. Below is part one of our guide to this season’s live-streaming shows. Log on for your front-row seat, and check back Monday for an updated list!

• 2/11, 6 p.m. ET Nicole Miller: It used to be that we could rely on Miller for bright prints and patterns, the designer’s signature since the house’s inception back in 1982. But after last season’s more subdued, though no doubt elegant, collection, well, we can’t wait to see what’s up her sleeve this time.
• 2/12, 11 a.m. Jill Stuart: It’s hard to believe that Stuart was once an unknown in the fashion industry, but having a few pieces of her collection placed in 1995′s Clueless seemed to do the trick. Now she styles with A-list clients like Madonna, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie in mind. We’re expecting sleek, fun and chic.
• 2/12, noon Prabal Gurung: Although this is only Gurung’s fourth showing at Fashion Week, don’t let his brief history sway your judgment: This is a man who likes to take risks in both cut and color.
• 2/12, 2 p.m. ADAM: If Adam Lippes‘ label isn’t on your radar, we’d like to introduce you to the man behind the magic. This is a designer who knows that women have curves, and that’s exactly how he cuts his cloth. Oh, and did we mention that he was once creative director at Oscar de la Renta?
• 2/12, 3 p.m. Vivienne Tam: A veritable powerhouse in her own right, Tam makes sure to nod to her Asian roots when she’s designing a collection. For spring, we took a trip with her down the Silk Road; for fall 2010 she chose the Chinese New Year as her motif. How will this season play out? We can’t wait to find out.
• 2/12, 5 p.m. Alexander Wang: Wang can do no wrong. The King of Cool (also a Parsons dropout, by the way) launched his first line in 2007, won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008, and has been on top of the world ever since. Known for his loose styles that give a just-rolled-out-of-bed feel, his clothes have been the go-to for New York’s mainstay look: all black. But since there was nary a dark hue to be seen in his spring 2011 collection, we wonder: Is it time for Manhattan to don a new uniform?
• 2/13, 10 a.m. Derek Lam: Since his humble beginnings at Michael Kors, Lam has looked to a retro-inspired minimalism to convey his vision of womenswear. And with his last two collections nodding to the American West, we have a hunch fall 2011 will have him discovering uncharted territory.
• 2/13, 1 p.m. DKNY: Donna Karan is the woman to thank for making women’s business wear chic. Office-sophisticated and always stylish, we rely on DKNY to take us from board meeting to night on the town.
• 2/13, 6 p.m. Thakoon: Thakoon Panichgul‘s spring collections are ethereal and fairy-tale-esque while his darks for fall are, well, pretty dark. But if there was one word that could describe his scope of abilities it would be whimsical. If his pre-fall work is any indication, we’re expecting simple yet dramatically elegant cuts in red, black and gray — and that’s perfectly fine with us.
• 2/13, 8 p.m. Tommy Hilfiger: A bona fide American brand, Tommy Hilfiger always had a prep-school vibe. Over the years, though, the house has found a way to transform itself into country-club chic. We can’t wait to catch a glimpse of the new American classic. (RSVP required.)
• 2/14, 10 a.m. Carolina Herrera: We’re not sure what Herrera has in store for fall 2011, but as a designer who always seems to create modern classics, she’ll be sending out yet another refined and effortlessly lovely story down the runway, we predict.
• 2/14, 1 p.m. Tracy Reese: Like any good designer, Reese has her target customer in mind when she designs. “I think about how she can look great while trends are changing so quickly,” she said at last year’s fall showing. With that in mind and with her penchant for her unabashedly girlie wares, we’re confident she won’t disappoint.
• 2/14, 2 p.m. Donna Karan: If DKNY plays little sister to the designer’s namesake label, then Donna Karan is the edgier, sexier woman of the world, the kind of lady you fall in love with at first glance. Sculpted tailoring and draped dresses have played a prominent role in her last few collections. Are we to expect some more of the same this time around? Hard to tell, but we’re sure the look-at-me-NOW factor will still be part of the equation.
• 2/14, 8 p.m. Marc Jacobs: As far as designers go, Jacobs is a heavy hitter if ever there was one. A master of the mash-up, his recent inspirations have been as varied as a time warp to the ’80s, a night out at the opera, as well as the hedonistic ’70s by way of the New York Dolls and Yves Saint Laurent. Yes, his muse seems to skip to the most of unlikely of places, but somehow Jacobs is always able to pull it off. We can’t wait to see where he takes us next. (RSVP required.)

