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.

J. Lindeberg’s Vision of Space — A Tailored Odyssey

Posted on March 4, 2015 by SMM

J. Lindeberg presented its “Tailored Odyssey”, “Visions of Space” collection for NYMD, during NYFW, held at Industria Superstudio and presented by Cadillac. Head designer Jessy Heuvelink to say the least, created some out of this world menswear pieces!

TWO PLANETS, TWO REALITIES — The images sent back to us from outer space do more than just awaken our curiosity. They take us on a voyage. And with the A/W collection for J. Lindeberg, the brand invites you to join them for the journey!

This collection takes you on a journey, from the spectacular red planet that is Mars, its abyssal black canyons and mysterious dunes, which are both silent & dramatic, continuing then to Earth, the most colorful of all heavenly bodies in our universe.

With it icy glaciers, weathered rock formation and vast forests, Earth is a celebration of every color in the universal spectrum. The intriguing juxtaposition of these 2 captivating planets, Earth & Mars, formed the foundation of the J. Lindeberg men’s A/W collection.

There were so many spectacular pieces in this collection. The suits were well tailored, providing a great fit. The outerwear was most dynamic. The mix of hues, from neutrals of shades of brown, to more vibrant color tones in teal and maroon, were all quite captivating.

Show credits —

Casting — John Tan of JTC Casting
Music — Marcus Ullmarker
PR — Thiel Consulting, Joe Thiel, also Malin Odelfelt, PR & Marketing Manager for J. Lindeberg

Lighting — Greg Dratva of Aion Entertainment
Photographer — Dan Lecca

Additional credits — Agentry PR, Johnston & Murphy, Double Cross Vodka

Chapter A/W 2015 – The Unknown

Posted on March 4, 2015 by SMM

Chapter menswear presented a unique showing for their NYMD presentation, held at Industria Superstudio, hosted by Cadillac. The set design here was extremely unique, attention-getting right from the start. But it was a quiet simplicity that somehow made the noise, still allowing for the focus to go right to these minimalistic looks.

Chapter’s A/W 2015 UNKNOWN collection combines inspiration from 2 very distinct eras – the development of space exploration in the 50s and the emergence of the cyberpunk sub-genre in the 80s. Seemingly unrelated, but yet inextricably interwoven, the growth and evolution of modern day science fiction are both pivotal advancements that delve into the UNKNOWN, with a sense of opportunity, potential, and the intrigue of endless exploration.

With a goal of going beyond the physical reach, the collection offers an eye for asymmetrical details, analog-inspired patchwork, and translucent fabrics. Dark hues of purple, blue, green, and black set the tone for the season. The resulting aesthetic is harsh, unbalanced, and minimalistic.

In modern usage, Chapter is stylistically complex, even contradictory in design and movement, but drawn together as a unified whole. Chapter manifests a taste of importance with the desire to evoke underlying emotional states of grandeur and visceral appeal focused around the individual man.

Show credits –

Executive Producer – Frank Delgadillo
Creative Director/Designer – Devin Carlson
Show Producer – Julie Shumaker
Production Manager – Billy Garner

Production Coordinator – Ray Arias
PR – Raluca Slate
Styling – JAK
Casting – StyledbyPhil

Photographer – Jordan Minardi & assistant Jayson Payne
Sets – Design by Brian Thoreen, Build by Derek DeSpain, and Build Assistant by Jack Mahaffa
Special thanks – TOWNES, Agentry PR, PBLC TRDE NY, Johnston & Murphy, Double Cross Vodka, hint Water, Peroni Italy
Models & Agencies – Fenton, Fusion, Major, One, Red, Q

Makeup – Michelle Webb for AOFMPro using Dermalogica
Hair – Oribe
Shoes – Doc Martens
Music – The KVB

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.

Francesca Liberatore’s Modern Super Hero

Posted on March 3, 2015 by SMM

Francesca Liberatore’s F/W 2015 presentation was mixed media magic. She presented at MBFW, Lincoln Center, the Salon.

