Nolcha Fashion Week kicked off with a huge bang, 4 designers presenting collections, all designated as “Ones to Watch!” For this showing, we had Yvette Hass, Charles & Ron, Mitsou Ly, & Haute Athletics. I’m always impressed by all of the Nolcha designers, especially in the Ones to Watch category. So let’s take a look at what each presented for this spectacular showcase!

CHARLES & RON

Designers — Charles Borg and Ron van Maarschalkerweerd

Last season at Nolcha, I adored every single piece from Charles & Ron. And the Maltese duo design team certainly didn’t let me down this season! The collection not only included some fashionably chic womenswear, but also amazingly stylish handbags.

For their inspirations & design visions, this is what the dynamic duo has to say — “We have made Maltese culture an integral part of our design ethic and our vision is to inspire our clients to be part of the Charles & Ron Mediterranean lifestyle”.

The signature aesthetic for this brand is modern, feminine silhouettes, adorned with graphic prints. Further, the brand strives to to design high-end wearable clothing and bags with a distinct Mediterranean flair and a dedication to superior quality.

YVETTE HASS

So with “Ones to Watch”, the designers are all about being trend-setters. And that is exactly what the Swedish designer, Yvette Hass, embodies. As a designer, Yvette believes in creating mini collections with a high degree of fashion that creates a demand, covet, and a curiosity about what’s next to come.

Her signatures are all about feminine modern silhouettes, leather, silk, beads and feathers. A major inspiration for her given pieces are cultural based, Scandinavian characteristics. There was a lot of shape and texture to these pieces. I appreciated the use of mixed medias — great looks for a bold, confident women.

YVETTE HASS wants to create strong individual pieces rather than a choral collection. The pieces are made for everyday wear, day to night looks. With her designs, they encapsulate essential pieces to build a wardrobe around, easy to combine in color, and long-lasting in both style and extension of upcoming collections.

MITSOU LY

As a designer, Mitsou Ly brings out the unique quality and personality in each piece. Her fashion philosophy is to realize the garment’s distinctive perspective and independent expression. In her quest for style fusion, she captures the subtle variations of vintage and contemporary design. She strives to create effortless, elegant and confident designs that transcend seasons and inspire dress code creativity for all lifestyles.

With her design, you get looks that are modern, elegant, and unconventional, with a touch of romance and subtle drama. Her designs have an element of contrast, blending different colors and materials into a perfect harmony. She gets inspired by the dualities between city and nature, everyday life and sounds of both cityscapes and landscapes – the collaborative contrasts between movement and stillness. Her brand philosophy is all about reinventing cuts and proportions for the modern woman who carries an effortless sense of style with an appreciation for high end designs. MITSOU LY collections are created to accentuate and bring out each person’s individual style and personality.

HAUTE ATHLETICS

Designers — Margarita Ventura & Brian Kolodny

For all of NYFW, in a sea of RTW and gowns, athletic or sportswear is quite refreshing. And with Haute Athletics, it was encouraging to see real athletes as models, including two-time Olympic hockey goalie Brianne McLaughlin. The brand’s mission is to create an active lifestyle boutique that offers unparalleled selection of fashions from around the globe, a superior interactive, multi-media shopping experience, and helps people through our network of partners to live a healthier life.

The various looks are where fashion and performance meet from your workout to the street. Athletic fashion is the uniform today as people from all walks of life and levels of fitness style up or down their looks to transition and adjust to their fast paced, active lifestyles. And I would mantra up just what Haute says & stands by — “Love Hard. Train Hard. Work Hard. Play Hard. Sleep hard. HauteAthletics.com – Sweat. Strut. Shop.”

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Phoenix Mercury WNBA Player Tiffany Bias; Jessica Pimentel of OITNB; Mimi Faust of Love & Hip Hop; Chanel Haynes of Nellyville; Sharna Burgess of DWTS; Hana Nitsche winner of Germany’s Next Top Model.

Hair for all of the shows was courtesy of Indie Hair, while the unique makeup looks were provided by AOFMPro. The hair was pulled back in a low chignon, except for Haute Athletics, where we got to see the luscious waves flowing. And for beauty, the makeup for each show was as follows —

Yvette Hass went theatrical and dramatic with black out eyes;

For Charles & Ron, it was all about a dreamy, romantic look, light nude lip and lightly golden bronzed eyes;

For Mitsou Ly, there a very fresh face, smoky cat eye, lightly blushed cheek;

And finally with Haute, very understate look, natural feel.

Show sponsors — Indie Hair, Fogo de Chao, J.R. Ewing Private Reserve, LightSpeed, Don Q rum, Vegan Therapy, & SOLO (one step gel nails).

• Show location — Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers
• PR — Amp3PR

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