Fashion Law Institute’s Unique MBFW Show — Role Models, Not Runway Models!

The nonprofit Fashion Law Institute is the world’s first academic center dedicated to the law and business of fashion. It was founded by Prof. Susan Scafidi with the support of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and its president, Diane von Furstenberg. FLI is based at Fordham Law School. So of course taking part in the realm of fashion, the Institute too takes part with NYFW/MBFW!

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After changing the landscape of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week runways with last year’s celebrated plus-size fashion show, the Fashion Law Institute once again demonstrated the power of fashion to make a difference in women’s lives with their show featuring designer Carrie Hammer. (pictured below, Carrie & Susan Scafidi — chic date night look for the woman on the go & a fitted red cocktail dress, perfect for the workplace to a cocktail hour)

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Carrie’s collection consists of a wide range of styles — business, business casual, dressy casual, outerwear, and more. Walking the runway in the show were role models from throughout the business and nonprofit worlds —

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Designer Carrie Hammer is an alumna of FLI’s Fashion Law Bootcamp, a program in which everyone from designers to attorneys learns how fashion law can help a fashion business. Carrie is one of the many fashion professionals helping the Fashion Law Institute prove that fashion law isn’t just for lawyers!

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Hammer began her label to provide more options of fashionable apparel for professional women. She launched her brand in 2012. She and her line have been featured on CNBC, Fox Business News, Forbes, GMA, Elle, Marie Claire, & Cosmo, just to name a few.

The complete runway show video is on Vimeo. — image below, black suit, leather detailing, great modern twist & take!

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The complete list of role models & images are available on Scribd.

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Navy blue skirt suit, lace detailing, LOVE!!

Last Post for NYMD — Ready, Set, Go!

So wrapping up NY Menswear Day, we have Bespoken NY and another womenswear presentation with Stephen F., all showing for this event-filled day. Do check out my other pieces for NYMD —

NYMD was presented by Cadillac and was held at Industria Superstudio. It was a great time and truly amazing to see so many talented designers. Now let’s take a closer look at Bespoken NY.

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Bespoken fleshed out a lineup of its signature tailored pieces. From the formal attitude of suiting to the casual direction highlighted by sportswear, Bespoken revealed a smart undertaking.

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The brand added a custom flare for the season, tropical prints dressed a few pieces with color blocking also making an appearance, as you can see above.

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Bespoken Menswear kept it mostly neutral with dark rich blues, blacks and whites.

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There were mixtures of street and formal wear, including separates like hoodies and slacks. The brand has really stepped it up with this collection. I love seeing the growth, so adding new modern takes and twists to the brand’s traditional staples.

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We even saw a hint of womenswear, nice change-up & twist for Bespoken!

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Additional presentation details —

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Additional event sponsors — AVEDA; Need Edition; Trask; Johnston & Murphy; Peroni Italy; Black Velvet; hint Water; & Svedka.

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Moving on now to a traditionally tailored menswear brand, Stephen F., but with this year, taking a spin on mens’ looks for women! Presenting, Men’s Dream Collection —

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Looks left to right —

  • Black linen blend tuxe jacket & nylon shorts with blue linen pocket square
  • Black cotton long-sleeved button down, light orange knit tie, bright orange linen blazer, & coffee summer light wool pinstriped trousers
  • Sunshine yellow suede bomber jacket & nylon shorts, with light orange suede portfolio
  • Linen blend houndstooth tuxedo blazer & shorts, and blue silk pocket square
  • Suede bomber jacket in lily, lavender silk scarf, and maroon linen blend trousers
  • Olive green summer wool/silk textured tuxedo shorts suit
  • Maroon linen blend 2-button suit, light pink silk scarf, and metallic lilac pocket square
  • Light blue suede bomber, dark grey summer wool trousers, and ivory silk scarf
  • Tangerine suede bomber jacket, light orange cotton long-sleeved button down, black summer wool tuxedo trousers, and lilac leather portfolio.
  • Black linen blend double breasted suit, white cotton long-sleeved button down, and light grey silk pocket square.

Such a dynamic presentation, great tapered looks for women, but of course in a full-on men’s tailored style. The colors work and of course the cuts. These looks are very modern and work for the fashion-forward, professional businesswoman.