The collection was inspired by superheroes. And this was quite apparent from the fighting trojan to the samurai to the shield-like accessories.

There was a lot of base black, but for vibrant pops of color there was bright red, royal blue, metallic silver, and sunshine yellow.

I appreciated the great use of various types of fabric, from fur to leather to silk. The pieces looked well made, and incorporated intricate, eye-catching details.

Celebs & special guests in attendance — DJ Helena & Nervo Music

Show credits —

PR, Production, & Show Direction — People’s Revolution
Stylist — Joanne Blades
Casting — Cast Inc., Julia Samersova

Music — Ermal Meta
Makeup — Fatima Thomas for MAC

“There’s no mascara because we want a kind of toughness.”

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.

Hair — 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.

Nails — 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.
Shoes — Repetto & Yin
Additional thanks — sagafurs & puntoseta

Epson Presents Digital Couture for Fall 2015

Posted on March 3, 2015 by SMM

My 1^st day of NYFW was all about Epson’s fashion extravaganza – 33 looks, 11 designers, fusing technology with fashion. The presentation featured new cutting edge fabric printing and design technology donated by the global leader in image printing technology, Epson. Fashion designer and Project Runway season 9 alum Kimberly Goldson hosted the event alongside Epson.

ESOSA

Maggie Barry

The two-hour presentation was held at Industria Superstudios, displaying interactive design interface monitors, a special art projection installation, and a LiquiFusionIV vitamin drip bar, alongside new digital techniques for fabric printing and pattern making from Epson’s SureColor F-Series printers (the latest in a line of digital dye-sublimation printers for textiles).

ESOSA

Pineda Covalin

Designers hailed from both the US and Latin America — Pilar Briceño of Colombia, Dual of Costa Rica, Ay Not Dead of Argentina, Moah Saldaña of Peru, Marco Antonio Farías of Chile, Elisa Guillén of Ecuador, Pineda Covalin of Mexico, ESOSA of the US East Coast, Mariana Morrell of Brazil, Leonor Silva of the Caribbean (Venezuela/Miami), and Maggie Barry of California.

ESOSA

Epson used this event to show the world just some of the possibilities of its new Epson SureColor F-Series printer. According to its press release, the “F” stands for Fashion Forward. Now more than ever fashion designers are using computer technology to assist with the creation of their garments. Each designer contributed three outfits of mostly womenswear with some menswear, using the Epson printer to print the colors and patterns right onto the fabrics.

Ay Not Dead

Marc Antonio Farias

According to Alejandro Ordonez, Epson regional marketing and communications manager of Latin America, this product reinvents the dye-sublimation by introducing digital printing of images which dry instantly for quick transfer directly onto fabric. That allows designers to do test runs and produce samples in-house with the click of a mouse.

Moah Saldana

Special celeb guests in attendance included The Misshapes, Analeigh Tipton (Mississippi Grind), Jessica Stroup (The Following), Lilla Crawford (Into the Woods), Julie Henderson (Sports Illustrated), Kira Dikhtyar (ANTM), and Cory Kennedy.

Leonor Silva

Dual

Leanne Marshall — Modern, Breathtaking Beauty

Posted on March 1, 2015 by SMM

Forest green silk wool tank gown with hand painted ivory silk organza skirt

In Leanne’s own words — “This was a dream come true!” There is likely no better way to describe the debut presentation for Leanne Marshall at MBFW, Lincoln Center than her own words. Presenting for her first time at Lincoln Center, The Pavilion, I’m sure was nothing short of a dream come true, an unimaginable experience! Leanne’s show was my 1st ever, and I’m happy I was able to be at her 1st showing at Lincoln Center, a very momentous and memorable occasion.

