More on Fashion Week Brooklyn, The Intro Continues…

Posted on October 4, 2014 by SMM

So Fashion Week Brooklyn is already heating up, amazing looks are coming down the runway, the crowd is energized, and some stunning talent is coming to fruition. Full recaps are coming soon, but I want to do a little intro for the Day 3 & Day 4 designers presenting this weekend! So again, FWB is showcasing looks for S/S 2015, titled, ‘Designs of the Times’, with the venue being at Industry City.

Fashion Week Brooklyn is presented by the non-profit, BK Style Foundation. It is a full production event geared to market and promote emerging and established designers from around the world. FWB features men’s, women’s, children’s, eco-friendly, pet couture, accessory, RTW, bridal and couture collections.

So for Day 3, Oct. 4th, here is the lineup —

Band — The Craig Greenberg Band
- Dark Moon Apache
6 pm — Red Carpet, VIP seating
7 pm — Runway
Fundraiser reception until 11

Here is a bit of information on the designers presenting –\

Canine Couture by Anthony Rubio Designs

Doggywear, Pet Fashion Never Looked this Good!

Joyce Pilarsky

Philippines — Couture Womenswear — Can’t wait to see more amazing looks from this talented lady. I will be happy to don my own look from her & take in what she has to offer for S/S 2015. She also creates some magnificent jewelry pieces!

Underground Marketing Clothing — Ken Shep — USA

Isabella Milan — Barcelona, Spain;

Claire Consigny — France

Malanski — swimwear

Soka by Karen DeFreitas Fraser of St. Vincent

And finally, Oct. 5th, for the closing evening, Day 4, here is what you need to know —

Band — The Tryptics
- Nafsi Groove
3 pm — Red Carpet & Seating
4 pm — Runway
Fundraiser party 8 pm – 12 am

The designers presenting are —

John Guarnes

Womenswear, Philippines

Angel Rodriguez OMI — USA; womenswear

Cassie Kogler — USA, Womenswear

Bradley Douglas Jordan

Claire Henkel Urban Sewn — USA; womenswear

To purchase tickets and to see the entire show schedule please visit www.fashionweekbrooklyn.com

Additional event sponsors & information –

Luevo — an online platform that creates a direct channel between American and Canadian designers and shoppers announced a new partnership with FWB enabling guests the opportunity to reserve and shop new looks straight off the runway!

GoGo Squeez
yelp
Brooklyn Winery – locally crafted wine, eats, and private events
Alchemy Creamery
Creative Engineering

Splash PR Agency
Brooklyn Style, aka bk Style
Green Living – build a better planet
City Point
Orange Peel SL
Beautiful Stranger –– a vibrant community of lifestyle trendsetters sharing their personal style and insider secrets. Beautiful Stranger will provide visual content featuring fashion tastemakers and trendsetters attending the four-day FWB event and on the streets of Brooklyn. All in all, partnering with FWB to further engage its audience this season!

Fashion GPS
EM Design
Uber

New York Events – daily source for NY events
ae 56
TimeOut New York
Duggal
Brooklyn Brewery

Gotham Stages

NYC 2^nd Chance Rescue – established 2009
CrossFire Sound Productions
Levy Lighting NYC

Brooklyn Tourism
zico – pure premium coconut water

The amazing locale for FWB is once again, Industry City! Industry City is a 6-million square foot collection of historic warehouse structures situated on the waterfront in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The complex’s owners – Belvedere Capital, Jamestown and Angelo Gordon, along with Cammeby’s International and FBE Limited – are actively updating the complex, its amenities and its systems while cultivating a diverse tenant mix that fuses today’s burgeoning innovation economy with traditional manufacturing and artisanal craft. This work is paving the way toward a vibrant and diverse community of forward-thinking companies that support good-paying jobs for workers across skill and experience levels. For more information, visit industrycity.com.

Fashion Week Brooklyn Fall 2014 Intro – “Designs of the Times”

Posted on October 2, 2014 by SMM

Fashion Week endures on as it’s now time for FWB’s bi-annual series of designer presentations for S/S 2015! Spanning 4 days, with over 20 designers presenting collections, this is going to be a for-sure “Can’t Miss” multi-day event.

