Some fave looks of mine from Style Fashion Week — definitely fun to look back & reflect!
Select photos by Adam Lein
Malan Breton
Anthony Rubio Couture
Bradelis
House of Perna
Nancy Vuu
Nina Gleyzer
Raul Penaranda
David Tupaz
PopImpresska
Just Drew
Janay Deann
Farah Angasana
The Art Institute fashion show is always a delight of my NYFW schedule. It’s great to see such great up and coming talent in the fashion industry. Here was this season’s lineup —
Bahareh Memarian — Art Inst. of Vancouver
Nhi Nguyen — Art Inst. of Houston
Stephanie Castanon — Miami International Univ. of Art & Design
David Marquise Seward — Art Inst. of Philadelphia
Alejandra Insunsa — Art Inst. of Phoenix
Zenia De Sousa — Miami International University of Art & Design
Sebastian Cubides — Miami International Univ. of Art & Design
Tatiana Cochagne — Art Inst. of Ft. Lauderdale
Kimberly Richardson — Art Inst. of NYC
German Madrigal — Art Institute of Portland
Altenor Leveille — Art Inst. of NYC — Djoone’s Altenor & Christopher Leveille
Lavan Chxeidze — Art Inst. of NYC
Show Credits
Highlights from Art Hearts Fashion — a leading platform for designers and artists to showcase their collections in a contemporary fashion week setting.
Rocky Gathercole
The MIMI Tran® brand empowers today’s woman by producing apparel in contemporary styles designed to enhance her beauty and celebrate her femininity.
Zvonko Markovic Couture
Charles & Ron
Charles & Ron is a contemporary lifestyle brand, high-end wearable clothing and bags with a distinct Mediterranean flair and a dedication to superior quality.
Walter Mendez
Walter Mendez is one of LA’s next top designers, with an eye for texture, silhouettes, and timeless style.
Gregorio Sanchez
Mister Triple X
Pineda Covalin
Pineda Covalin represents the transmutation of ancient cultural expressions that re-emerge to modern life. It is valuable testimony of our popular culture reflected in the mirror of the world.
Shaco Couture
Chaz Aracil
Chaz Aracil begins to lead the world into his own, constructing a visceral bond with fine art and interactive modes of experience that is possible through precise attention to details and exquisite handwork in each piece.
Marina Micanovic
Hallie Sara
Adolfo Sanchez
Catch Michelle
Lulu et Gigi
Josefa de Silva
Bata Spasojevic
Mr. Decurtis
Fumo Bespoke
FuMo brings together the world of traditional Neapolitan tailoring and the influences of high-end fashion.
House of Byfield
Dunyah
Altaf Maaneshia
Wilfredo Gerardo
(Cute Like Mad)
Indie Designers showcased their Fall/Winter 2016 collections at the Nolcha Shows during NYFW, at Artbeam, featuring 11 runway shows.
Cute Like Mad
The day kicked off with the “Ones To Watch” show at 11am spotlighting emerging brands including Vitruvius, Cute Like Mad, Planet Zero Motorsports, Fine Art of Fashion, and Minan Wong.
(Cute Like Mad)
Both Cute Like Mad and Minan Wong are sustainable brands that are manufactured in NYC and the U.S. respectively. Cute Like Mad’s vision is all about creating unique styles that empower the wearer with confidence. The brand’s signature style is relaxed luxury with an injection of rock ‘n’ roll — tough as nails and yet refined.
With Minan Wong, here is what she has to say about her Vision — “When I decided to make my own collection, I brought my personal journey into the details. When I design, I get a surge of energy. I love clothing that exudes a vibrant, youthful aura and can support the strength of a woman. The crisp touch of a brand new dress. The exhilarating breath you take before meeting your dream client. The strut that begins when you catch a reflection of yourself in the window, rocking that jacket. This is MINAN WONG.”
