When he’s not fighting poverty, revising safety codes, debating congestion tolls and overseeing the development of new sports stadiums, Mayor Michael Bloomberg manages to give a voice to the stylish. A longtime supporter of New York Fashion Week, Bloomberg will fittingly receive the CFDA Board of Directors’ Special Tribute at Monday night’s awards presentation. Chic Report caught up with the Mayor to chat about those red ties and a memorable fashion faux pas.

How do you feel about receiving the CFDA Board of Director’s Special Tribute?
Honored…pleased…and also a bit surprised. Who knew I was such a fashion plate?

What role does fashion play in New York?
Fashion is big business in the Big Apple. The industry employs hundreds of thousands of people and generates billions of dollars in economic activity each year. On top of the daily impact, large-scale events like Fashion Week help boost tourism and bring new business to area hotels, restaurants, and shops. We are the nation’s fashion capital–in fact, people all around the globe take their fashion cues from New York. And they should. New Yorkers are the most confident, stylish people around.

What women and men in politics, Hollywood and New York society do you think have great style?
I like people who aren’t afraid to try new things. Independence always makes for great style. That’s true in fashion, in politics, and in life. Anyone can follow a trend, but to start one, you’ve got to be bold and take risks.

How would you describe your personal style?
Not so much business-casual as business-literal. I wear a green tie on St. Patrick’s Day, red on Valentine’s Day, and blue when the Giants win the Super Bowl.

What has been your biggest fashion mistake?
It was the day I accidentally wore red socks to a parade during a Yankees playoff series against some team from Boston.

At last night’s GQ party honoring the CFDA menswear nominees, gorgeous dudes and fashion talent abounded–but where was Menswear Designer of the Year nominee Tom Ford? It seems the gentleman, whose nude cameo in a W editorial exposed a divinely Olympian physique, was out of the country. So we asked the boys: Who would win in a fight, you or Tom Ford?

Adam Rapoport: “I have a feeling that Tom works out a lot more than I do, plus he’s really driven and motivated. But I do think I could kick Thom Browne’s ass.”

Thom Browne: “I’m a stubborn Irishman, so I’d probably win.”

Paul Wilmot: “Tom Ford would kick my ass. He’s younger, he’s more handsome, he’s much richer than I am. I would bet against me so I could make some money on the deal!”

Glenn O’Brien: “Why would I fight with Tom Ford? I love Tom Ford!”

Patrik Ervell: “I have a feeling that Tom Ford would go down pretty quickly.”

Jim Nelson: “Tom Ford would kick my ass so bad I’d end up in a lame little puddle of tears.”

Tim Hamilton: “He has guns! But I would kick all of their asses, actually.”

Michael Bastian: “A physical fight? I’m a lover, not a fighter, baby.”

Alexander Wang made his way down to Uniqlo this morning to check out his collection for the store. Guests lined up outside starting at 8 am for the dresses, while VIPs shopped from 9-10. “It’s amazing, that’s just like wow, we didn’t announce it!” he said. “I mean, there were blogs and online things, but that people actually followed it means so much to me that people love the clothes so much they came here early.” The designer, having just returned from a vacation in London, left before the regular shoppers were allowed in. He had to return to work–Wang’s Spring ‘09 collection is turning out to be the focus of his summer.

Swimsuit designer Brette Sandler is one creative dynamo. The 25-year-old graduated from Parsons to launch her own thesis collection of sophisticated one-pieces, sexy bikinis and a selection of apparel to complement any stylish beach bum’s wardrobe. Sandler’s look is progressive, but not in that overly trendy way. This season we’re loving the “Diana,” a perfect triangle bikini with gold stud embellishments.
THE DETAILS: $166, www.intermixonline.com

Chic Report caught up with Sandler to chat about the life aqua-chic.

What inspired this collection?
It started with Grace Kelly and visions of her off-duty tanning activity in Côte d’Azur. We had herringbone prints and liberty florals.

Any summer must-haves?
A great pair of metallic gladiator flats, the Neutrogena spray tan and a great floral boho tunic you just throw on.