Additional presentation details —

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MBFW/NYFW Journeys — Let’s Run the Gamut

When you are on the go with fashion week, any given day, chances are, you will see it all — menswear, sexy spring options for women, and even full on design competitions. Another great aspect about fashion week is getting to know designer brands even better, such as with taking a look at what Meden had to offer for S/S 2015!!

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Meden presented a very elegant and sexy presentation — sexy slits, form fitting pieces, and short skirts. The designs encompassed fine art as well as mechanical art, which showed the contrast of the two elements, being sensual/alluring, while also maintaining elegance. The brand presented several dresses with floating panels, to illustrate what it would be like walking through the park on a nice sunny day in May. There was also leather, different rays of blues, and metallics.

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Moving on to another dynamic womenswear designer, who too presented a strong showing for S/S 2015, also exuding powerful femininity, dressing for the confident, sexy woman — MESKITA.

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This collection was influenced by the Empire of Egypt, a mixture of chiffon’s, silks, whimsical pleats, and neoprene hit the runway. The prints exhibit fertility of the Nile blossoms and the deep shades of the Sahara Desert. Each garment exemplified power and strength with a delightful touch of femininity.

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Options for women are always great to take in, but it’s nice to see what’s also out there for men. I mean come on, nice looking male models in suits and bold designer clothing — YES, I’m a fan!

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Perry Ellis — Taking cues from the Big Apple’s structured grid system and with a healthy dose of sharp suiting, the collection mixed white-collar workwear with athletic sports gear in a juxtaposition that reflected the changing focus of American menswear from dressed-up stiffness to a more relaxed, casual direction.

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The Supima Design Competition was also another big item on the agenda for my day’s outing. This year’s host, none other than super top model Coco Rocha. The judges — BryanBoy, prominent fashion stylist Isabel Dupre, casting agent Natalie Joos, Fashion Market and Accessories Director at W magazine Karla Martinez de Salas, blogger Phil Oh, fashion consultant Roopal Patel, RTW designer Marcia Patmos, style/beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson, Fashion Stylist at Japanese and Chinese Vogue Anya Ziourova, and Tom & Lorenzo.

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Competition partners — Brooks Brothers, AG, Uniqlo, Aveda, MAC, Corso Como, Carlo Bonomi, Tumbling Colors, & Nice Dyeing.

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Designers & Their Institutions —

KENT STATE — ANASTASIA IAFRATEWINNER

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Intrigued by couture eveningwear, Iafrate infuses the love for her home country of Russia into her SDC capsule collection. The collection, entitled “White Nights of St. Petersburg,” is an homage to the beauty of the city and the unique arctic circle twilight that is such a phenomenon there.

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FIT — OU MA

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Beginning by working on her Barbie dolls as a child, Ma is now known for her exquisite knitwear. Ou’s collection explores deeply the status of mental disturbance and the infinite progression of emotional recovery. Starting from free-formed yarns, pin-tucks, pleats, and flares were manipulated base on the nature of the Supima cotton fabrics. She likes to think about silhouettes based upon the performance of the swatches she initially received.

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ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY — JENNY HOANG

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Known for her womenswear and denim, Hoang’s SDC capsule collection is inspired by transformation. The collection creates something unique and unexpected out of cotton.

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RISD — SHARON MOON

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Specializing in women’s ready to wear in both knit and wovens, her SDC capsule collection revolves around decaying flowers. Ms. Moon is using laser cutting to portray a different and modern interpretation of a traditional flower. She enjoys the strong Supima fiber, especially as it applies to her laser cutting technique.

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SCAD — YUXI BI

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Known for couture eveningwear, Bi is creating a romance themed capsule collection for the contest. Bi loves the elegance and texture of Supima and what it adds to her designs.

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FIDM — DAVID LEE

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Known for his precise illustrations, Lee’s SDC capsule collection capitalizes on a unique representation of abstract floral prints. He has worked hard to make certain that the personality of the Supima fabric fits the designs he creates from it.

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Tadashi Shoji for S/S 2015……Your Dreamscape Awaits!

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Tadashi Shoji for S/S 2015 — “It is the moment just before the sun sets, when the light dances upon the Grand Canal. The light is softer now, illuminating the shimmering waterway, reflecting the facade of the Ca’ d’Oro. Built on water and steeped in beauty, the Golden Palace of Venice is our destination.” So as my title states and with the promise of an evening of enchantment, a Venetian dreamscape awaits. ENJOY!!

