Must Have Fashion Week Accessories

Posted on March 27, 2015 by SMM

NYFW has come and gone. It was such a great time, so many amazingly talented designers presented. From RTW to stunning gowns, I saw it all! Some time yes has passed, but after some reflection and time, being able to peruse thru all of the various shows, I did want to put out this fun piece! I always enjoy seeing the many chic and fashionable accessories which complimented the various looks that graced the runways – handbags, jewelry, shoes, and more!

Upon my complete and full inspection, I’ve compiled my list of my “Must Have Fashion Week Accessories”! Enjoy!!

ANNA SUI

Anna Sui had it all, killer boots, fun outerwear hats, trendy jewelry, fun tights, and more — now these are ACCESSORIES!

DESIGUAL

Desigual is always a super fun show, high energy with graphic, bold looks. And the accessories aren’t too shabby either – fun headpieces, statement-making jewelry, and handbags galore!

BADGLEY MISCHKA

Badgley Mischka coordinated well with a floral inspiration, making use of some amazing floral accessories – tights and hair accessories, as well as some stunning clutches.

CUSTO BARCELONA

Custo Barcelona made use of some edgy accessories, super cool & hip – tote handbags, boots, and eyewear!

LEANNE MARSHALL

The F/W collection for Leanne Marshall brought to life a tragic love story. The looks were breathtaking, accessorized very well. The hair pins, the shoes, the jewelry, made this show all the more intriguing.

LIBERTINE

The Libertine show is always a ball. The pieces, the accessories, are just so full of life, meaning the runway show is spirited & energetic.

MALAN BRETON

So in love with every jewelry piece in Malan Breton’s show, women & menswear alike!

REBECCA MINKOFF

Rebecca Minkoff is of course known for making great accessories alongside her apparel pieces. She further demonstrated this point by styling her F/W presentation quite well.

J. Crew

J.Crew had it all – clutches, heels, jewelry, eyewear. So yes, had it all and everything was amazing!

HERVE LEGER BY MAX AZRIA

Herve Leger was bringin’ out a super sexy side for this runway. The gladiator heels wee phenomenal. But so too are the fabulous clutches and handbags!

DIESEL BLACK GOLD

Very practical, yet fashionably chic handbags for the Diesel Black Gold runway presentation!

Taoray Wang Goes for Round 2!

Posted on March 9, 2015 by SMM

Taoray Wang is back at Lincoln Center, MBFW, for the 2nd time presenting during NYFW. She has a successful line in China, Broadcast:bo, but it’s great to see her continue to make an expansion into the states!

Taoray Wang for F/W was all about chic, feminine RTW — some great pieces for modern women at work and burgeoning fashionistas alike. For the collection, she used a neutral color palette of grey, black, creme, navy, olive and burgundy to create a collection full of texture, structure, and silhouettes. Over-sized fur trim parkas were thrown over body con dresses, long coats were donned over long dresses. Structured wide legged crop pants had matching crop jackets with over-sized lapels, and boyfriend-esque motorcycle jackets were paired with skinny pants.

Wang played with shapes and silhouettes in textured materials ranging from polyurethane coatings to natural wools. The lineup started off with a polished and refined hand: a gray plaid slim coat worn over a tailored yet feminine pantsuit. Wang continued with an array of great knits in chic neutrals, including sexy dresses and cozy turtlenecks, as well as terrific oversize coats and a minimal approach to evening wear. I’m a huge fan of polka dots though so those pieces were certainly some of my faves here!

There were a lot of standout pieces here. I appreciated and was impressed by the versatility here. She made great use of a wide range of materials, really giving her type of woman lots of options. Again, I adored the polka dot pieces. The leather looks were also top notch. I love practicality in a collection, alongside of a spectacular runway show. And this is exactly what Taoray Wang delivered for the F/W 15 season.

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Kate Nash, DJ Helena, Alexandra Mandelkorn, Ndey Buri, Jessica Minh Anh, Andrew Werner, J. Alexander.

Lupe Gajardo Brings out Long Lines!

Posted on March 8, 2015 by SMM

Yes, yes! This is true. At Lupe Gajardo’s F/W 15 showing at MBFW, Lincoln Center, lines were quickly forming from invitees, right at the door, and still needing to print out tickets. But what was even more astounding was walking outside and seeing a line down Lincoln Center, passing Avery Fischer Hall, of fans hoping to just get in! It was definitely a site to see and the first time I’ve ever seen such lines in my many seasons of attending shows at Lincoln Center.