Fashion is forever-changing and constantly evolving. As the fashion world changes, FWB continues to showcase cutting edge, emerging designers and trends. The Spring/Summer collection series of shows, aptly titled, ‘Designs of the Times’, begins October 2- 5, 2014 at Industry City (located at 241 37^th Street). Presentations will feature the collections of designers based in the USA, St. Vincent, Africa, Norway, Spain, France, and the Philippines.

This post serves as the first of 2 intro posts for FWB. So Part 1 is all about Day 1 & Day 2, Oct. 2^nd & 3^rd. Day 1 encompasses eco-friendly kids clothing, innovative designs, & RTW! Here is the schedule and breakdown for Oct. 2nd, and some designer and entertainment info –

Band/Entertainment – Crystal King with Black & Tan
6:30 – Red Carpet & Opening Night Cocktails
7:30 – Runway time!
Cocktail reception to follow until 11 pm.

Designers presenting —

My Fabulous Puppy

Eco-conscious pet products that are made of purposed materials for fashion & function. Made in the USA.

Maxwell William High School

Womenswear, USA — Career & Technical Education High School

Bridgett Artise with Born again Vintage — Sustainable fashion for women & menswear, USA

Yadestiny Treasure Chest

Childrenswear, featuring their Fit For Fashion collection of street style revamped from old clothes. (USA)

Brooklyn Fashionistas Camp — “Spoke the Hub”

City Kid Camp, USA, Childrenswear — young designers with age ranges from age 5 to 13 years old and received mentoring from celebrity fashion designer/stylist Ron Bass and celebrity DJ Olivia Dope

High School of Fashion Industries — Womenswear (USA)

FREE after-school opportunity for teens to explore the arts in NYC.

Lisbeth Løvbak Berg

Womenswear, Norwegian designer
clear vision of slow fashion, with focus on high quality tailoring and an ecological and ethical message.

Iliana Quander

Womenswear, USA
produces mostly one-of-a-kind, custom and short run clothes for women

Repurposed/Reused — Women & menswear, USA

Sohung Designs

Womenswear, USA, aka “Tom”
This collection consists of original, hand-made & one-of-a-kind pieces

Next up, let’s take a look at Day 2, Oct. 3rd, Celebrating a Night of Fashion & Dramatic Scents —

Hosted by Chef Roblé, celebrity guest host known for creating recipes is now also mixing perfume notes and will introduce his new fragrance, Clique by Roblé:
- The First Fragrance Recipe by Chef Roblé combines several of Roblé’s signature creations. Invigorating blood-orange, citrus cocktail notes on top. Alluring Dessert notes including vanilla, chocolate and hints of honey, for a lasting sensual gourmand finish. cliquebyroble.com Not Edible | Only Wearable | Just Delectable

Band – California King
6:30 – Red Carpet
7:30 – Runway shows
Meet & greet with Chef Roblé to follow, and guests will receive a complimentary Scented Nail Lacquer. The CLIQUE polish rounds out the Clique by Roblé collection. It smells like a typical nail polish upon application and smells delicious when dry. The signature fragrance lasts up to 96 hours!
Fundraiser reception to follow until 11 pm.

Designers to present —

Biljana Salerno of CACI Fashion — Womenswear, USA

My vision is to break down the walls of the ordinary and create clothing that excites, entices and makes women feel alive

Showcase of African designers w/ Cape Town Fashion Council — Women & menswear

To purchase tickets and to see the entire show schedule please visit www.fashionweekbrooklyn.com But here is a brief schedule summary –

Thursday, October 2- Runway show begins at 7:30pm
Friday, October 3- Runway show begins at 7:30pm (Meet and greet directly after)
Saturday, October 4- Runway show begins at 7pm
Sunday, October 5- Runway show begins at 4pm (Closing party directly after)

Additional event sponsors & information –

Luevo — an online platform that creates a direct channel between American and Canadian designers and shoppers announced a new partnership with FWB enabling guests the opportunity to reserve and shop new looks straight off the runway!