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LONG-SLEEVED BLACK/NUDE EMBROIDERED TULLE AND CHIFFON PANELED GOWN

For MBFW/NYFW, high fashion designer brand Tadashi Shoji showcased at Lincoln Center’s Salon. For this alluring and stunning collection here is what’s in store! There is intricate detailing, paired with playful transparencies. Insets of chain mesh on tulle ornament on the bodices/sleeves & multi-colored jeweled embellishments are inspired by Millefiori glass. The intricate & eye-catching details are what truly set this brand and this collection apart; it was such an honor to be in attendance!

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GOLD METALLIC EMBROIDERED TULLE FLOOR LENGTH CAPE WORN OVER SLEEVELESS GOWN WITH CHAIN MESH INSETS

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SILVER METALLIC EMBROIDERED TULLE LONG SLEEVE GOWN WITH CHAIN MESH INSETS

Sheer mesh necklines give the illusion of floating dresses. This detail was seen amongst many of the dresses in this collection. And it was one detail I was happy to see — a great way to give Tadashi Shoji’s classic aesthetic of lovely lace a modern take.

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GOLD METALLIC EMBROIDERED TULLE SHEATH DRESS WITH CHAIN MESH INSETS

Dresses, cut from bonded spacer mesh, are both structured and airy. While softly sculpted silhouettes are introduced with unexpected twists. And with so many eye-catching details, really every dress seemed to have an unexpected twist to grab one’s attention!

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FROSTED JADE EMBROIDERED TULLE AND CHIFFON LONG SLEEVE SHIRT WAIST BLOUSON GOWN

Floor-length gowns are constructed with capes attached.

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IVORY CORDED LACE FLOOR LENGTH CAPE AND IVORY SUNBURST PLEATED GEORGETTE BATEAU NECK GOWN WITH CHAIN MESH INSETS

Going back to the area of Venezia, Italy, the architecture, the streets, the intricacies, of course all serve as such a huge inspiration for this collection. But the colors of the city also inspired the color palette for this showcase. Glowing pastels of frosted jade, pink shadow, and blue stone are built up in translucent layers.

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DEEP LAGOON CORDED LACE SPACER MESH BATEAU NECK DROP WAIST DRESS WITH SHEER INSETS

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PINK SHADOW LACE OVER EMBROIDERED TULLE BELL SLEEVE TUNIC DRESS

The brilliant ultramarine blues of Venetian lagoons are paired with ivory and navy. And I’m a huge fan of blues so I’m loving this periwinkle and shades of blue hues!

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BLUE STONE CORDED LACE SLEEVELESS BLOUSE WITH JEWEL EMBELLISHED INSETS AND PENCIL SKIRT

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DEEP LAGOON/IVORY ROSE-MOTIF EMBROIDERED TULLE CAP SLEEVE A-LINE DRESS

Fabrics are custom-designed & I’m a huge fan on the new takes with the lace and the use of florals — all very interesting and intriguing takes.

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IVORY CORDED LACE SHIRT WAIST BLOUSON GOWN WITH JEWEL EMBELLISHED COLLAR AND INSETS

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BLACK/PETAL CORDED LACE CAP SLEEVE GOWN WITH JEWEL EMBELLISHED INSETS

Motif-embroidered tulles are inspired by Gothic architectural details of the Ca’ d’Oro.

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PINK SHADOW COTTON EMBROIDERED TULLE AND CRINKLE CHIFFON BATEAU NECK BLOUSON GOWN

Floral motif lace is hand-tinted by bonding chiffon pieces to the back of lace.

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MULTI-COLOR FLORAL LACE LONG SLEEVE DRESS WITH SHEER BANDED INSET

Attending front row at this amazing presentation was June Ambrose & Mr. Jay Manuel!

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Additional runway show details —

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Womenswear at NYMD?

Why yes, of course! The predominant focus of NYMD is most certainly MENSWEAR! But there was a couple of designers who showcased looks for women. antonio azzuolo presented a mixed collection, one for both men and women. But first up, let’s check out a solely menswear designer, Carlos Campos, and his take on “art coming to life” for S/S 2015!