The inspiration here was themes of birds and the homeless to weave an intricate story of glamor. There were pieces that were a little more minimalistic in nature, more understated, such as LBDs, cable knit sweaters, or maxi tank dresses. But the more avant garde pieces, creative efforts, were what really amplified this collection. There was such fun and spirit seen in this show that I am very eager to see what Lupe has in store for the fashion masses next!

A lot of burlap (coffee/potato sack material) was used here, meaning the collection was very tan! But there were some pops of color in that of olive green, deep burgundy, and bright yellow. Color aside, the innovative use of materials was what truly stood out here — safety pins, feathers, of course burlap, and several types of denim.

Take a closer look at some of the eye-catching details for this collection — the mish-mash of patchwork denim, feather adornments, clutches, and the many uses of safety pin detailings.

Lupe Gajardo’s distinguishing features are beauty; a sense of craft; a strong, confident silhouette; and the marriage of Latin American tradition with the avant-garde. But even more than that, it offers a fresh injection of Latin America’s energy, power and soul for the truly authentic, stylish and daring to experiment and feel. The underlying cultural inspiration is very much infused with this current F/W collection. The pieces are very unique, so bold, and truly showcase what an emerging and young talent Lupe is.

Show credits —

The makeup was provided by MAC and showed a very neutral look. A little shading was done under and around the eyes, but amplified with a bronze enhancer to create a slight smoky eye. And with a nice change from so many nude lips, here we have a lovely, light pink lip.

The hair was curled at the ends and then was undone a bit, and sprayed with TRESemme Dry Shampoo to give it texture, TRESemme Sea Salt Spray to further enhance the natural texture, then given volume with TRESemme Max The Volume. Some of the looks were pulled back with a burlap tie — very unique!

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Chris Avery Bennet, Gregori Lukas, Maria Czarkowski, Kanard Jackson, Dapper Afrika, Nicole Putz, Nicholas Gruber

Georgine Goes Back to the Psychedelic 60s

Posted on March 8, 2015 by SMM

Georgine took us on a journey back in time for her F/W 15 NYFW presentation, held at Lincoln Center for MBFW. The collection was vibrant, brimming with psychedelic furs and funky prints.

The collection sets out to combine the intricate and the simplistic, all the while marrying classic and modern ideals, and blurring the lines between casual and formal wear. The specific inspiration for this collection was Weimar Cabaret in 1920s and 1930s Berlin, mod sensibility of 1960s British designers Ossie Clarke and Biba, and the bright paintings of Richard Lindner and Otto Dix. “I really love how they [Clarke and Biba] had that romantic yet modern sensibility and I wanted to update those things for today,” “There’s also a lot of art deco prints that always somehow come into my collection, very subconscious, but there they are.”

The colors and hues here was fresh and popping, whether as part of a bold print or use on furs. There was shiny mustard yellow, tangerine, navy blue, deep burgundy, and more. There were also touches of gold and gun-metal metallics. To enhance the feel of the early 20th century on suede, cashmere and silk, Ratelband’s team hand-painted garments for a rich, bold pop. “I knew I wanted to use velvet,” she said. “To me it can have an old world feeling and sometimes look dated, so I wanted to play with that. We came up with the idea to design a print, then put it on chiffon –so it’s more sexy, more lighter. And that’s how we came up with it, that’s color story is right there.”

A major aspect of this collection was vintage-vibe, psychedelic furs — wraps, trims, and more! The worked perfectly with this stylized 60s hip girl that Georgine was going for with the f/w 15 showing.

Georgine has always been dedicated to one simple, yet elusive concept: to create beautiful, chic clothing that every woman will feel great about wearing. And with this collection, the designer’s vision will live on!

Up close and personal with the wild details for this collection — pocket squares, fur clutches, leather gloves, and more!

For hair, obviously the models are donning some the same short, black curly wig for show consistency. The leader for this show detail was Ric Pipino for Melville Pipino Salon. You can actually get this look by —

Cut and style wig into strong angled shape; A bob that is short at the back and longer in front. Then flatten at the top, creating a wedge shape.
Smooth curls using Alterna Haircare BAMBOO Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist.
Spray with Alterna Haircare CAVIAR Perfect Texture Finishing Spray to perfect and hold the look.
Shine and enhance the curl using Alterna Haircare BAMBOO Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Micromist.