Ruby silk chiffon gown, plunging neckline, hand painted silk ivory organza detail

Forest green silk wool empire waist gown with silk chiffon draping

Tea length white double crepe wool skirt with sheer black chiffon blouse

For her A/W 2015 collection, Leanne was inspired by director Francois Truffaut’s 1975 tragic film story, The Story of Adele H. The film was based on memoirs of Adele Hugo, daughter of Victor Hugo. It follows a young woman across the globe as she pursues the love of a man who doesn’t return her affections. As this man continuously rejects her, love turns into obsession, which slowly drives her insane.

Sheer black organza silk arapea short dress

Hand painted ivory silk organza gown with forest green asymmetrical velvet detail

Hand painted sheer silk ivory organza dress with draped details

Staying true to the film, this collection is segmented into 4 sections.

Le Voyage — The Voyage

The woman is making her passage, journeying for love. She is full of dreams, that the love she awaits for will to be waiting in return for her. The color palette here is black, with pops of olive green and gold. I can see a free-flowing vibe here with the silhouettes though, suggesting hope, openness. A woman here is carefree, unbeknownst of any negativity or trouble around her.

La Chasse de l’amour — Love’s Chase

Next, the woman is actively pursuing her love. She will stop at nothing to win the affection of her dream lover, even if he says no. The color palette her is deep, emerald greens mixed with taupe and ivory. We also get to first experience some lovely dye treatment from Leanne. The theme here is pursuit and what I’m seeing is a mix of purity, lots of white, representing this woman’s pure, clear vision of her love. But some of the pieces, the ones working with dye, show that this vision, upon closer inspection, is clearly a bit muddled. The woman’s vision is blurred.

La Obsession — The Obsession

Love turns to obsession. She can think of nothing but one man and her determination to have him. As she is haunted, day in and day out, her grip on reality loosens. There is a lot of red and deep burgundy in these pieces, clearly representing a lustful, passionate love. The silhouettes are very loose, not as pulled together, showing a woman who is in shambles.

Handpainted burlywood and wine silk chiffon gown with spaghetti straps & asymmetrical draping

Rust silk chiffon gown with spaghetti straps & draping

Sheer rust silk chiffon tank gown

La Demence — Madness

For this woman, all logic and reason is now gone, leaving her a total mess and in tears. Thus, her descent to madness begins. There is still such a beauty to these pieces, but structure and form are not by the book. Colors are void, very deep and dark.

Sheer navy long sleeve silk organza gown with textured skirt

Navy silk wool strapless gown with hand-painted textured silk organza skirt

White & navy silk organza gown with asymmetrical hand painted bodice detail

Navy blue long sleeve silk sheer chiffon gown

Strapless navy blue gown with silk chiffon organza skirt

I am in love with this collection. Her work with hand-painting and dye treatments have created pure magic in these pieces. You can see this crazed woman represented in these pieces, yet there is still elegance and glamor. The pieces here are truly stunning, very eye-catching, and I love that there is such a focused story here. Leanne presented 2 collections this season, a RTW, and more upscale as seen here. With so much work on her plate, she clearly could have let some pieces slip, but she has not done that. She has stuck to her high quality, ethereal signature, but has still evolved and created some very modern pieces. CONGRATS LEANNE!

Silk ivory chiffon gown

Taupe, ivory, rust silk chiffon organza gown

Celebs & special guests in attendance — Nervo music/Nervo sisters, Kira Dikhtyar, Andrew Werner, Jason Christopher Peters, DJ Helena, Lily Lane

Show credits —

Ivory silk chiffon organza gown with asymmetrical hand painted bodice

Shoes — Isola & HH Brown
Dyes — Rit

Undergarments — Shibue Couture
Nails — Jami Zoglio for Inglot

Hair — Britt Dion & team
PR — Collective Communications

Accessories — Ellen Hunter NYC
Makeup — Janell Geason for Aveda

Production — LBJ
Photography — Dan & Corina Lecca

Rust silk chiffon gown with spaghetti straps

Ivory silk chiffon gown

Check out “New Horizons” from Skingraft

Posted on March 1, 2015 by SMM

Skingraft recently showcased its A/W 2015 collection for NYFW at MBFW, Lincoln Center, the Pavilion. It was such a pleasure attending a bold, energetic runway show. Skingraft never disappoints! The looks were daring, designed for a tenacious fashionista, a rugged man. It seems so simplistic, but all in all, this collection can be honestly described as bad-ass!