Carlos Campos SS15 Model Board

For Carlos Campos S/S15, the inspiration comes from renowned Spanish public space artist, Javier Abarca, aka Eltono (“The Tone”). Eltono’s art is known for being made of humble materials, like masking tape or acrylic paint, and for conveying a sense of freedom that transcends geometric patterns and lines. Campos is now applying a similar approach – overlaying starkly geometric treatments to the designs, combined with his traditional design work of profound attention to detail, tailoring, & sense of movement.

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This inspiration came to Campos from a trip to Mexico, being astounded and falling in love with the idea of overlaying bold, colorful shapes and sharp angles as a graphic strategy. Campos still retains his staple design aesthetic – subtle and sophisticated design cues. Signature tailoring is also very much present with suits, but construction for this collection is light, thus allowing for motion. Pretty much all staple pieces were given a modern inspirational twist – the bomber jacket (neoprene w/ constructed panels), and sweatshirts to round out the collection, demonstrating a deft intersection between fine art and style.

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Look details, left to right — Black Neoprene bomber jacket with double-layer mesh color-block, white Pima cotton button-up shirt, and double-layer mesh dress shorts; 2nd — Black Neoprene bomber jacket with double square motif, white Pima cotton button-up shirt with double square motif, and black Neoprene dress shorts with heavy mesh pocket trim.

The color palette is still streamlined in basics of black and white, but added are pops of color in vibrant blood orange and industrial blue.

Carlos Campos Model Shot

Looks, left to right — Deep navy Pima cotton button-up shirt with white color-block and frame trim, and industrial blue paper touch cotton shorts.; 2nd — Industrial blue Pima cotton button-up shirt with blood orange frame trim, and industrial blue cotton trousers.

This collection is meant to challenge the perception that art is static, rather that art should be filled with life and motion. I loved the hint of playfulness and fun with this collection, but at the same time it did have such sophistication and clean lines. It’s a great style for men to showcase being fashionable, but not over the top.

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White Pima cotton button-up shirt with blood orange frame trim, and blood orange cotton trousers.

Additional Event Details –

Carlos Campos Look 13

Black neoprene long coat, off-white Neoprene sweatshirt with black vertical stripe design, and black Neoprene lounge pants with heavy mesh pocket trim and quilted-accent cuffs.

 Carlos Campos Look 15

Black Neoprene sweatshirt with white quilted color-block, and white quilted lounge pants.

  • Models – DNA, Aim, Fusion, NYM, Request, Soul, VNY, & Wilhelmina

Additional Event Sponsors – Hint water, Peroni, Svedka, Black Velvet Whisky, NEED edition, Johnston and Murphy, & Trask shoes

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Industrial blue cotton blazer, deep navy Pima cotton button-up shirt with white color-block and frame trim, and deep navy cotton trousers.

Moving on now to antonio azzuolo, for Spring/Summer 2015, we have a collection for both men and women. The looks, austere, playful, sartorial, and very much streetwear. The mood, romantic, contemplative, and poetic.

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The inspiration for this collection was an individual, one elegant in spirit and dress, grounded by nature, yet with a traveling, exploring, and free spirit. This person pursues their imagination, poetically interpreting heirlooms of vintage couture while integrating the elements of the streets where he or she has traveled.

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For the menswear aspect, the designs juxtaposed casual and formal elements, ideal for the modern man who wants to look his best at all times. There are sharp, tailored jackets, which were half cinched and paired with cropped trousers. The eastern flair continued with kimono-style tops, which coincided with a selection of black and white garments for effortless fashion choices. Meanwhile, bright colored plaids rounded out the collection with a western attitude.

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The brand has signature styles and shapes in black and white, but it was nice to see a.a. represented in some new colors for S/S, such as industrial blue, but also different prints such as the multi-wave neon striped print seen above.

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It’s also great to see how this collection’s inspiration is translated for both men and women, lots of light layering, but definitely a free flow sense of movement, perfect for one on the go!

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Additional event details —

  • Casting & Styling — John Tan, JTC Casting
  • Make-up & Hair — Aveda
  • Footwear/Accessories — For men, Johnston & Murphy and Nike; For women, Nike & Santoni

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Additional event sponsors — hint Water; Svedka; Black Velvet Whiskey; Peroni Italy; NEED edition; Cadillac, & Trask footwear

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NYFW Journeys — The Earlybird Gets the Worm!

For others, Fashion Week likely started later in the week during the 1st week in September. But my journey began on Sept 2nd! And from chic womenswear presentations to varied menswear collections I must say, there was no better way to kick off my time with NYFW!!