Vitruvius and Fine Art of Fashion showcased various works by fashion design students from Vancouver and Stevenson University in Maryland—giving them a platform to jump-start their careers. Vitruvius’ collection collection is named ‘I am Astronaut’, inspired by the news of the discovery of an earth-like planet. The students have used their imaginations to create garments inspired by aliens, planets, moons, and gravity.
With Fine Art of Fashion, the students designed their looks based on a variety of inspirations. The juniors were assigned a theme, Fine Art of Fashion, and each student chose an artist or art movement as a rich source of inspiration for their collection. Student, Benish Masih was inspired by the Qajar Art Movement, Erin Boggs used Street Art as inspiration, Venus Khosravani drew her inspiration from Michaelangelo, Sarantos Papavasilakis was inspired by Roy Lichtenstein, Tatsiana Toustik by Andy Warhol, and Tearsa Thomas’ inspiration came from Magical Realism.
The seniors each designed a five-piece collection based on their inspiration of choice. Amber Lloyd was inspired by the contorted shapes of the deciduous forest in the winter,Sherese Mclean designed a Japanese inspired collection, Janic’e Sethman was inspired by the emotion of growth and development, and Jasmine Ward’s inspiration came from spring time in Paris.
PlanetZero Motorsports, whom I recall from last Nolcha fashion season, was back this go-round, showcasing their vision, which is to blend high fashion with motorcycle apparel and to bend the line between safety and Haute Couture. The mission of PZM is to assure that everyone who participates in motorsports, consistently wear the apparel needed to for maximum protection.
The 1pm solo show featured Chinese brand Soufflesong, designed by Fan Shumin and inspired by traditional Chinese Lolita fashion, mixing victorian styles with medieval times. Made up of three collections named Neverland, Girls’ Dream of Hana and Roses Valley, the brands vision is to create high-end fashion which represents vintage and Regal styles of Lolita Fashion.
The Neverland Collection stands for Gothic Lolita and traditional Chinese Lolita style. Made up of a dark nature and melancholy style with totems of crossbones, roses, thorns, angels, demons and more the Neverland collection contains a rock and roll influence. The Neverland collection is a fierce new style that is completely different from other Lolita collections. The Neverland collection successfully combines the foundational outfits of traditional Chinese Lolita style with Cheongsams.
The Girls’ dream of Hana collection is inspired by Sweet Lolita and Country Lolita. The Girls’ dream of Hana designs are pink, pastel blue, with light and soft color to augmented effect of aesthetics. The printings on bustles are fresh flowers and horticulture sceneries. Girls’ dream of Hana vision is to create Victorian styled fashion, Baroco style, and Rococo style. Girl’s Dream of Hana also presents more mature design concepts that use flowers as a main theme in heavy but soft colors combined with slender patterns.
Roses Valley vision is to create a high-end collection that represents vintage and royal styles of Lolita Fashion. This collection is affordable luxury derived from the dresses of French palaces, with inspiration derived from the Medieval Century of Europe, showing brilliant colors, mysterious, and religious belief in stories created on bustles. By stamping palace stories on the bustles and changing the leg-of mutton sleeves into puff sleeves, Roses Valley retrenches the intricacy of palace dresses into compendious Lolita dresses.
The 3pm solo show featured newcomer Rohitava Banerjee, a 19 year old New Yorker making his NYFW debut. His work reflects his eternal love for history, drawing parallels between the past and today’s contemporary world. The first collection wa sinspired by Greece: both it’s mythical past and the tumultuous economic times of the present.
The main runway show at 6pm, spotlighting three ready-to-wear brands: Intrepid byAO’C, Acid NYC, and All Comes From Nothing. Intrepid by AO’C, designed by Aerin O’Connell, presented a hybrid of minimalism and luxury womenswear.
Acid NYC, made by husband & wife superhero design team Evelyn Luna and Scott Chester, introduced pieces using Thermaltech—a steel mesh inserted into their garments that absorbs heat to warm the body.
All Comes From Nothing, founded in 2014 by Eva Yiwei Xu, debuted an art-inspired contemporary collection.