Nails — Patricia Yankee, “Inspire”, matte base color with a metallic shiny deep “v” moon; almond inspired press ons.

But for makeup, it was all about a bold burgundy lip and smoky eye, courtesy of MAC Cosmetics — going for a beautiful and clean “Real Skin” look using Mac Water Weight Foundation, as well as Prep and Prime Powder, for the face.

For the eyes — Creating a edgier look for the eyes blending Deep Purple shade Midnight Well blending it wet under the eye using brushes #219 and #239 in a slight downward direction at outer corners. On the upper eye Deep Purple applied dry in a large shape all the way up to the inner brow and angling down through the crease to the outer corner of the eye. Finish with Extended Play Mascara and an pink/plum blush connecting the eye to the upper cheek bone (cusom color).

And for the lips — Retro Matte Liquid Lips in Oh Lady, with Plum pencil liner in a straight slightly pointed line.

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Kelly Bensimon, Diana Madison, Kelly Rutherford, LuAnne de Lesseps, Kristen Taekman, Sea Bensimon, Derek Warburton, Liv & Mim Nervo, Rachel Brosnahan, DJ Helena, Vanessa Marano, Diana Madiso.

Parkchoonmoo — Ahhhhh, All the Outerwear!!

Posted on March 7, 2015 by SMM

Simply put, it’s AMAZING! Demi Park presented her Fall/Winter 2015 collection, “un-bound,” for Parkchoonmoo at Lincoln Center on Feb. 15. Transparency was a major theme for the show as techno music played in the background.

The title of the collection was “un-bound”, meaning the looks were not to be limited, not to be bound by labels of any kind. The pieces were strong, very unique. Loose trousers were combined with high-low turtleneck tops and long furry coats that created an undefined silhouette.

The colors of the designs were mostly black, grey, ivory and cream with some touches of beige. See-through fabrics were also present in this season’s collection in both tops and bottoms. Another trend throughout the night were over-the-knee boots with a high platform in either white or black.

And of course my title to the piece was highlighting what I thought stood out the most here, which was all of the great outerwear. These were not just your everyday basic black or grey coats, the details made the jackets and coats pop. I also loved the use of mixed media, which too made the outerwear standout.

The details of this collection were intricate, yet somehow understated. All of the styling was right in line with simplistic minimalism, making the tiniest of details all the more noticeable. From the cowl-neck shrugs to the side handled purses, everything was on point and stunning!

The beauty look coordinated well with the looks — tucked in hair, with loose waves framing the face for hair. And with makeup, a white complexion, natural base foundation, heavy lined lower lid, nude lip.

Etxeberria Presents “Poets in NY”

Posted on March 7, 2015 by SMM

Etxeberria presented it’s F/W 2015 during MBFW at Lincoln Center. What a show with both women and menswear, fully dynamic, high quality pieces. Check out the details on the show below, entitled “Poets in NY”, as well as some great looks stemming from this collection.

Basque designer Roberto Lopez Etxeberria, by his own admission, was playing a “volumetric game” with his fall collection, with over-sized suits combining elements of tailored construction with a few twists and turns of zippers and furs and color blocking. With a color palette of basic black, white and gradations of grays with occasional explosions of furry red parkas, the designer worked wool and felt into over-sized suits, featuring zippers instead of buttons down the front of the jackets. The Neapolitan tailoring from the 1950’s, according to the designer, played an important role regarding the silhouettes and lengths.

Show credits —

Director — Jermaine Browne
Music — Marc Kasi

The silhouette of the striped wool suits combined a basic block cut for the jacket with wide shoulders. But the pants, the designer said, in many cases, were influenced by the Japanese “hakama” pleated pant bound at the bottom, and worn by samurai warriors to protect their legs from brush when riding a horse. To the western eye the pants were reminiscent of motorcycle riding pants silhouette. But instead of heavy wool or leather, these pants were in soft wool. A series of more tailored suit jackets, which referenced pinstripes, slimmed the silhouette.

Several women walked in the show wearing the suits, but they were not tailored to the feminine form. The standout pieces included a flaming red fur parka was rocked Model Deandra Forrest. And the finale offering was a white fur and wool floor length gown definitely formed for the feminine frame.