Favorite beach in the world?
Cape Town, South Africa. It’s the most pristine, pure beach ever. There is not a cloud in the sky and you are at the tippity tip of Africa.

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The Oxford Union, longtime bastion of staid conservatism, welcomed the distinctly unorthodox designer Roberto Cavalli Wednesday evening. Students may have scrapped their usual uniforms of hoodies and jeans for cocktail dresses and stilettos (textbooks? what textbooks?) but for Cavalli, the Oxford aura was plenty evident.

“My English is not Oxford English, and I only learned how to speak it because of a beautiful girl,” the designer chuckled, “but it is a dream to be here and I feel so proud of myself to be speaking with you in Oxford because I was so bad in school.” He explained overcoming a stutter, struggling in class and then, finally, finding his niche in art school. “My mother was so depressed because I was a disaster and spent most of time playing poker, so she took me to the art academy in Florence,” he said. “It was my place. I could finally show I was able to do something with my hands.”

The animated Cavalli ditched the token speaker chair and ambled about, only stopping to perch on the table’s edge. “I want to make everyone here smile,” he said. Cavalli’s been awfully busy this week: First, he spoke at the London College of Fashion, and tonight, he’ll appear at a dinner celebrating the launch of his new wine, Cavalli Selection.

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Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough founded Proenza Schouler in 2002, and their impressive CFDA record has industry veterans just a touch jealous. Last year, they unexpectedly tied Oscar de la Renta for the biggest prize of the evening, and this year, early whispers have them as the front runners for their second straight Womenswear Designer of the Year trophy.

What does this year mean?
We are pretty speechless about being nominated for the third time in the category alongside two labels we have always respected so dearly. We can hardly believe it, but we’re so proud to be included in that company.

Describe last year’s enormous honor.
It was really unexpected. We surely did not expect to win, especially when Oscar de la Renta was nominated. He is such an icon. We were really psyched about being considered in the same category with him for a second time. When they announced his name–then ours–in a tie, it was one of the most memorable moments in our careers. We will never forget standing alongside Oscar on the stage. We were speechless.

Where is the physical award?
Probably in our CEO’s office. It’s the kind of thing that impresses the “suits.”

Do you feel any pressure this year?
None at all. We never really prepare a speech or anything like that. If we win, that’s cool, if not, that’s not a problem at all either. It really is just cool to be nominated once again.

What are you plans for the big night?
Planned nights are boring.

Describe your year.
It feels like a new phase in our lives. We’ve been getting out of the city more and more and have found that being outside the city gives you much more perspective. We really are pretty nerdy and prefer to kinda just lay low. A part of the company has just been bought by the Valentino Fashion Group so all of a sudden there are business things we have to deal with. The next few years should prove interesting.

With fine weather finally arriving, the days of wine and roses in Central Park have officially commenced! Over the Memorial Day weekend, Chic Report toted this iH19 Colortunes portable player along to see if it could augment the R&R ambiance without distrubing our fellow parkettes. Success! Not only is this baby water-resistant (translation: rosé-proof), but the exterior remote control lets you shuffle through songs while your iPod remains safely inside. Plus, it comes with its own adapter and charges your iPod, too. It’s available in an assortment of vibrant colors, so pick one to suit your summer look.
THE DETAILS: $69.99, www.ihomeaudio.com

It’s hard to believe that by this time next week, we’ll know who won this year’s CFDA awards. Oh, wait–a few have already been announced! Silly us. Chic Report caught up with Dries van Noten, the divine visionary whose garments we (and Lynn Yaeger) wear religiously, on the phone from his office. Like van Noten, said office is anything but ordinary–it’s located in a massive converted factory near the old port of Antwerp, where van Noten’s desk constitutes the center of things.

What does this award mean to someone with a career as storied as yours?
I am very excited. Of course, it’s a big honor to be nominated. It’s especially very nice because it’s not only my collections that receive the award, but also the way I see fashion; the way that I execute the profession of fashion design. That, of course, makes me very happy.