The evening closed with a solo show by Di Yusupoff, a collection by Eastern European born Sabina Yusupova, who is now based in Brooklyn and designs contemporary ready-to-wear and formal gowns.
Official Sponsors of the Nolcha Shows included presenting sponsor Neogrid, along with Citi Bank, Ecru New York, DXV by American Standard, Thermaltech, Don Q Rum and Regulus.
Naeem Khan
The F/W 16 collection for Naeem Khan was full of Khaneurisms, but certainly took a new elevated, extremely elegant direction. What was so important in this change — great use of color and prints. I also think use of mixed media played an important role.
I really enjoyed seeing a collection full of some great, classic eveningwear and cocktail attire, but no show would be complete without some stunning showstoppers as well. This collection was certainly not lacking in shimmer & shine! I wouldn’t be surprised if with future red carpets of 2016 or even early 2017 that we could see some of these looks!
Georgine
The Georgine F/W 16 collection was an eclectic mix, blended uptown allure meets nerd chic. Fur coats, statement eyewear and more made significant appearances in this collection. Ultrafeminine dresses were worked in rich devore velvets. Designer Georgine Ratelband did a superb job here.
I thought this collection was very dynamic; it had a lot to offer. There was this striking balance between soft and hard. There was a fun, flirty, girly element, then a chic, fashionista vibe, but finally, a hard-core, darker, high fashion vision. There were definitely some standout looks here!
Credits — Production, Press, & Casting – MAO PR; Makeup — Gordon Espinet with MAC; Hair — Design by Moroccanoil Global Ambassador Antonio Corral Calero; Music — Laurent Vacher; Fur — Jonevon Furs; Shoes — Palter DeLiso & Lori Silverman; Nails — Patricia Yankee for Patricia Nail Lacquers; Jewelry — Spallanzani; Sunglasses — Moscot
Adrienne Landau
For the first time since the inception of her renowned career, Adrienne Landau will introduce a unisex accessories line as well as creating both a men’s and women’s ready to wear line to go with her signature fur collection. The F/W 16 collection is also a departure from the expected with Landau citing inspiration from the diverse New York City urban culture and how she sees people wearing her luxury collection in real life.
Adrienne Landau started her career in the arts as a painter in New York City. For her namesake fur collection, she is known for her glamorous ease, use of color, and the juxtaposition of materials.
The Adrienne Landau collection is carried in the world’s most exclusive boutiques and department stores, and continuously worn by celebrities and featured in the top fashion publications. Known for versatile pieces that seamlessly transition from day to evening, Adrienne Landau has become the go-to designer for the world’s most fashionable and influential women such as Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Palermo, Lady Gaga, Joan Smalls, Kendall Jenner, Madonna and more.
Credits: Photography — Andres Hofweber Photography; PR — Mao PR
Xuly Bet
The Fall/Winter 2016 collection for Xuly Bet was not only momentous artistically, but historically, as it was the first all-black fashion show in all of NYFW history. Inspired by designer Lamine Badian Kouyaté’s West African roots, each piece was a new, mosaic-like mixing of culture and fashion.
It was clear within the first few ensembles that the fearless and effortless clash of pattern and fabric we saw with Lamine’s previous collections resurfaced as a key feature of this recent collection. Highly unique, each outfit had a strong voice emblazoned with neon, punctuated by striking high heels.
Every ensemble was tied together with statement tights. The tights were made of a disco-pant shiny material and ranged from a glittery emerald with black swirls and a bright pink zebra print to metallic silver.
The striking hue of each outfit was the central theme throughout the collection. The collection offered variety, ranging from extravagant carmine fur vests paired with rich gold jumpsuits, to casual oversized sports jersey jackets.
There were indeed some stunning looks at the 2016 Oscars. Here are my top picks from the evening’s red carpet!