The collection is inspired by young nomads trekking thru the Peruvian mountains in search for new horizons. It is also inspired by the legends of alien activity around Peru. You can see both of these inspirations quite clear in the dark, multi-layered looks. The voluminous amounts of layering easily suggest a nomad’s travel.

The new collection explores ideas of ancient and complex geometric patterns and brutal statue-like silhouettes. Shearling, leather, silk, wool jersey, cashmere, and hand-woven tapestries equip the A/W 15 Skingraft nomad with a survivalist silhouette that remains soft and refined. There is a sea of staple colors in black and white, but also much needed pops of understated colors, navy blue and deep burgundy.

Skingraft always showcases some impressive looks. The brand’s signatures are ever-present. There are some great leather pieces here. The outerwear for both men and women are truly must-haves! Each ensemble was clearly well thought out, stylized, no detail left unnoticed. I will most definitely be keeping my eyes out for these pieces come this fall!

Celebs and special guests in attendance — Kofi Richmond, Che’Nelle, Kate Nash, Lizzy Plapinger, Whoopi, Shaun Ross, Fabolous, Jerzey Martin, J. Alexander, Sita Abellan, Bishop Nehru, Nick Simmons, Nini Fabi, DJ Helena, Nervo Sisters, Ivy Levan.

Show credits —

Production & PR — People’s Revolution
Stylist — Joanne Blades
Casting — Anna Lev

Makeup — Kelly Thompson for Kryolan
Beauty Direction — Rick Gradone

Music — Jonny Cota
Shoes — Cinzia Araia for Skingraft
Jewelry — VOJD Studios

Nails — Patricia Yankee
Hair — Jon Reyman for Aveda

Reem Acra — Dreams Do Come True!

Posted on February 28, 2015 by SMM

The underlying inspiration here could clearly be all about dreams. It’s as if these pieces belong in a magical fantasy-world of some sort. Each look is imaginative, dreamy, and stunningly eye-catching. But when I speak of dreams coming true, the reference is more personal. I’ve been a huge fan of Reem Acra for quite some time now. Receiving my first ever invite and being at this show was an out of this world, unimaginable experience. It’s quite easy to label this as “A dream come true!” Being exposed to such phenomenal beauty was most certainly an honor to be a part of, but was also a truly enjoyable experience. And so with that, here are some of my favorite pieces from Reem Acra’s F/W 2015 collection at MBFW, Lincoln Center Salon.

But onto the actual inspiration for this beautiful collection. Designer Acra was inspired by Stevie Nicks’ “24-Karat Gold Collection” exhibit last fall of digitally reprinted self-portrait Polaroids from the Seventies. The photos evoked the particular time in that decade when retooling the Victorian aesthetic was rampant. According to Acra, “This put me in a mood, I got inspired, I started to dig in my archives and found pieces of embroidery, feathers that I had collected since I was five years old. I was transported to my own world.”

This world was a decadent fantasy of beads, lace, tulle and, of course, embroideries. The bulk of the lineup was composed of short dresses, mainly with long sleeves or fur topper. There were signs of Nicks in the collection — handkerchief hems and Victorian pouf-sleeve tops and jackets — but the mood veered toward vintage, and even Ottoman at points, given the opulent metallic laces and embroideries. The use of color is also quite entrancing, lavender, golds, metallic, sparkles, bright purple, ice pink, and more!

But the truly captivating aspect of these pieces, a tried and true signature for Reem Acra, is in the intricate details — the embellishments, the lace, the beading. Each look is so intriguing, eye-catching with every twist and turn, from each and every angle.