The brand of course specializes in men’s fashion though and that was clearly seen from this presentation. Modern suits were offered for men. Casual looks to make a gent stand-out were too presented. And also, very practical for the f/w season, lots of great, unique outerwear.

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Momma Rose & Karrueche Tran, Nick & Sophie Simmons, Clare Galterio, Bera. Top male model Shaun Ross walked in the show.

The Best of NYFW Beauty

Posted on March 6, 2015 by SMM

Season in, season out, designers present their collections for NYFW. What do we see? Well of course, tons of stunning looks, RTW to menswear to gowns. But what I always like to keep an eye out for are the other details to a runway show or collection presentation. And one such detail is the beauty look. That’s right, the makeup, hair, and nails! So I’ve perused thru tons of designer presentations, and here is my list for the top Beauty Looks from NYFW!

SAUNDER

Some designers, when getting really creative with hair & makeup, tend to go over the top. But for me, the balance still has to be struck. It just can’t be all crazy, be all over the place, with no rhyme or reason. SAUNDER has perfectly struck that balance. Orlando Santiago for Mehron created such beauty here with this artistic makeup look — deep burgundy lip and white-out eyes. The hair look is just as great for me, voluminous, chic updo, a little crimp; it really works well to complete the beauty look. Hair look was courtesy of Nunzio Saviano.

And although not hair or makeup related, I would be remiss if I didn’t draw attention to these totally mesmerizing nails, such boldly dynamic nail art, courtesy of Patricia Yankee. This gal was all over Fashion Week, working unique magic from show to show. And she certainly was up to par here with these black gold trimmed nails, complete with a pearl adornment.

CALVIN KLEIN

Such understated beauty here, looks that I can’t ignore! The makeup look is so subtle, yet still bold. The slight cat-eye, leaving a hint of darkness is captivating — not over-the-top and paired perfectly with just a nude lip. The hair here is effortless, such free-flowing waves, creating such movement. I love it!

JENNY PACKHAM

The makeup look here for Jenny Packham is such a bronzed, sunkist look, and it coordinates so well with the designer’s full on glam looks. The eye is heavily lined on the bottom, with a little metallic shimmer. To finish the look off, there is a slight bronzed cheek and subtle nude lip.

For hair, to match with the sunkist makeup look, there are beachy waves, delicate and enchanting. I’m not sure of the hair designer, but I know UNITE hair products were used to create the overall look.

And another amazing nail look, light pink with jeweled embellishments, so pretty!!

LEANNE MARSHALL

Leanne Marshall told a love story thru the looks of her F/W 2015 collection. There were 4 parts to this and I love how she then wanted all of the beauty looks to further tell the different parts to this story. The hair & makeup went from pure and natural to deranged as this tragedy unfolded.

Let’s start with hair, which was all about the curly waves. The hair transitioned from slight curls to full on voluminous curls. As the love story raged on, so did the hair, which was all thanks to the Britt Dion hair team.

The makeup too aided int his story, going from innocent and pure to teary madness. There was such beauty in each makeup look that graced this runway. So kudos to Aveda team, led by Janell Geason.

And with more creative nail art, a uniquely blended shade from several Inglot shades, credit to Jami Zoglio.

ANNA SUI

For F/W 2015, Anna Sui was inspired by the Vikings and she definitely brought that warrior spirit to her hair & makeup looks. If anyone could make face tattoos look pretty, it’s Pat McGrath. They weren’t on every look, as that would have been too excessive, but enough to captivate the audience. So McGrath was hard at work to create these face tats with Inuit-inspired markings, which were created using sticky tape (for perfect lines) and CoverGirl Brow and Eye Makers pencils.

For the other makeup looks, all of the show’s models got the graphic treatment on their eyes, with two straight pencil lines extending from the outer corners, along with the “golden, glowing skin” and “beautiful flushed cheeks” that McGrath used to prettify the edgy look. For a similarly rosy complexion, McGrath blended a mixture of CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in Rock n Rose and Clean Glow Bronzer in Spices on cheeks.

Hair stylist Garren’s contribution to the show was the “warrior-like” Viking girl hair he created, using R+Co products to bring out models’ natural texture (Rockaway Salt Spray to rough up straighter hair types; the not-yet-released Foil Frizz + Static Control Spray to weigh down curls).