GoGo Squeez
yelp
Brooklyn Winery – locally crafted wine, eats, and private events
Alchemy Creamery
Creative Engineering

Splash PR Agency
Brooklyn Style, aka bk Style
Green Living – build a better planet
City Point
Orange Peel SL
Beautiful Stranger –– a vibrant community of lifestyle trendsetters sharing their personal style and insider secrets. Beautiful Stranger will provide visual content featuring fashion tastemakers and trendsetters attending the four-day FWB event and on the streets of Brooklyn. All in all, partnering with FWB to further engage its audience this season!

Fashion GPS
EM Design
Uber

New York Events – daily source for NY events
ae 56
TimeOut New York
Duggal
Brooklyn Brewery

NYC 2^nd Chance Rescue – established 2009
CrossFire Sound Productions
Levy Lighting NYC

Brooklyn Tourism
zico – pure premium coconut water

Kia Vonvega for S/S 2015 – Vivacious Looks w/ Vibrant Colors

Posted on October 1, 2014 by SMM

All images in this post are courtesy of ArthurEisenberg.Photography, EDV (Eugene J. DeVillamil), & Adam Z. Lein.

Kia Vonvega, of Clear Boutique, debuted her Spring/Summer 2015 fashion week collection a few days ago at the hip lounge/bar LQ NYC. Needless to say, she debuted with a bang as pieces were brimming with energy, color, and allure.

Kia in bright royal blue, on the right!

LQ in NYC — 511 Lexington Ave.

There were 25 models that strutted down the runway, exuding such confidence and attitude. But how could one not in such bold, provocative looks! The collection included sexy silhouettes in various forms – swimwear, jumpsuits, bodycon dresses, streetwear, semi-formal looks, & more!

Now for a little lovefest on a personal fave of mine in this collection, pictured above & below, the fitted metallic lavender polka dot dress. Polka dots are a styled print I often wear and as such, this is a trend I always keep an eye out for on the runway. I am the NYC Fashion Editor for Bellus Magazine, and in my recent Fall 2014 Fashion Week recap, I summarized some hot looks and trends I saw during Fashion Week. One such feature was all on polka dots. So Kia, with this mesmerizing & stunning look, I add your design talents right alongside greats such as Lela Rose & Zimmermann – JOB WELL DONE! Clearly I am in love with this look and it will not be forgotten anytime soon!

Kia describes her collection and its inspirations as being about sexy and sensual moods. There was a clear focus & plan to showcase a sexier side of feminine appeal. The way to do that, utilize bold colors and showcase alluring silhouettes.

Lace appliqué & cutouts are 2 other trends I featured in my Bellus Fashion Week recap piece. And as I mentioned there, these are trends I don’t see going away anytime soon so I like to see what modern touches designers add to make the trend technique their own. As seen below, in this hot pink fitted number and nude striped jumpsuit, Kia is adding her signature stamp to these details.

Speaking of design details, the intricate details for Kia’s collection are what truly captivated every soul at LQ last Friday, Sept. 26^th. Everything was so meticulously thought out and crafted. Fringe is in right now, so with this hot orange separates piece, it is right on trend for S/S 2015!

The colors in this collection POP! There are bold solid hues in lime green, tangerine orange, hot pink, royal blue, and more. With prints there is aquatic reptilian and zebra striped numbers. Getting back to some great details, there is always plenty of room for creativity, such as with this burgundy one-piece with multi-colored fuzzy balls.

These looks are all just super cool, some of a more relaxed style, while others are hip, bad-ass numbers that will grab everyone’s attention for sure! There is a totally chic vibe about the pieces that scream chic fashionista urban RTW. These looks would be eye-catching on the street or mesmerizing at an exclusive rooftop lounge or cocktail bar.

Let’s do another love-fest on this lace turquoise number. It grabs the attention from all angles. There is asymmetry, half pants, half dress. There are intricate & exquisite cutouts at the shoulder and on the back. The look is just hands down stunning. The instant it hit the runway I was intrigued. It would also work in any color, but I think the use of a bold pop of color in turquoise was wise for the runway. Another great look Kia — PROPS!!