For these first 2 straight days I was exposed to a vast array of fashion week presentations – from emerging talent with designers such as Daniel Silverstain – Brazil in the 1960s comes to llfe — and Wenqi Wu – a recent Parsons grad’s take on Russian Constructivism — ,

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**Daniel Silverstain —  looked to famous influential Brazilian architects Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx for his spring 2015 collection. He interpreted the celebratory theme through a mix of innovative fabric techniques and unexpected texture mixes, like 3-d prints with beading, digital prints on micro-fiber, and luxurious silk crepe de chine or jacquard next to futuristic metallic leather. The NY-based Israeli designer also incorporated neoprene to elevate the sportswear-trend aesthetic.**

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**Inspired by the 1920’s Russian Constructivism movement of applying modern design techniques to functional and utilitarian clothing, each individual outfit within the collection bared masculine tailoring with an air of femininity, which was infused through bold colors and digital prints.**

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Continuing onto that of brands I was 1st being introduced to, such as Catherine Litke – an eco-friendly brand going into its 3rd season and now expanding with accessories! For spring, she worked with natural fabrics in the form of quilted plaids and patchworks. Accessories included espadrilles and sandals in bright patterns with biodegradable soles and straw totes in a neutral palette of black and tan.

Catherine+Litke+Litke+Presentation+Mercedes+u5DQkwOss_MlOther designers and/or brands opted for their own takes with NYFW, such as pas de calais’ practical in-store presentation or Maison Jules for Macy’s with their F/W 2014 showcase rather than presenting for S/S 2015.

1untitled   pas de Calais —  Designer Yukari Suda used a handmade Japanese indigo dip-dye technique throughout her spring collection. Named the “Gathering,” the lineup was inspired by family and friends gathered at the table. So, the shapes were all relaxed and easy, ranging from linen tops to silky striped dresses.

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Of course it was great to be able to take part in exclusive NYFW kick-off parties, such as Flaunt Magazine’s Distress Issue Cover Party, featuring Vanessa Hudgens on the cover, with partnerships from Siwy Denim and Brian Lichtenberg, which was held at Gilded Lily.

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But the main event for these 1st 2 days of my early start to NYFW had to be NYMD, which encompassed a wide variety of dynamic menswear brands – 10 to be exact! NYMD was held at Industria Superstudios and was presented by Cadillac.

David Hart Goin’ bananas for Palm Springs! Full feature here! 

Gents the infusion of boxing & Formula 1 racing. Full feature here! 

J. LindebergHead designer Jessy Heuvelink, continues to uphold the label’s core “fashion meets function” values as well as its soft spot for denim, leather, tailoring and a slimmer silhouette. Looking ahead to Spring 2015, “Biotopia”, those continuing themes make a strong showing with a lighter edge thanks to subtle florals, embroidered fabrics and Summer weight fabrics.

J.Lindeberg - Presentation - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2015 

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Lucio Castro a “Soviet Summer.” Full feature here! 

Stephen F. menswear take for womens’ apparel.

Carlos Campos embracing a sportier style, vibe, & edge.

WRK is off to the races! Literal prints such as oil spills and tire marks offered graphic stimulation, coupled with pops of green and blue from the mostly neutral palette.

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Antonio Azzuolo showcasing menswear & looks for women.

Bespoken dynamic mixtures of street & formalwear.

Original Penguin welcome to “Magic City”! Full Feature here!!

Loving #NYFW thus far!!

 

 

 

Desigual is in Bloom for S/S 2015 & Wants You to Say Something Nice!

And as the brand would say — What better way to say something nice than with flowers?!?

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Looks, left to right — (1) Collarless tulle shell jacket with metallic zipper, luxe jogger pant with sailor-style closure & smocking gathered cuff in colorful floral prints; (2) Tank dress with horizontal pleating details at empire waistband in Mexicana floral print; (3) Loose-fit tank jumpsuit in kaleidoscopic peacock feather print with drawstring waistband, wide leg pant in ethnic print. A collection all about some florals — flowers freshly cut from an imaginary garden — daisies, tropical hibiscus, & Mexican dahlias. The kaleidoscopic effect is representative of blossoming, to help in inspiring happiness, one blossom at a time!