For the latest on Fashion Week, check out our VIV Says blog and follow VIVmag on Twitter!

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

1. Avoid ‘bargain’ cashmere.
Consider cashmere apparel an investment piece, says Ingrid Johnson, professor of textile development and marketing at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, “not a flash-and-trash garment that you can pick up for next to nothing.” Expect to spend at least $200 for a V-neck or turtleneck sweater; dip much below that price, says Johnson, and you’ll be purchasing a garment that most likely was made with the shorter, coarser and less expensive fibers from the goat’s back and legs (rather than its undercoat). It may even be blended with cheaper wools.

2. Watch out for anything that might rub.
While some pilling on wool garments is natural, excessive pilling is usually caused by friction — be it a seat belt, purse strap or piece of jewelry. (Tip: Wear a choker and carry a short-handled purse instead of a shoulder bag.)

3. Avoid fragrance.
Fragrance is likely to attract moths and stain the fibers, so make sure your deodorant and body lotion are dry before pulling on the sweater, and consider skipping perfume altogether.

4. Use a plastic bag for storage.
Store cashmere fashions, folded, in the plastic bags in which they were shipped (ask for these when you make your purchase) or in other plastic bags that aren’t airtight. Cashmere fibers need to breathe.

5. Wash properly.
Hand launder cashmere with a gentle cleanser, such as a mild dish cleaner, in tepid water. (Warmer temperatures cause the fibers to lock up, becoming almost matted.) Soak for five minutes, then rinse, remembering to squish — not squeeze — the sweater to let the suds run off. Finally, roll the sweater in a towel to blot extra moisture and lay flat on a mesh drying rack, carefully “blocking” it into shape. Once completely dry, say the experts at KnitAlteration.com, the sweater can be tumbled in a dryer — air fluff, with no heat — to make the fibers “bloom.” Place the sweater in a lingerie bag or a pillowcase, giving it plenty of room to bounce around in the dryer.

6. Make necessary repairs.
If your sweater is suffering from a few loose threads, you can pull those through to the inside with a very fine crochet hook or a large sewing needle. Small holes can be patched with careful reweaving. (Yes, that’s what those packets of extra yarn are for!)

For repairs beyond the above, you’ll need to seek professional help. The fees charged by the online service KnitAlteration.com, for example, are typical: between $10 and $20 to reknit tiny holes and snags; $20-$45 to repair a moth hole the size of a pea. For a sweater that’s the cashmere equivalent of Swiss cheese, however, the cost of those mending jobs can easily outstrip the original purchase price.

7. If it’s a goner, make it into a scarf.
Still not ready to say sayonara to your distressed sweater? “Put it over your shoulders and wrap it around your neck like a scarf,” suggests Johnson. “You’ll look very chic.” — Shelley Levitt

Camilla Thorsson with American Ballet Theatre dancers Katie Williams, Isadora Loyola and Jessica Saund.

By Gabrielle Gayagoy

VIVmag’s creative team partnered with the New York City-based American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for this issue’s interactive style feature, “Director’s Cut.” The 14-page spread gives readers front-row seats to A Chorus Line-meets-Fame narrative, complete with video footage of ABT’s talent dancing at mock tryouts and rehearsals — and looking exquisite in unique designer samples!

“We decided to call on the American Ballet Theatre because we wanted to be multidimensional and have a lot of interaction and movement,” says Kristina Coleman, VIV’s fashion and beauty director. To act the role of the director in the story, Coleman cast Camilla Thorsson of Ford Models. “She’s not only a gorgeous, stunning model, but she also was able to play the part,” Coleman says.

Wearing sophisticated pieces from designers such as Calvin Klein, Chanel and Monique Lhuillier, Thorsson modeled alongside ABT dancers Isadora Loyola, Jessica Saund and Katie Williams, who donned whimsical gowns by Vera Wang and strapless dresses by Naeem Khan.