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer radiates in this lacy black Christian Dior Couture gown. Other look details include —
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy looks sensational in this crimson lace Marchesa gown. I love that she is brimming with such beauty and this look is certainly eye-catching. Full look details —
Other beauty look details —
TRESemme Beauty-Full Volume Mousse and TRESemme Beauty-Full Volume Hair Maximizer (each $4.99) Mousse is back with a vengeance this season, but this isn’t the stuff of your worst middle school nightmares. It’s light and airy, and paired with volumizing cream (hairstylist Christian Wood applied it only to the ends of Teigen’s hair) it creates the just-right amount of hold for a braid or updo.
Makeup artist Mary Phillips used the Lorac Unzipped Palette—the lighter colors in it for lift and highlighting, and the darker colors for depth and pop. In-between eyelash hairs, Phillips applied Lorac Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner in Black to create a thicker, bolder lash line without the heaviness of a full line sitting on top. She then used Lorac Front of the Line Pro Eye Pencil in Bronze and topped it off with Lorac Pro Mascara.
Isla Fisher
This Marchesa gown is nothing short of a work of art. Isla looks beautiful. Her other look details are inclusive of —
Saoirse Ronan
This is a great color, not only for Saorise, but also for the red carpet. This custom Calvin Klein Collection gown is simply radiant. The rest of her look details include —
Other beauty look details —
John Frieda Luxurious Volume Perfectly Full Mousse ($5.99) This formula in particular is great for volume, if you couldn’t tell from the crazy lift hairstylist Adir Abergel gave Ronan’s hair after letting it air-dry with the product in, and then using a round brush and hair dryer to add movement.
Makeup artist Mai Quynh started by applying Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Mysterio from lashline to crease. She then layered Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Tisse Smoky on top (specifically applying the gray shadow all over the lower lid) and the black shade along the lashline and into the crease. She then smudged gray shadow along the lower lashline and rimmed the eyes with Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Feuilles. To finish, she added two coats of Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Noir.
Anna-Marie Carpendale
Not sure of the look details for Anna Marie, but I do love this sparkly deep V-neck gown, gorgeous!
Sofia Vergara
Sofia is the epitome of glamour and beauty in this strapless, flowing navy Marchesa gown, complete with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. Huge kudos to her glam team as well —
Cate Blanchett
This mint green Armani Prive looks sensational on Cate. It is adorned with Swarovski crystal & feathers. She added some extra sparkle with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. And for a pre-beauty regime, she applied a facial treatment courtesy of SK-II.
Dorith Mous
Dorith appeared as if she was straight out of a fairy tale book, dazzling in this black Dennis Diem gown. Other look details were as follows —
Naomi Watts
I’m familiar with this Armani print, but I really enjoyed seeing it in a different silhouette. Naomi for sure rocked the look! Her other look details included —
Diane Mizota
Diane looked beautiful, but also very sexy in this sparkly Thai Nguyen look. Her other look details were —
Tracey Edmonds
Tracey looked so lovely in this pearl adorned ivory fitted gown by Lorena Sarbu. Other look details —
Tina Fey
Tina went the minimalist route, but did so very well by picking this extraordinary color, royal purple. So her Atelier Versace look was an A+ in my book. And her statement-making necklace was courtesy of Bulgari.
Sylvester Stallone & Jennifer Flavin
No Best Dressed list is complete without a dynamic duo and one of my picks, Sylvester and his gorgeous bride Jennifer. They are killing it in their black ensembles, both courtesy of Saint Laurent.
Tom Hardy & Charlotte Riley
Sam Smith
Sam was quite dapper in his classic black tuxe from Dunhill. Other look details included —
Ryan Seacrest
And last, but certainly not least, Mr. Ryan Seacrest looking quite handsome in his very own line, Ryan Seacrest Distinction.
Libertine
Maximalism and going political was on full display at Libertine as Johnson Hartig sent out a vibrant and tactile fall collection filled with great, always dynamic outerwear.
He used embroidery and crystal embellishments aplenty — from kitschy cigarette butts to surrealist patterns — on everything from women’s coats and dresses to men’s sweatshirts.