A great designer knows a runway show is not just about a look coming down the runway, it’s about putting on a great show, styling looks from head to toe. Now I will get to the make-up & hair details later, but what clearly stood out for me with Kia’s presentation was many of her accessories, especially the footwear. Check out these rockin’ lace & floral combo open-toed booties — #LOVE!

And stealing the show with footwear are these thigh-high gold netted heels – smokin’, hot, killer heels, & whatever other sexy adjective one might think of that could and does describe these heels!

Another sexy amazing look with more hip, chic strapped heels.

This fashion extravaganza was presented by NYC Fashion Runway. NYC Fashion Runway is a leading event organization for classic & independent fashion designers to showcase their collections in NYC, offering press, buyers, stylists, industry influencers, and brand opportunities. They have conducted fashion shows in iconic venues such as The Empire State Building, Copacabana, The Waldorf, and private event spaces, producing all aspects of the fashion show so designers can concentrate on their collection. Get to know the brilliant NYC Fashion Runway team:

Davina Reichman Schuck – CEO

Lauren Ashley Mirsky – Events Director
Channing McIntosh – Events Assistant
Adam Z Lein / Alex Borghi – Official Photographers
Levi Bond Jr – General Manager
Erica Moor – Guest List Manager

Kia Vonvega’s looks were amazing. And what helped to even further amplify these pieces was amazing styling from partners and true pros for this event –

Shannon Davis & Rosalinda Biddle Styling team.

They’ve created an exceptional experience in beauty, mystic and elegance. Designed to satisfy even the most trend conscious, they’ve infused their services with elements they believe to be essential above all: art, creativity and talent. Shannon also books appointments with clients at the Soho Salon.

Additional Stylists — Kate Duckworth, Rosanna Ippolito, Jasmin Moon, Gina Mendoza, Rosanna Andrade, Chloe Lynn, Melissa Andrade, Erica Maisonet-Romero, Rachael Bailey, Elaine Hughes, Aisha Campbell

JP Makeup NYC — Pascale Nurse, Michelle Buongiovanni, and assistants.

Special appearance for the presentation were

Miss East Coast winner (Jen Sidorova) — pictured below, in center
Mr India Galaxy winner (Prakash Patil)
Miss Malaysia Universe winner Christina Chelliah

Other event partners –

Fashion Ave. News Magazine

Here are a few other bold, daring, sexy looks from Kia Vonvega of Clear Boutique!

Again, all images in this post are courtesy of ArthurEisenberg.Photography, EDV (Eugene J. DeVillamil), & Adam Z. Lein.

Nolcha Recaps – A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Posted on October 1, 2014 by SMM

So wrapping up my recaps with Nolcha Fashion Week, let’s take a look at this catchall post. There are accessories to check out in the form of fashionable hats and some athletic or sportswear. But first, a little something for the men with Schuyler 4, a collective of menswear brands including: pants by Alberto, knitwear by Codice, shirts by Haupt, and sports jackets by Carl Gross!

Stylish casual suits, poppin’ pants, bold prints, and more, that is what the Schuyler 4 collective brought with this S/S 2015 runway presentation! With Alberto Pants, you aren’t going wrong with fit, so it’s great to see an addition of style added, such as with this vibrant floral print seen above. The brand has very much stuck true to its signature & vision — high quality, exciting fabrics, attractive buttons, harmonious yarn colors, beautifully produced lining and great craftsmanship.

Lots of menswear brands give you the basic, staple suit, which you need, but you are also going to want more relaxed or casual suit options as not every occasion calls for a suit & tie vibe. You will always need to start with your basic undershirt, and with that, there is no better than Haupt. Their shirts are understated & wearable designer shirts — high quality & casual elegance.

You might want a bit more pizzazz in your suited look, so Carl Gross is right there to again provide modern & fashionable twists for men with suits. This brand is also about a relaxed elegance, but also fashion, quality, & comfort. You are not going to go wrong with any of these looks!