J. CREW

For men and women alike, the hair & makeup looks for J. Crew were 100% on point! Troi Ollivierre, the company’s beauty guru (and owner of an eponymous brand sold at the retailer), handles both hair and makeup for its runway shows and lookbook shoots. “We still wanted the girls to look fresh, but we were thinking of them coming back from skiing for this season,” Ollivierre explains. “So, we kept a hint of color on the lips by applying my new lip stain in Tim. In order to make it more lived-in and natural, I applied it with a brush so it’s sheer and light.”

He perfected the skin with a mix of Laura Mercier primer and moisturizer, and then a sheer layer of foundation (a secret formula, according to the artist). After, he added the cult RMS Living Luminizer to the high planes of the face, corners of the eyes, and bridge of the nose for that J.Crew glow, enhancing the outer corners with a tiny bit of bronzer to add depth and warmth. As for the blush, he dabbed Stila’s Convertible Color in Lillium low on the apples of the cheeks using his fingers in quick, tapping motions “for an after-skiing look that’s very natural.”

MARA HOFFMAN

Everything here for Mara Hoffman was AMAZING! The braided looks for hair were all so phenomenal, so great job to Thomas Osborn & Adriana Papaleo for Catwalk by Tigi.

I loved this golden, bronzed smoky eye, such a perfect combination with the sunkist cheek and lovely nude lip — wonderful work from Lottie of Maybelline NY.

And finally, beautiful nail art, courtesy of Alicia Torello for Zoya.

PEDRO DEL HIERRO MADRID

Pedro del Hierro Madrid went with a sultry, sexy fab beauty look for his model. Everything was full on glam and I am a fan! The hair was luscious, hint of waves, perfection! And for makeup, whereas other designers went towards focus on the eyes, we have focus here on the bold red lip!

Francesca Liberatore

Jorge Luis for Cutler, Redken products — superhero braids they created that swept across the crown and draped down at the back. The look was at once collected and powerful but still flirty, with the braids adding an element of femininity.

Patricia Yankee — The team started by applying Pattie’s Support Base Coat, followed by creating a rounded, silver edged French manicure with Patricia Yankee Nail Lacquer Polish in Divinity. Pattie dished to us that in the theme of superheros, she decided to hole punch small stars out of Dashing Diva Color Effects Appliques. Stars were placed in the middle of the index fingernail and varied in color from blue or red depending on the model. The look was finished off with Patricia Yankee’s “Protect” Top Coat.

Fatima Thomas, Senior Artist for MAC, led the team to create the only look we witnessed this season without mascara (!!). Thomas told us that in terms of products and colors, the look was relatively minimalist – really only using colors for shaping and contouring purposes (enter: MAC Creme Colour Base, used to match and accentuate models’ natural skin tones), particularly around the eyes, which Thomas described as resulting in an “aerodynamic” feel. Not only did lashes go without mascara, but they were left untouched – aka no curling. Thomas emphasized that they didn’t want the lashes to make any noise – the look was all about the strength and shape of the eye.

Lupe Gajardo

Lupe Gajardo had a huge line waiting to get in for the show. The hype was likely worth the wait, especially with such gorgeous hair & makeup to compliment innovative looks.

The makeup was provided by MAC and showed a very neutral look. A little shading was done under and around the eyes, but amplified with a bronze enhancer to create a slight smoky eye. And with a nice change from so many nude lips, here we have a lovely, light pink lip.

The hair was curled at the ends and then was undone a bit, and sprayed with TRESemme Dry Shampoo to give it texture, TRESemme Sea Salt Spray to further enhance the natural texture, then given volume with TRESemme Max The Volume.

Lela Rose

This hair look for Lela Rose, is a structured ponytail at its best. The texture is there, the volume is present, such great work!

The makeup is also quite impressive, with a bold, dark smoky cat eye, paired with an understated light pink nude lip. The detail on this eye is quite entrancing though, the shimmer, the shine, it is PERFECTION!

Sherri Hill

Sherri Hill was a show I very much wanted to be at, but no such luck this season. Maybe next time! But not only were the looks here superbly stunning, the makeup & hair was top notch as well. The elegant, prom-like updos were enchanting. And I loved the feminine, gorgeous makeup look, the bronzed cheeks to the deep, smoky eye, and of course the bright pink lip. All very fun, girly, and flirty!

And it was great seeing Sadie Robertson of Duck Dynasty taking part in the show! No surprise in light of her recent collaboration with Sherri Hill.