For this recent MBFW/NYFW, Desigual & designer Monsieur Christian Lacroix presented a S/S 2015 collection to a very hyped & energetic crowd in The Theatre at Lincoln Center. The show is definitely one you won’t forget! Not only are the pieces refreshing, but the crowd’s energy is at an all-time high, and the models are doing more than working the runway — they are exuding radiance and positivity with each strut! And to kick off this phenomenal runway, Desigual brought on board Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima!

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And she looked great in every look!

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Loose-fit floral Hawaiian print top & shorts in die-cut floral print

Florals were a huge part of this collection. And were so in order to celebrate the season’s warm weather such as the desert roses seen above.

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Sleeveless trapeze dress with beaded applique design on decolletage in crinkly chiffon, colorful shoulder bag with iconic Desigual galactic prints

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Draped bodice minidress with asymmetrical hem, dropped shoulder & organic mandala motifs on a black background, shoulder bag in black & colorful galactic print

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Maxi with princess seamed fitted bodice, pleated at the waist for a full skirt in a colorful floral print

She was right on trend when it came to showcasing the brand’s inspirations for this presentation — nature’s flora & fauna, a true multi-cultural bouquet.

I also gotta give a shout-out to another familiar face for myself, top model & winner from ANTM cycle 6 — Dani!!

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Fit & flare tank dress in romantic prints with tulle yoke and hem. Embellished shoulder bag with contrasting top-stitching

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Deep v-neck sleeveless dress, fitted bodice to lowered waist & bubble skirt in galactic motif prints. Patchwork fold-over clutch

Jade, white, & onyx tones serve as the backdrop to this collection.

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Varsity style jacket in Jacquard weave w/ double layer raw edge open front, top in embroidered tulle & flowy mini shorts, with hand embroidered design.

Each piece is lush with poppy red, saffron, or teal. All in all creating looks that are reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

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Tropical floral print, lightweight crepe dress with beading at the neckline. Semi-structured leather shoulder bag in sunset ombre tones.

or, the underwater vegetation of Atlantis.

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Lightweight crepe tank jumpsuit in colorful Mexicana flower & Mediterranean stripe print

Additional amazing aspects for this collection — a cool Mediterranean spirit combined with South American motifs

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Maxi tribal print tank dress with beading on a v-neckband with gathered waist. Patchwork fold-over clutch.

classic English garden blooms meeting the Iberian Peninsula’s landscape

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Sheer Indian inspired dress in organic hues with floral motifs, crew neckline, and satin trim above dropped shoulder. Leather crossbody bag with floral & galactic motifs.

& a western countryside influenced by sweeping European geometry.

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Sleeveless playsuit in blue transparencies and galactic printed satin w/ gathered waist, French pockets, and straight-leg cropped pants.

There were plenty of high profile guests for the front row —

  • Sin City 2 star Rosario Dawson
  • French model Camille Rowe
  • Supermodel Poppy Delevingne
  • Socialite Olivia Palermo

Desigual - Front Row - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2015

  • OITNB star Laura Gomez
  • Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte

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  • Miss USA 2012 Nana Meriwether
  • Vanderpump Rules’ Pandora Vanderpump

Additional show details —

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Nail discussion creates the perfect segway into looking at some of the stunning accessories for the Desigual runway presentation — handbags, totes, clutches, headpieces, jewelry, & more!

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This was a mind-blowingly amazing show. I can’t wait for next season’s presentation!!

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More from NYMD for SS 2015 — Suits to Sporty!

With 10 designers presenting for NYMD there are of course will be several posts on Fashion Nexus detailing this major NYFW event. Check out my most recent piece here! So again, NYMD is held at Industria Superstudios and is presented by Cadillac. For my next 2 designers, they run the gamut, suits to casualwear to more sporty looks – it’s David Hart & Gents!

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 5

Purple English Mohair suit with an aqua silk atomic printed camp shirt

For Spring/Summer 2015, David Hart was inspired by all things Palm Springs – the natural landscape, as well as the Modernist architecture by greats such as Alexander, Neutra, Frey, Wexier, and Lautner.

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The color palette was drawn from Julius Shulman’s color photography –

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 4

English Mohair suit in baby blue with pink silk atomic printed camp shirt

Further color inspiration from the prints & patterns captured from Shulman’s images –

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 6

Atomic printed shorts suit in cotton linen

This collection for men is bright & fun, full of life and energy. It’s for a man who wants to be fashionable and is not afraid to be just that — a fashionable man!