“I still cannot get over how beautiful the dresses were,” Saund told us. “It was nice to be a able to participate in both a photo shoot as well as a short movie. The whole experience was so glamorous.”

To see more of American Ballet Theatre this fall, check out Three World Premieres from choreographers Benjamin Millepied, Aszure Barton and Alexei Ratmansky at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, Oct. 2–4. The premieres will be performed along with encores of Clark Tippet’s Some Assembly Required and Jerome Robbins’ Other Dances at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City Oct. 7–10. For tickets and more information, go to abt.org.

Want more fall fashion? Read VIVmag‘s exclusive interview with model Beverly Johnson and take the style quiz in the September/October issue.

Photo credit: Gail Hadani

"Loving what you do is the secret to happiness," Kirsebom says. "It gives you energy at work."

By Gabrielle Gayagoy

Discovered when she was just 13 years old in Stockholm, Sweden, by Ford Models co-founder Eileen Ford, supermodel Vendela Kirsebom has spent more than two decades gracing the covers of countless magazines, including Esquire and Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, and modeling for brands such as Almay, Elizabeth Arden and Victoria’s Secret. Now, at age 42, the 5-foot-8-inch beauty looks as stunning as ever — and she feels better than ever too.

“I’m in a good place in my life,” Kirsebom says. “And I think the secret really is to love what you do.”

Bouncing Back
Kirsebom’s passion for her work helped her stay grounded during what was perhaps the toughest period of her life. Having split from her husband of 11 years in 2007, Kirsebom says of that time, “I wasn’t really sure how I would deal with it.” After juggling questions of what would be best for her two daughters, now 11 and 9, Kirsebom reconciled herself to remaining in Oslo, Norway, so that her children could be close to both parents. During this time, Kirsebom was steeped in her role as host of both Norway’s Next Top Model and Sweden’s Next Top Model, the Scandinavian spinoffs of America’s Next Top Model.

“It was a good thing for me to start working where I actually live instead of always traveling,” says Kirsebom, who now puts her vast experience (which includes writing, acting and jewelry design) to use mentoring the shows’ contestants.

Over time, Kirsebom has created a new life for herself, and now she even has a steady beau. “I have a new boyfriend who’s been in my life for over a year,” she says. “One of the reasons I think we hooked up is because of food. He’s a great cook.”

Taking Care of Herself
Food fanaticism is a prerequisite for members of Kirsebom’s inner circle. She says she loves swapping recipes and preparing meals from scratch using fresh ingredients. “Right now, I’m on an Indian trip. For Easter, we made a really great lamb korma, and then we made a chicken that was marinated in yogurt and spices for 24 hours. You could eat it with a spoon!”

Kirsebom’s repertoire also includes homemade meatballs (Swedish, of course) and Middle Eastern favorites like hummus. “I got my interest in cooking from my mom and also my grandmother. Now my daughters are very interested too. They like making cakes and desserts.”

To maintain her svelte figure in spite of her kitchen adventures, Kirsebom says she sticks with regular meal times — 6:30 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. She also runs, practices yoga and goes horseback riding with her girls. “With work and with kids, I don’t have time to exercise as much as I used to, but I try to do it three times a week. Sometimes it’s more like twice.”

Kirsebom has a decidedly European attitude when it comes to aging — she says she’s happy with her natural look and not fearful about getting older. But, she adds, “I don’t mind plastic surgery on others. People have to do whatever they feel comfortable with, as long as it’s something you choose and it’s not a husband or somebody else who’s choosing for you.”

Model Mom
Empowering women to call their own shots is an issue that’s important to Kirsebom. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the past 13 years, she’s traveled to places such as Bangladesh, Bolivia and India to help raise awareness about girls’ education. “After I had my own children, the issue became even more important to me,” Kirsebom says. “If you can’t read and you can’t write, you’re so handicapped with everything.”

As a mom who cares deeply about education, loves to whip up home-cooked meals for her children and manages a successful career that continues to evolve, Kirsebom certainly deserves a happy Mother’s Day. And we can’t think of a more perfect person for VIVmag‘s May/June cover!