The riot of pattern and color culminated with the designer sending out a protest line of models holding signs making political statements — from “Joint the Revolution” to ” Bernie 4 Eva.”
Laurel DeWitt
For Laurel Dewitt’s F/W 2016 collection, she continued to push the envelope into the stratosphere. Self taught in the field of metal manipulation, Laurel weaves a variety of textures, fabrics and color to create visually stunning wearable art. This season, she introduced new materials including denim, leather, and knits. When incorporated with her traditional chain dresses and chain webbing garments, the results are beyond breathtaking and beautiful.
Supple, butter-soft leather and denim, which she painstakingly distresses by hand, are intertwined with metal chains, dangles, and baubles that both enthrall and captivate.The Goddess Biker vibe that she has created this season is not softened by layers of taffata or velvet. But rather, it is achieved by constructing hundred of appliqued metal flowers. Hand-cut, hand-molded, and hand-inked roses are created from sheets of metal adding vibrant color and elegance to these stunning creations.
Credits — Women’s shoes by Mahna Mahna NYC; Men’s Shoes by Timberland; Handbags from Blackbird Dillinger; Jeans by Edwin Jeans, E.N.D. Jeans; Hosiery from Nude Barre; Fabric from Diana Fabrics; Leather from Dragana of Fargo Lami Leathers; Masks by Designs by DTM; Production — Sire Leo Lamar-Becker; Creative Direction — LSC Styling for 4Season Style Management; Stylist — Cappie Pondexter for 4Season Style Management; Front of House — Pervis Ross PR; Event Production — Vlad Francois & Yvette Rollins for YJR Productions; Nails/Jewelry — Tracylee, sponsored by Swarovski; Makeup — Kelly Thompson for Kryolan; Hair — Brian Hawkins, sponsored by Kevin Murphy; Desserts — BCakeNY; Music — DJ Runna; Photography — Around Digital Media;
Additional Thanks to — Bello’s NYC; Perfect365; Major Models; APM Models; Hello Models; Pergola NYC
Vivienne Tam
The collection is inspired by a timeless cultural dreamland that is a mélange of influences from different cultures spanning the Chinese Western frontier to Central Asia and the Caucuses, along the new economic and cultural trade route comprising the modern day ‘Silk Road’. Drawing upon indigenous cultures from Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, all the way to Turkey and Russia, this culture-bridging approach makes for a harmonious mosaic that is the main theme of the collection. Vivienne Tam’s collection features patterns and patchwork derived from traditional talismans – from protective amulets expressing a mother’s love symbolized by triangles but contemporized on techno-mesh, to caroqs with evil eye patchwork made from recycled fabric, to embroidered dowry suzanis and even a nod to American quilts.
The collection embodies a contemporary contextualization of traditional shapes that are characteristic of various cultures, expressed in relaxed silhouettes, jacquard rendered capes, robe-like coats, leather-trimmed coats, long tunics over striped oversized trousers, gaucho pants and dropped shoulders. The palette is a rich, earth toned one featuring deep burgundies, siennas, reds and greens, as well as deep blacks and burnished pewter and bronze metallics.
Credits: Footwear — Joy & Peace runway collaboration
Runa Ray — Subtle Teachings of Origami
We are constantly evolving and transforming into what we would like to be. Evolution is thus a natural process. It is fascinating by the way a plain piece of paper can be folded and unfolded until it becomes its purpose. We are born blank canvases onto which we decide to write the chapters of our life. We continue to fold and unfold till we either complete ourselves or remain a mystery. The similar principle lies in the art of making clothes. Using Origami and its techniques to create clothing, the process is very similar to what we do with our lives, I have either completed the product following all the steps diligently, made a start using basic folds, or completely arrested the development halfway through all the stages of folding.
Come Evolve with Runa Ray for F/W 16.
The collection is made using unprocessed silk, Silk Jute and a raw mix of cotton and silk yarn. All the fabrics are handloom woven.