Additional presentation details –

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 21

Electric blue English wool hopsack suit with Italian silk atomic printed camp shirt

  • Music – Work TVK, Xavier Ames
  • Lighting – Aion
  • Models – Request, NYMM, Q Models, One Model Management, Soul Models, DNA, & Wilhelmina

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 15

Italian silk jacquard tuxe jacket, black mohair tuxedo trousers, cotton pique tuxedo shirt, atomic printed cotton bowtie, & cotton pocket square

DAVID HART SS15 LOOK 20

Italian silk camp shirt, completely encompassed by a rust atomic print with Irish linen trousers in sand

Additional Event sponsors — hint water; Trask; Need edition; & Johnston and Murphy.

Next up Gents — a S/S collection inspired by the athletic and masculine elements of boxing as well as the clean lines and colors found in Formula 1 racing. The blending of both aesthetics makes for a strong collection of sporty and casual separates, caps and accessories.

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The collection is rooted in minimalist design, classic silhouettes, and timeless sophistication. The brand started out with luxury caps and has since expanded into a complete lifestyle brand. What growth!

Gents SS15 Look 4

Sky blue linen cap, indigo raw stretch denim shirt, white/grey cotton baseball shirt, sangre lambskin leather trim pant

So what’s in store with the Gents color palette — bold reds, as seen above, but also seasonless undertones, greys, navy —

Gents SS15 Look 9

Gray/black microfiber ‘haystack’ cap, midnight/charcoal snow jersey cotton s/s henley, heather grey french terry sport pant

also blacks & white —

Gents SS15 Look 2

Aurelien: salmon linen cap, white/black dual color dress shirt, ‘dean’ raw selvage denim street leg jean 

The brand also plays around with geometric patterns and prints, referencing the uniforms worn in Formula 1 races. Gents offers a great deal of dynamic menswear options for the brand’s male consumers, ones that will make him fashion-forward and insanely eye-catching!

Gents SS15 Look 17

Nikolai: black lambskin leather ‘g’ cap, midnight brushed tricot track jacket, black french terry sport short

Additional Show details —

Launched in 2012 by industry veteran, Josh Reed, Gents is a men’s lifestyle brand offering consumers the highest quality product with a fashionable and sophisticated design aesthetic. Gents can be found at retailers ranging from Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, SCOOP and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as its e- commerce site.

Gents SS15 Look Cadillac Lounge

Leo: black brushed cotton/spandex cap, white/black snow jersey cotton s/s henley, ‘jagger’ slim japanese raw jean

Maison Jules F/W 2014 — Chic Looks for Every Fashionista

NYFW is ongoing and the main focus is showcasing for S/S 2015. However, Maison Jules set out to present early, on Sept. 2nd, and the brand was presenting for Fall/Winter 2014. Macy’s Parisian-inspired brand teamed up with Betty Autier & Mathieu Lebreton, French style bloggers of Le Blog de Betty, for the presentation of this campaign. The collection was showcased at ArtBeam and truly was a great time — memorable looks, cozy atmosphere/environment, cocktails, appetizers, music, & more!

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The collection encompassed looks of light layers, comfy sweaters, subtle fall tones/hues, and numbers that are perfect for any fashionista, NYC & beyond!

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  • Soft pink feather leopard cardigan & sequin top pleated dress
  • Ivory studded lace dress & Animal boyfriend cardigan
  • Stone cowl neck poncho & “Frankie” black super slim pant

All of the looks just had such a great vibe, one that is cool, eccentric, and unique. Many of the pieces can be mixed and matched, dressed up or down. It’s great when a collection provides its consumer with lots of versatility!

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  • Ivory metallic dotted dress & denim jacket
  • Leopard sweater & “Sophie” washed indigo pant

Every aspect of this collection and presentation was well thought out — the pairings/styling, the set-up, the lighting, and more. It was truly eye-catching and not only was a great experience, but the best way I could think of to kick off my NYFW journey!!