Click here for more on Vendela’s favorites.

Credits
Photography: Ondrea Barbe
Model: Vendela/Ford Models
Styling: Kristina Ferrante Coleman
Hair: Kevin Woon at Woon Salon/Jed Root Inc.
Makeup: Susan Giordano for giordanobeauty.com/Kramer+Kramer
Clothing: Monique Lhuillier cocktail dress; Vera Wang necklace; Olivia Morris for Barbara Tfank high-heel sandals

Vendela Kirsebom keeps her skin looking luminous with Secrets de Sothys face cream.

VIVmag‘s May/June cover model shares her personal picks for stressing less and staying gorgeous. Her favorites:

BOOK
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Knopf, 2008)
“Larsson is an amazing Swedish writer who died of a heart attack when he was 50. His books have sold worldwide and you can’t put them down. You start reading it and it’s like you can’t eat, you can’t drink, you can’t do anything: You just have to read.”

FACE CREAM
Secrets de Sothys Global Anti-Age Destressing Cream
“I started using this when I turned 35 — it’s for older skin. It’s definitely worth finding a good cream and not doing what I sometimes do, which is buy something because it’s in a beautiful jar. You have to get samples and test what works for you.”

PICK-ME-UP
Cappuccino with whole milk
“I love my espresso in the morning with whole milk — I make the foam and everything. I don’t like it with skim. For me, real stuff is the best.”

STRESS RELIEVER
IKEA candles
“I love candles. Sometimes I burn a lot of them, so it’s better to buy cheaper ones.”

HAND CREAM
Eau Thermale Avène Hand Cream with Cold Cream
“It’s a French brand you can actually buy in the pharmacy. It’s really good and I think they have a lot of great products, including sunblock for the face.”

Click here to check out Kirsebom’s interactive fashion spread in the May/June issue!

Credits
Photography: Ondrea Barbe
Model: Vendela/Ford Models
Styling: Kristina Ferrante Coleman
Hair: Kevin Woon at Woon Salon/Jed Root Inc.
Makeup: Susan Giordano for giordanobeauty.com/Kramer+Kramer
Clothing: BCBGMAXAZRIA dress

Fit. The best method is to have someone measure for you. Make sure your arms are relaxed at your side. “We suggest women first measure the circumference of their torso from the top of the rib cage with a tape measure,” explains Martha Bailey product line manager for bras at Bothell, WA-based Moving Comfort. “The tape should be snug but not tight”.

Add five inches and round up to the nearest even number for your band size. Next, measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust.  Finally, subtract your band size from your bust measurement to determine your cup size.

Support. Every sports bra needs adequate support so that you can feel secure when you move in all directions — up and down or side to side. There are two ways that sports bras keep breasts in place: compression and encapsulation.  Compression bras are more popular and press the breasts against the body, while encapsulation bras have molded cups that support each breast individually. Some bras, like Moving Comfort’s “Fiona” ($44 athleta.com) and Enell ($56 enell.com), combine compression and encapsulation for extra support (for sizes C-DD and D-DD, respectively). 

“Most women think if it holds the chest in tight, it’s fine,” says D’Lynda Fischer, cyclist and owner of sporteve, a Culver City, CA-based women’s athletic boutique. “That is simply not true. The right fit sports bra is directly related to the activity it will be used for. If you are  running, jump up and down, or run around the store, if it is for your weekly yoga class, get into downward-facing dog.”

Comfort. Quality is key to a comfortable bra. Check the fabric, bindings, elastics, hooks and eyes for imperfections, and be sure that nothing feels too loose or too tight on your body. “Make sure the band is not bunching up or if spilling out in back,” says Fischer. “You don’t want it too snug, though. You want some flexibility.” Move your arms and rotate your body to mimic what you will be doing in the bra; if you feel any discomfort, don’t buy it.

Moisture Management. Choose a bra with good ventilation for added breathability and quick drying. “Staying dry helps to reduce the risk of friction between the bra and skin which can cause chafing,” says Bailey. Look for sports bras with soft mesh or other moisture-wicking performance fabrics.