SHOW CREDITS: Styling & Set Design by Kaylee Boyer, Casting by Julia Samersova, Hair by Jorge Luis using PRIVE PRODUCTS, Makeup by Michelle Webb with AOFM Pro Team, Nails by Rose Velez-Miggins/Doorbella, Production & PR by EB Consults
Leanne Marshall
Typical to Leanne Marshall fashion, her couture F/W 16 runway show was unveiled in a color palette story — black to mixtures of bronze & tan, mix of maroon and buttercream yellow, and lastly with silver & grey.
Other Leanne signatures at play were each breathtaking look being ethereal, crafted with sheer effects and flowing, draped fabrics.
The Aveda team was back in action for the beauty regime — Janell Geason for makeup & Jon Reyman for hair.
Tome
It’s all about confidence, boldness and strength,” said Ramon Martin backstage at the Tome runway show. The designer and his colleague, Ryan Lobo, were inspired by the independence and power of feminist artists Barbara Kruger and Mona Hatoum for their fall collection. Oversize, sometimes exaggerated, silhouettes gave a strong attitude to key looks of the collection.
The duo introduced a romantic touch via the ruffles, which was used to embellish a range of pieces. In keeping with the label’s sustainable approach, up-cycled denim was reworked for patchwork pants and skirts with a cool, vintage-like look, while shirts from the brand’s old stocks were revamped and incorporated in the lineup.
Pedram & Rosenthal Tee
iFashion Network and CAAFD put together a joint sponsored show part of the series of the I’MPOSSIBLE Challenge. The February 14th show drew in a fairly large crowd resulting in standing room only. The room was comprised of international press, models, domestic editors, photographers, VIP’s and fans. The two featured designers at this show: Pedram Karimi and Rosenthal Tee, left the crowd fascinated and awed by their independent unique collections.
The show was closed by the sophisticated feminine designs of Rosenthal Tee. Her pieces were a fantastic contrast to Pedram’s, featuring bright colors and sparkling materials. Where Pedram’s designs were futuristic, Rosenthal’s designs were classic, but with a modern twist.
Rosenthal Tee, based out of the Philippines, takes immense pride in perfectly melding the contours of landscapes, the threads of culture, and the patterns of architecture from vibrant Manila and bustling London, two locations extremely important to her. Rosenthal is known for her luxury readytowear in the Philippines, where it is a bestseller, and also for her works that have adorned countless Filipino celebrities. Her style is a mix of youthful creativity combined with a top of the line fashion education earned in the London campus of Istituto Marangoni, where she earned her Masters Fashion Design Womenswear with distinction
And of course then opening the show, Pedram Karimi is based out of Montreal, and showcases an entirely unique style, creating his own brand of genderless clothing. He is known for focusing on structural forms and progressive silhouettes in luxury fabrications, something most people have never seen before. Gritty, sentimental, physical and sophisticated are words often associated with Pedram and his works. He gained his insight into the fashion world at the London College of Fashion, before moving to Canada and attending the International LaSalle College. His gritty and physical designs were stark in their colors; black, whites and greys were virtually all that were on display.
iFashion Network is an online portal for everything new and groundbreaking in fashion. It is a global fashion hub, providing articles on designers, events, menswear, women’s wear, shopping, trends, and all the behind the scenes info you could ever want, delivered by unique personalities who know the fashion world inside and out. iFashion Network also boasts several industry leading original fashion-focused internet television shows.
CAAFD stands for the Council of Aspiring American Fashion Designers. CAAFD is a non-profit organization founded through a collaborative effort by a few key pioneers in the fashion industry with the ambitious goal of backing designers who aspire to do business in the United States. CAAFD educates, promotes and empowers aspiring designers and fashion professionals in gaining a foothold in the fashion business, giving them every opportunity to become the renowned designer they yearn to be.
Lie Sangbong
Lie Sang Bong is one of Korea’s preeminent fashion designers, a master craftsman and artist who is internationally recognized for his architectural collections that celebrate and enhance the body. Since founding his eponymous brand, LIE SANGBONG, in 1985 Mr. Lie continues to blend traditional influences and innovative techniques, allowing his work to resonate with audiences around the world.