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  • French Striped boxy tee; White foil cable pullover; & Black skinny pant
  • Lurex waffle cardigan & Deep forest paperbag dress

Additional presentation details —

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  • Striped Sweatshirt Combo dress
  • Cat Cashmere sweater & Shadow striped dress

 

 

 

 

NYMD — Casual Spring/Summertime Looks for 2015

NY Menswear Day was back in action for 2015, presenting collections during 2 time slots on Sept. 3rd, encompassing 10 designer presentations. The event was sponsored by Cadillac and was held at Industria Superstudios. For menswear, NYMD had it all — suits, casual pieces, layering, prints, textures, outerwear, and more! Let’s take a look at 2 menswear brands who showcased tons of fun with that of casual looks for S/S 2015 — Original Penguin & Lucio Castro:

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For Spring 2015, Original Penguin takes inspiration from the energetic and glamorous “Magic City” itself: late 1950’s Miami. As the heat begins to build, the collection moves poolside and emulates a tone of modern preppiness, mixing chambrays with vintage-floral prints. Let’s get to know — Original Penguin’s “Magic City” SS 15 collection —

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Checkered reversible jacket; Palm-print collared shirt; Chambray linen shorts; navy leather bag; & “The Rave” white sneakers

For the guy who embraces a more refined style, there are also options of seersucker suits, keeping him sophisticated yet cool before retiring for an evening of casual rooftop games.

OPG Look 6

Chambray linen blazer; Floulard collared shirt; Slim fit trousers in bright white; “The Woods” sunglasses; & Denim dress shoes

The color palette — chromatic blues — Conversational jacket; Plaid shirt; Classic blue slim fit pants; & Canvas high tops. 1409843540126_original-penguin-spring-summer-2015-1VIBRANT GREENS, with a splash of aqua and soft pinks, all of which provides a contrast, reminiscent of the saturated colors of beachfront homes set against the soft pastel colors of Miami’s art-deco streets.

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Island-printed collared shirt; Solid shorts in carmine rose; “The Brooklyn” sunglasses; grey watch; & “The Rave”, white sneaker

The looks were all well put together, lots of light layers, and perfect for a guy who needs a mix of streetwear casual looks, more laid back summertime fun pieces, and even those times calling for more upscale numbers, perhaps a spring wedding.

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Additional presentation details —

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Ocean Drive tee; Flamingo swim shorts; “The Randall” sunglasses; & Espy seersucker flip-flops

  • Casting — Trew Productions — Same for Lucio Castro (details below)
  • PR — Agentry PR — Same for Lucio Castro (details below)
  • House Photograpy — Keith Morrison
  • Models — Adam, Click, Ford, Fusion, IMG, NY Models, One, Request, Soul, & Wilhelmina.
  • Music — Original Penguin

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Striped polo shirt; Floral swim shorts; & “The Rave”, white  sneaker

Additional Event Sponsors — Need, Black Velvet, hint Water, Peroni, & Svedka. Hint & Need are also the same for Lucio Castro (details below).

Moving on now, let’s learn about Lucio Castro for S/S 2015, “Soviet Summer” —

Summertime nostalgia and the romance of our youthful freedom is at the heart of the Lucio Castro Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Castro references both his own childhood, spent away from the sun and in the cinema in his hometown for Buenos Aires, as well as the iconography of “Soviet summers” in the stark, almost desolate beach towns of Odessa and Sopot in the 1970’s and 80’s.

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK ELEVEN

Melange green Boris cardigan; Green reverse striped collared shirt; & Cream quilted knit shorts.

Found throughout the collection are nods to Castro’s past, further enriched by Castro’s passion for film and the character behind the clothes.

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK FIFTEEN

Green reversible Odessa Tuck striped crew shirt; Olive Mac with batik polka dots lining; & Olive Donnie pants.

The collection is infused with subtle coloring and hues — tans

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK FOURTEEN

Natural blue/yellow Sopot Chunky cardigan & Cream, white, striped textured shorts

Shades of Blues —

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK TWENTYTHREE

Blue Shibori shirt; Blue bucket V-neck swearter; & Blue quilted shorts

And greys!

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK TWENTYTWO

Charcoal & blue linen/rayon suit, and Cream striped placket shirt.

These looks are quite daring, a perfect fit for the man who is not afraid to say “I love fashion”! Love the layering, great use of color & textures, and loads of fun with the prints.

Additional event details —

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK EIGHT

Reclaimed vintage “Pan Am” towel sweatshirt & Black “Donnie” shorts

Additional event sponsors — Trask and Johnston & Murphy.

LUCIO CASTRO SS15 LOOK FIVE

Grey Harbor embroidered sweatshirt; Navy fine plaid shirt; & Blue quilted sweatpants.