Who are your friends and supporters in the industry? Are you still in touch with the Antwerp Six?
I have a lot of friends in the fashion industry. I’m not really a person who goes to Paris and New York and all the parties and things like that, so I have my relations and friends I see here in Belgium. My fellow designers, I see quite often. Most of the time, we don’t really talk about fashion; we like to discuss other elements like art and music. I still see Walter [van Bierendonck] and Ann [Demeulemeester].

Tell us about some of the defining moments of your career.
My career is already quite long. It started in ‘86. The pleasant thing and the not-so-pleasant thing is that fashion is full of surprises. You have to stay very alert.

How did you celebrate the big news?
In fact, when Diane von Furstenberg phoned me, it was very strange evening. We were in the middle of a storm here in Belgium. We had to close the shutters because I was afraid that the windows were going to fly out of the building. Connections by mobile were complicated and when she phoned, the line was very bad. It was a very strange, scary moment but the news was very good.

Before you hit the Jitney, make sure to read this lovely interview with another CFDA nominee, Michael Bastian. The awards are merely weeks away, you know. And the man sponsors a Little League team! Does it get any more adorable? Luckily, women’s wear just might be on the way…

Where were you when you found out you were a finalist?
I was at the factory in Umbria in the middle of fittings. I do them myself, and I kept hearing my phone ringing. I couldn’t stop to get it, and it kept ringing. Ten minutes later, this guy came running over from the other side of the factory and he said, “There’s this crazy lady on the phone for you.” It was Eugenia [Gonzalez Ruiz-Olloqui] from my office–she had gotten a call, too, so she tracked me down.

What was your initial response?
I was blown away.

How did you celebrate?
I was over there for two weeks, and the people I’m working with don’t understand what the CFDA means. So I did my own personal celebration with a good bottle of wine.

What will you do if you win?
Man, I’m kind of leaving that open-ended. I don’t want to jinx or plan anything, but the people I work with are really good at snapping something together.

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© Patrick McMullan (for all photos)

As promised, Chic Report ventured all the way to Austria for Vienna’s Life Ball last weekend. We just got word that the charity event exceeded its proceeds once again, raising 1.4 million euros—200,000 more than last year’s 15th anniversary extravaganza. It’s no wonder, given the extreme and insanely fun lengths founder Gery Keszler will go to raise funds for HIV and AIDS research. Last Friday, a slew of celebs, editors and chicettes were shipped over on chartered Austrian Airlines Flight OS 1088 from JFK–but many of the return attendees were not surprised that it wasn’t as raucous as the previous year’s adventure with Heatherette’s Richie Rich and coterie of club kids to run amuck. But that’s not to say it was sleepy, especially when Traver Rains launched an impromptu runway show in the wee hours…right in the middle of business class with new Gossip Girl addition and model Lydia Hearst to cheer him on. The age of swilling countless bottles of champagne is gone. Now, the chicsters gulp Red Bull, a repeat Life Ball sponsor. But Agent Provocateur’s Joe Corré (above right), who flew in from London, said the party was definitely alive and well on his leg of the trip. “Once we landed in Vienna we were greeted by a load of photographers and a red carpet,” he said.” I mean, it was just non-stop and a really great atmosphere the whole time.”

The party officially kicked off that evening at the Le Meridien hotel, where Life Ballers first donned their intergalactic costumes in honor of this year’s theme: Landing on Planet Life Ball. Amidst a sea of AP models including Markus Schenkenberg, local celebrities, and the New York contingent, guests like Terence Koh enjoyed a slew of late-night snacks including the infamous wursts loaded with everything from sauerkraut to fried onions. The delicious treats thankfully helped keep many revelers moving all night.

The following day, while La Moss’s presence proved to be (alas) just a rumor, Keszler still managed to wrangle big names including Sharon Stone, Eve, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming and Linda Evangelista. But it was Kim Cattrall (above left) who took a quick break from her whirlwind Sex and the City promotional blitzkrieg that shocked many. Not only did she show up, she addressed the international press in fluent German. “I’m very proud and pleased to be here,” she said. “This is my first Life Ball and I’m very excited. I hope it won’t be my last because we went online to see the pictures and it looks like an incredible amount of fun!” (more…)