“One good thing about being a fashion designer is that you can live in different ages, combine even oppositional ideas and techniques to create something that is both contemporary and useful, ” says Mr. Lie. Believing that fashion is where art and industry converge, he combines diverse influences including: Korean poetry, calligraphy and architecture, Cubism, Bauhaus design, 1930’s Film Noir heroines, and the natural world. Garment construction is approached from an architectural perspective; silhouettes are built out from Bauhaus-influenced geometric shapes. Mr. Lie also produces unique ‘tech’ fabrics for each of his collections. Intricate techniques, like laser cutting, embroidery and digital printing, are applied to natural fabrics, used alone and in combination with one another.
LIE SANGBONG continues to receive critical acclaim and has been featured in publications including: Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, The New York Times, Le Figaro, The Telegraph, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Mr. Lie has dressed notable women such as Korea’s First Lady, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Rosario Dawson, Kelly Rowland, and Juliette Binoche. An influential artistic and cultural figure in Korea, he currently acts as the president of CFDK (Council of Fashion Designers of KOREA) and a cultural Ambassador for the City of Seoul.
Michele Helene
Easy meets sexy and goes global. That’s the concept behind Michelle Helene, a new brand about to become every woman’s favorite line. The designer’s sculptural, yet classic pieces tell a tale of finding your inner self, while exploring the world at large. It’s not about wearing a costume; it’s about realizing who you are. “I find inspiration all around me on a daily basis, including everything from nature, art, museums, music and traveling to friends and family,” Michelle says. “My inspiration is never rooted in one thing. For each collection, I look at everything around me and take it in and use it to create either fabric, color story, or design.” Though she does love New York and the rush the city provides.
Launched in Fall 2014, Michelle Helene focuses on an organic design process, eschewing the usual mood board in favor of weaving fabrics in Taos with her brother, Alex. From there, the form of the collection takes place. Michelle, who studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco and worked with various contemporary brands before launching her own line, it’s important to have a personal connection with her clothes and fabrics. “I take special care in sourcing my fabrics each season. I often use organic cottons, some of which feature yarns that have been hand-dyed by women in South Africa, a Buddhist nun from Taos, and some of the recycled jersey yarn was made from jersey waste from the mills.” That careful touch is apparent in the bespoke collection, which is full of stunningly beautiful silhouettes, well-crafted folds, and pieces that any woman around the world can wear, whether it’s a dress, trousers, a cape or blouse. “The fit is really important, for a lot of different bodies. I have a certain clientele, and I want to make everyone satisfied, to have that personal connection.”
But the end goal of course is to make sure you love the clothes as much as Michelle does. “Wearability is always important, you can’t feel sexy or confident if you don’t feel like yourself. I believe this goes back to making pieces that my customer sees as an extension of themselves, I want them to feel unique but natural all at the same time.”
Set Design — Jason Peters; Styling — Marcell Rocha; Casting — Anna Lev; Hair — Jorge Luis of PRIVE; Makeup — Regan Rabanal for MAC; Nails — Rose Velez – Miggins of Doorbella; Production & PR — EB Consults
Babyghost
Qiaoran Huang and Joshua Hupper launched Babyghost five years ago and have since developed a distinct following. For fall, the duo took their best-selling items from seasons past and reworked them. “We deconstructed and reconstructed pieces,” said Hupper.
The designers, who were inspired by an Asian technique of filling in cracked porcelain with gold filigree, felt the reworked looks were even more beautiful than the originals. Hupper, pointing to one coat, noted, “We cut the lining and made the lining the outer and the outer shell the inside of the coat.”
The outerwear was certainly show-stopping. But underneath those pieces, were equally as impressive layers and separates. So all in all, some great RTW too.