Red Carpet Flair & Femininity

Posted on March 5, 2015 by SMM

For 2 designers, August Getty & Jay Godfrey, 2 main aspects had to be on their mind — thoughts of red carpet dreams & fairy tales, as well as the celebration of femininity. Between these 2 bold designers, so many looks caught my eye that I could easily see on the red carpet. These looks were not only red carpet worthy, but perfectly embodied being super feminine, daringly sexy looks that many women would most definitely want to rock. Both presented during NYFW at MBFW, Lincoln Center. First up, August Getty!

August Getty has a very clear aesthetic, focused signature and that was what this F/W collection was about, not so much being all about an inspiration. The main focal point here was varied works with leather. For most of the looks, everything was leather – coats, dresses, shirts, shoes. Dark and sleek, it was all about this leather woman.

Nearly every dress in this collection is sensual and feminine without being over the top. It really is about celebrating the female form. These looks are all super sexy, made for any woman who wants to feel boldly confident.

I love how daring these looks were. The balance was perfectly struck though, showing off a sexy side, but not crossing the line to trashy. The looks still encompassed a sense of elegance.

Shoes were provided by Guiseppe Zanotti and the makeup was courtesy of MAC Cosmetics.

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Kristin Cavallari, Shanola Hampton, Lennon & Maisy, Jennette McCurdy, Norman Reedus, Shaun Ross, Natalia Getty, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerzey Dean, Sophie Simmons.

Next up, Jay Godfrey.

Jay stressed that putting this collection together was so much fun for him thanks to his brilliant team of designers and family for their continuous support.You can see the joy he experienced in this presentation. Everything was modern, elegant, very feminine and sexy.

This collection highlights Jay’s strong tailoring skills, with structured jackets and dresses in heavy black fabric with gold accents. He presented some amazing options for gorgeous red carpet ready looks, all featuring either a plunging neckline, open back, or mile high slit. There was a slight inspiration from the essence of cooking wine, throwing in a marsala charmeuse draped gown and plaid with suede moto jacket. Marsala also happens to be the 2015 Pantone Color of the year! Florals in the fall, not spring?? Yes, this too comes into play with floral flare leg trousers and blazer, as well as passion orchid with silver 4 ply two tone gown.

Jay’s line of offerings include plaid double breasted jacket, plaid flounce hem mini dress, and charcoal 4 ply with floral print high cut out gown. More looks include a black 4 ply jumpsuit, charcoal 4 ply with floral print high cut gown again, and plaid culotte and marsala charmeuse blouse. I am still amazed at how gorgeous and mesmerizing these looks are. I would hate to not see them again, and hope a few major celebs make the choice to don some of these looks in the future for red carpets and events!

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Kristen Taekman, and Lennon & Maisy.

Running the Gamut for Designer Aesthetics

Posted on March 5, 2015 by SMM

Nicholas K. & Mongol, 2 phenomenal shows, with designers who have vastly different aesthetics. However, each presented very clear designer POVs, complete with a great deal of stunning looks! The runway shows for NYFW were at MBFW, Lincoln Center. So first up, let’s check out Nicholas K.!

Siblings Nicholas and Christopher Kunz found inspiration in “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” a 1920 German silent horror film. “It’s very distorted,” said Nicholas, citing its Expressionist themes and stylized sets. “If you watch it now, it actually looks very modern.” I’ve not seen this film, but I can see a modernized take on Nicholas K.’s signature with this driven inspiration of the 20s film.

The duo’s dark, brooding beauties strutted the runway in long, capelike knits, floor-length coats with fur collars, sheer silk dresses in hand-dyed labyrinth prints and aviator skullcaps. Leather and hardware accented the draped separates, mostly in black and brown tinged with pops of red and burgundy.

Nicholas K. has distinct signatures, one such being the eye-catching details of a given piece. So no, the brand is not just about your average everyday black asymmetrical coat. They really do pay attention to even the tiniest of details — leather straps, gloves, outerwear snaps, jewelry, and more.

Nicholas K. is all about the “urban nomad”, creating looks made for movement, a journey, traveling, and performance in step with the 21^st-century consumer. The vision here has always been to have a more relevant approach to fashion. And with the utilitarian brilliance of uniforms, inventing a new platform of luxurious everyday sportswear with an urban edge has thus been created. This is exactly what this collection embodies, only escalating it all to the next level. Nicholas K. is continuously evolving and I’m glad that season in, season out, I am able to witness this evolution!