Speaking of angles, some great shots of these pieces are from the backside. The gorgeous trains are breathtaking, even more lovely details to take in. Reem Acra is a staple for most major red carpets and I’m sure as this year’s award shows continue on, and even into next year’s busy season, we will likely see some of these pieces again!

Hair/Makeup/Beauty — From the hair to the makeup, the beauty look at Reem Acra was inspired by rock legend Stevie Nicks. “The inspiration of Stevie Nicks gives it a lot of fantasy,” said Didier Malige, working with René Furterer. “The idea is that there is a feeling of couture, but it’s very individual.” Using a variety of texturizers, Malige described the final look, which had the hair close to the head with a couple of kinks as, “controlled and uncontrolled.”

Mark Carrasquillo put the focus on the eyes for Reem Acra by dusting a gold shadow on the eyelid, inner corner and under the eyes. “It’s a really luminous eye,” noted Carrasquillo. Finally, he topped the lip with balm, leaving it bare. “Everything that’s done is really blended out,” Carrasquillo said.

Miss Pop for OPI mixed two shades called Cosmo-not Tonight Honey, a metallic peach, and Up Front & Personal, which is a glittery, light gold. “It’s like your fairy godmother waved her magic wand and dusted your nails with gold magic,” said Miss Pop. “The clothes have all these metallic embellishments both silver and gold, and we wanted to make sure that it felt very Stevie Nicks. With this nail, we wanted you to get lost in the glitter the same way you get lost in her music.”

Major celeb in attendance, one of my personal faves, PLL star Ashley Benson!

Timo Weiland’s take on the American Traveler

Posted on February 28, 2015 by SMM

I have attended NYMD at Industria Superstudio for many seasons now. I was ecstatic when I found out that Timo Weiland would be presenting. They are such a dynamic brand, with stunning collections for both men and women. But of course being NYMD and all, this featured post is all about the men!

The design trio behind the label — Alan Eckstein, Timo Weiland, and Donna Kang — was inspired by the art of Robert Frank; specifically the photographer’s work observed in The American’s. It was the idea of Americans traveling the world that provided the design team with fuel for a collection that celebrated heritage pieces, modernized into new forms. The post-war era photography, from the late 1950’s showcased, or rather drew attention to, the lives of the rich and the poor in their respective environments. The designers emulated the resulting contrast in this Fall 2015 collection.

The truncated offering included “denim” jackets in suiting fabrics and woven sweatpants. Other elevated classics included traditional bombers, sweatshirts and work shirts. Time period in mind, the collection features window plane plaids in shades of grey, dark blues, black, and pops of color green, pink, and taupe. Design elements that have become signature for the brand are also present in the collection with color blocked shirts, wools, and zippers.

With my first time covering Timo Weiland, I have to say I was impressed. I’ve been following this brand for some time, so it was great to finally feature them on Fashion Nexus. These are great pieces for any man to incorporate into his wardrobe, some great basic pieces with a fashionable flair, outerwear, and I love the bold use of color. The contrast between the more traditional hues and the more vibrant tones was fascinating!

Show credits —

Casting — Edward Kim
Styling — Haley Loewenthal
Makeup — Oribe

Eyewear — Cutler & Gross
PR — Paul Wilmot Communications
Music — Messkid

Hair — AOFMPro
Footwear — Doc Martens

Hats — Stetson
Photography — Lucas Flores Piran
Additional sponsors & show credits — dermalogica, Maestro Dobel Tequila, Double Cross Vodka, hint Water, Peroni Italy, Johnston & Murphy, and Cadillac

Fashion Nexus

A fashion blog for anything & everything fashion, including fashion law topics

Tag Archives: New York

Running the Gamut for Designer Aesthetics

J. Lindeberg’s Vision of Space — A Tailored Odyssey

Chapter A/W 2015 – The Unknown

Art Hearts Fashion, One Groundbreaking, Thrilling Show!

Francesca Liberatore’s Modern Super Hero

Epson Presents Digital Couture for Fall 2015

Leanne Marshall — Modern, Breathtaking Beauty

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