Nineteenth Amendment Event at Macys Herald Square
Nineteenth Amendment was created on the idea that fashion is a choice and that the garment production process for manufacturers in the US needed a makeover. And, just like its namesake, Nineteenth Amendment believes everyone has a right to choose how to make the system – and their closets – a better place.
So for NYFW, they brought 6 of their designers to showcase their latest looks. But this was not just for show! This NYFW event was also a shoppable one as each of these stunning looks were up for grabs.
All Photography by Shanise Gibson
CONCEPT KOREA
Jarret
Jarret, presented by Ji-yeon Lee, maintained the sleek, chic finish, but also embraced a more eclectic and eccentric aesthetic.
From the vibrant colors to the imaginative prints, I was blown away.
I love a collection that offers true variety, from colors to silhouettes.
Yohanix
Yohan Kim Brand was first established in London in 2009. The Korea-born designer, Yohan Kim, graduated from London College of Fashion in 2007. And is now debuting at NYFW. Here is a brief bio on the designer and brand —
He used to work as the designer for both Michiko Koshino women’s wear and haute couture line as early as a BA student. Not long after his graduation, Yohan Kim moved to Paris and started to work for Balmain Paris, specializing in leather wear, and later opened his own design studio in Beijing.
There is always a dark sense of humor attached to Yohan’s work, playful yet stylish. He is also aiming at exploring the ‘luxuriousness’ thru his own way. Therefore, unexpected combination of textiles has been widely applied to this collection — textured leather, cashmere wool, gold embroidery, beading, printing has been all mixed in and merged with each other in harmony. His signature combines heavy details and strong structure emphasizing a special sense of sensuality and power.
The brand focuses on playing with slash, layers and geometry shapes to create garments that are original and creative. Yohan has always been experimental with his work. He invents the new studding and beading way of his own style. All these unique details definitely creates an extraordinary visual excitement. He shows his respect to his work by making 100% effort on each garment. It is visually reflected through this collection by using luxurious fabrics, innovative shapes and creative (also time consuming) details. Yohan Kim will always keep pushing the boundaries to make the brand youthful, fresh and absolutely timeless.
FASHION HONG KONG
Hidy NG
Hidy N.G. presents some stunning RTW for A/W 16. The brand officially launched back in 2003 in NYC. The design is characterized by avant-garde silhouettes adorned with intricate details and feminine lacing technique using delicate embellishments and dentelle.
There are some truly stand-out, eye-catching pieces in this collection, specifically the look above and below. The sheer top is gorgeous, as well as the golden embellished one below.
Loom Loop — Polly Ho
This is one collection where the super fun, showmanship headpieces were also just as great as the looks. Well okay, not just as great, but it definitely enhanced the overall show quality.
The various prints adorned on various looks provided pops of fresh color and a youthful spirit.
However, I also appreciated the less vibrant pieces just as much, namely the black and/or white pieces as seen above and below. Regardless of the tone, you could see the designer’s vision and stamp.
Harrison Wong
Harrison Wong, founder of Harrison Wong Ltd, made his fashion debut by winning both the Hong Kong Young Designer’s Contest and the Grand Prix Contest in Japan. He then earned a Masters degree with distinction from the London College of Fashion. For a number of years before launching his own retail fashion business, Wong broadened his credentials by designing women’s and men’s seasonal collections for international runways in New York, Milan, Shanghai, Taipei, Sydney and Hong Kong. In addition, as Design Director for a number of fashion houses in Hong Kong and China, Wong has build up substantial creative expertise at the corporate level in these dynamic markets. Now, Harrison Wong has entered a new chapter in his career by opening his first menswear retail shop at PMQ, Hong Kong’s exciting new arts and design hub in Central.
The Harrison Wong brand offers contemporary apparel and accessories for urban males. The fashions have an edgy, aggressive design underpinned with understated elegance. Clients will typically be fashion aware with a good eye for design and who tend to incorporate art and tasteful design into their daily life. The apparel and accessories will be of the highest quality yet affordable at the same time demonstrating that fine design and taste are not necessarily determined by the price tag.