Celebs & special guests in attendance — CEO of CFDA Steven Kolb, Lizzy Plapinger, Natalie Bergman, Shaun Ross, Irina Pantaeva, Eric West, Pete Wentz, George Kotsiopoulos, Kristen Taekman.

Next up, Mongol!

Born in Mongolia, stylish ‘It Girl’, Bayarmaa Bayarkhuu (affectionately known as BB) showed love for her Mongolian heritage with a debut collection filled with colorful, daring, and dynamic clothing. The show opened with an artistic performance featuring a musician playing the morin khuur, a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument, and was later joined by a hip-hop singer creating a dramatic intro to the anticipated collection. The pieces here perfectly encapsulated tradition, luxury and casual comfort, a true fusion of fashion, style and culture.

The inspiration here is clear. It’s straight from “traditional Mongolian costumes combined with [the] urban casual as well as [the] entrepreneur lifestyle.” Despite a traditional garb style inspriation, Bayarkhuu maintained contemporary fashion trends with the use of laser-cut applique overlays, geometric cutouts, and sequins. The pieces featured ornate fabrics in opulent colors that included turquoise, amethyst, sapphire and emerald to accentuate the raw materials used.

The collection featured fur-trimmed kimonos, lamb fur boleros/coats, cut-outs, cashmere, embroidered silk, leather, and more. Draping over the shoulder was a common theme throughout. There were unique fabrics that included PVC and artistic laser-cut appliqué overlays.

This presentation was well thought out. Each look was not only fascinatingly unique, but was styled with great accessories! The jewelry, the eyewear, headpieces, and more made this runway all the more show-stopping.

I’m impressed by BB’s debut here. The quality, the craftsmanship, tailoring, fit and all were supremely top notch. With each piece there was such a regal quality, some with more flare than others, but a great balance of drama and understated pieces. From start to finish, this was indeed a full on, completely captivating show!

Celebs & special guests in attendance — DJ Alex Merrell, model Taylor Badgley, designer Ben Schulman, Lily Lane, Cory Kennedy, Kendall Schmidt, Lauren Rae Levy, Andrew Werner, Producer Ten Travis, model Jessica Minh Anh, Gregori Lukas, Mr. India Galaxy Prakash Patil.

Art Hearts Fashion, One Groundbreaking, Thrilling Show!

Posted on March 4, 2015 by SMM

ART HEARTS FASHION presentations feature collections from the worlds freshest and artistically inspired designers in support of a great cause. Established in 2011 by designer and philanthropist Erik Rosete, ART HEARTS FASHION has grown to become a premiere platform for artistic designers to showcase their collections in a contemporary runway setting. ART HEARTS FASHION presentations are highly supported by celebrity participants and guests, and have been held coast to coast, headlining the top fashion platforms in the nation. Art Hearts Fashion has opened a first of its kind art fashion boutique at Hollywood & Highland, displaying the works of showcasing designers and supporting artists. Original costume pieces worn by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Shakira, and Rihanna can be seen on display, alongside ready to wear creations from contemporary and street-wear designers. Throughout this post are the featured designers of this season’s presentations, as well as more information on Art Hearts Fashion.

House of Byfield

Originally from New York Carmichael Byfield now lives in the Netherlands, where his passion for designing men’s clothes returned. House of Byfield’s designs can be described as discreet and elegant wear, with an eye for detail and a sportive touch. His ‘daywear suits’ are for men who dare to dress well and still aren’t afraid to use color. A/W 15 Collection is an arc between classic, risqué and sports with of course the extravagant edge of Byfield and his design team the TDUTCH6.

There were such fresh designs seen from this collection, dapper suits and bold, contemporary dresses for women. This season Arts Heart Fashion was presented by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. AHF is he largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to nearly 365,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. Mobile users can text “FIGHTAIDS” to 41444 to donate any sum of money to AHF’s work in 36 countries worldwide.

Hallie Sara

Known for cutting-edge custom creations and exquisite luxury statement pieces, Hallie Sara’s signature style has gained a devout following since the brand’s debut in 2011. Crafted from the finest luxury materials, her A/W 15 presentation will showcase the designer’s sophisticated reinterpretation of classic silhouettes. Hallie Sara brings back iconic style fueled by old world glamor and modern sensibility.

