Jacobs Receives Designer of the Year Award

New York - The man whose own latest accessory is dyed blue hair, Marc Jacobs, took home the "Designer of the Year" award at the 11th Annual ACE Awards in New York on Nov. 5, one of many people honored by the Accessories Council this year for their achievements in the world of accessories.


Jacobs, whose shoes and handbags for both his signature collection and his younger Marc by Marc Jacobs brand are highly sought after items, also designs accessories for one of the most recognizable luxury brands in the world, Louis Vuitton, which he reinvents season after season. His latest collection, shown on the runways in Paris in October, featured a collaboration with artist Richard Prince.

Actress Mandy Moore was honored as "Fashion Innovator," while supermodel and "Project Runway" producer Heidi Klum, who designed a jewelry line of her own that she will wear in upcoming episodes, received the "Fashion Influencer" award. Moore opted to wear a form-fitting black satin shirt dress, while Klum wore a black and gold brocade gown. Jessica Simpson, a presenter, wore a black and gold sheath.

Black dresses - perhaps better for highlighting one's accessories - turned out to be the prevailing statement of the evening, as fellow honoree Tory Burch, whose new line garnered the "Accessory Brand Launch" award, wore an elegant black halter gown. Presenter Helena Christensen and Lucy Liu, who accepted Valentino's lifetime achievement award on his behalf, also looked stunning in tiered dresses - Liu's, from the Valentino couture collection, featured dramatic, full ruffles and Christensen's was Grecian column-meets-flapper.

The other award winners included Macy's, Inc. (Retailer of the Year), Harper's Bazaar (Magazine of the Year), Scoop (Specialty Retailer of the Year), Bridget Foley (Marylou Luther Award for Fashion Journalism) and Nancy Gonzalez (Brand of the Year).

Lucy Liu - Style Icon

There's a school of thought that would say that TV series Ally McBeal did for office wear what John Galliano once did for a fast-dating Dior - infused it with some spunk, some flair, and some seriously sexy models to kick a once-conceived 'boring' clothing sector into the cutting edge fashion world. And nobody wore corporate-chic better than Lucy Liu's ferociously foxy Ling Wu; who sported her trouser suits, sharp shirts and spiked stilettos with some serious edge, and a whole heap of attitude.

Lucy Liu had arrived, and when the series lent her an almost instantaneous style queen status, the actress didn't disappoint. With her quirky, freckled Asian looks, amazing hair and perfectly petite figure, it's hardly surprising that Liu can make almost anything look good. She is rarely if ever seen looking anything but sleek and glamorous, developing a trademark look of grooming and sophisticated elegance. She appears to have that rare, invaluable ability to combine old-school movie star glamour with cutting edge trends, and all the top designers can't get enough clothes on that back.

One of her more scene stealing numbers was the red and black one shoulder Versace gown she wore to the 72nd academy awards, which launched the actress on almost every best-dressed-at-the-Oscars list to be seen on. The beautiful fish tailed gown was beaded in a graphic swirl design, and was set off to perfection by red snakeskin sandals, and of course Liu's own sleek, jet-black locks.
But this style jackpot was by no means a one-off for the actress who first gained public attention (from the male public anyway) playing a dangerously sexy dominatrix in the movie "Payback". It's difficult to pinpoint the best-dressed moments of a woman who never seems to be anything but. Take for example her 2005 Milan Fashion Week outfit - simple yet stunning black, knee-length Versace; accessorised modestly with amazing Bulgari earrings and teetering peeptoe black heels. Just one more example of her simplicity-with-style fashion formula that never seems to let her down.

And of course, Liu takes her stylishness across the board, appearing in some of the 'coolest' movies being made. Who could forget her in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill", and she certainly hit the blockbuster mark in "Charlie's Angels" with friends Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore. When she made a cameo as herself in the style series of our time "Sex and the City", remember how she wore the then must-have "J'adore Dior" tank top - the storyline based around her reluctance to give up her Hermes birkin…..

Yes, Lucy Liu truly has made it as a Hollywood star - no mean feat among the masses of wannabe-starlets swarming LA. How did she do it? A combination of hard work, natural talent and stunning Asian looks - all beautifully packaged with focussed determination, natural flair and killer style that has and will always set Lucy Liu apart from the pack. We can but dream.