The pieces here were high quality, fine craftsmanship. They were super luxurious and reminiscent of old-school glamor — timeless, feminine silhouettes. I’m sure with work as great as this, AHF is getting very excited about their series of designer shows in LA coming up, with presentations from Nicole Miller, Sue Wong, Hale Bob, Michael Costello, Walter Mendez, Mister Triple X, MT Costello, Pedram Couture, Maya Hansen, Zhang JingJing, Mimi Tran, Cary Santiago, M the Movement, Courtney Allegra, and many more!

Major celebs in attendance were Lilly Ghalichi, Miss J Alexander, Foxy Brown, Micah Hughes, Chantelle Fraser, Mimi Faust, VH1’s Black Ink Crew, Lilly Melgar, Kendall Schmidt, Karlie Redd, and Che’nelle.

Mimi Tran

Known for her contemporary style that enhances a woman’s natural beauty and celebrates her femininity, Mimi Tran’s collections of embellished cocktail dresses and evening gowns incorporate only the most luxuriant materials and rely on superior construction for a look that is elegant and sophisticated – with a hint of the sensual. Mimi points to a hybrid of European luxury, Hollywood glamor and high-fashion couture influence when asked to describe her aesthetic. For her Fall/Winter 2015 collection, she channeled 1920s Paris: a black palette of intricate beading, lace and lattice work with gold accents accentuates the natural beauty of the feminine form.

I’ve been a huge fan of Mimi Tran since I was first introduced to her work at Nolcha Fashion Week, last season. The bold colors, eye-catching embellishments all make for an elegant and feminine collection. The official makeup sponsor for all of the designers was Organic Face, with the official hair sponsor being FHI HEAT.

The shows featured top celebrity models — Lilly Ghalichi, Shaun Ross, Miss Universe Janine Tugonon, Jimmy Q, and Anna Demidova. Production for the show was by ParkerWhitaker.

Mister Triple X

The Sophisticated Street-wear line by designer Erik Rosete will showcase his Autumn Winter 15 Collection titled “All X In Wonderland”, an edgy fairytale collection with royal and wilderness inspired accents. Fun and flirty meet sophistication with an edge on the runway paired with timeless shoes by Sperry Top-sider. The collection will be the next chapter of the brands unique style of fashion storytelling. Follow the brand down the rabbit hole.

For the runway, the show floral wall was designed by Peter Soderman & Premium Blooms. Special thanks for the show as well goes to Shibue Couture.

More on hair sponsor, FHI HEAT, a brand at the forefront of heating innovation. It is also an award-winning brand. The brand is known for its flat irons and blow dryers, using a unique gem that is embedded in the ceramic plates, leaving you with healthy, silky, smooth hair.

MT Costello

Designed by Michael and Stephanie Costello, is inspired by the daring, outspoken and misbehaved. It is the definition of sensuality in its most luxurious form. Created for the youthful spirit, centralized around the unconventional, and challenging boundaries. Emotionally driven design with ideas of independence, sex and a rebellious heart. MT Costello surpasses trends and stands out from the crowd.

This season’s inspiration was the daring, outspoken, and misbehaving spirit. The pieces are luxurious sensuality at its best. These various looks are total standouts, always on trend, challenging the boundaries with an unconventional, youthful spirit.

Founder & creator of Organic Face, this season’s makeup sponsor, states the brand’s dedication is to offer a natural alternative to unconventional cosmetics that are 100% chemical free and organic , also with a commitment to give back the community.

House of Li Jon

Li Jon Sculptured Couture began in January 2011 by artist Lia Mira, with a vision, some rings and a pair of pliers. After researching the medieval craftsmanship of chain-mailing, and getting inspiration from everyday clothing and jewelry design, she began the ambitious intense process of teaching herself a forgotten craft. Her goal…to create one of a kind Chainmail [Couture for the fashion forward and art collectors around the world!

Walter Mendez

One of the nations next top designers, with an eye for texture, silhouettes, and timeless style. His work is regularly featured on celebrities, television, and red carpets. Walter has been featured in publications such as WWD, Apparel News and has showcased nationally. Walter is a proud recipient of the Designer of the Year award by the World Networks; and has also been one of the featured designers for the Go Red Fashion Show benefiting the American Heart Association.

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