There is a lot of versatility amongst these pieces, the ability to mix & match, go even more casual with a basic pair of chino shorts.

Another great aspect with versatility, is the ability with Schuyler 4 to add in layering with light to medium-weight outerwear. Codice is right on hand for the perfect knit to match modern pants and shirts. It’s contemporary “tops” with a modern fit, “fashion” but wearable.

There is a vibe to all of these pieces that would definitely catch my eye as a single female. I would see a fashionable man, who is able to dress well, pick out his own stylish clothes, and at the end of the day, look cool, be modern.

I love this leather jacket above. It is my most fave piece in this collective presentation!

Next up, let’s go back to Nolcha’s Ones to Watch series of presentations, and check out some bold, dramatic hats, custom millinery by Monstruosité.

Monstruosité is by Dolly Donshey, with a creation of pieces focusing on the traditional art of millinery with a modern unconventional twist. These pieces for this current runway presentation are so exquisite, immaculately conceived, & simply put, BREATHTAKING!

The details are what sells these pieces. YES! You will want to just don one of these as you walk down the streets of NYC, Paris, or London! There is nothing basic about these intricate hats, the colors, the clear inspiration, the passion!

The hats even blossom to full on pieces such as this lavender floral lace piece seen below — GORGEOUS!!

There is no way to not be captivated here. Donshey’s craftsmanship and quality work with the materials, carrying out her inspirational designs, it’s magical. I love this shades of blue moon design below, it’s high fashion at its best!

The element of art coming to life in these pieces is definitely present.

The various pieces adorned with flowers look amazing. The twist with the skulls incorporated is a great eye-catching twist. Donshey knows no creative boundary and that is a huge plus for her and putting out some highly unique, distinctive pieces!

REMEMBER, THOU SHALT BE MONSTRUOUS!!

And finally, touching on fashion of all types, let’s look at some comfy chic sports attire from Oiselle!

Oiselle made use of runners, not models for this runway presentation — BRILLIANT!! They stepped barefoot onto the catwalk, wearing sports bras and spandex, with ponytails and abdomens shredded & fully exposed. Instead of look books and go-sees, they were cast based on their portfolios of race times and medals. It was great to see such inspiring and real women donning these looks, truly conveying the pieces are made for the average, everyday woman, no just a model!

One woman was a 45-year-old doctor with three sons and a degree from Yale who had just run a 5 minute, 13 second mile. Another was Olympian Kara Goucher, 36. Leading the group down the runway was Lauren Fleshman, 33, an NCAA national 5-kilometer champion at Stanford.

Oiselle’s vision is to create practical feminine fierce athletic apparel for women who love to run and race. That is exactly what the brand has done with these pieces. Who says athleticwear can’t also be fashionable!

There is a range of styles & options with this collection. If you want the pops of color or more stylized pieces, there is that. But if simplicity is more your style, there are tons of options!

In addition to spandex, leggings, tanks, shorts, sports bras, there is also outerwear and accessories by way of warmers.

This brand is all about bold lines, high design with it’s pieces, creating fashion sportswear. The intricate line designs are a modern styling to basic activewear pieces. It’s great to be able to hit the gym in style, but also have practicality and function with what you are wearing!

Great job Oiselle!

Katty Xiomara for Nolcha — OtterBox Innovation & Flirty Frocks!

Posted on September 30, 2014 by SMM

Award-winning Portuguese designer Katty Xiomara presented her Spring/Summer 2015 collection at Nolcha Fashion Week recently, in New York, specifically Eyebeam NYC.

Xiomara also had a big unveiling with the OtterBox® dress. This dress encapsulates a lot of what Xiomara’s collection is all about — chic separates, flirty dresses, trendy hits, hint of a vintage vibe, and modernized looks. The dress closed the show, unveiling Xiomara’s collaboration with the mobile accessories company, and their Alpha Glass™ technology, an all-new fortified glass screen protector for cellular phones.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is overcoming obstacles,” Xiomara said. “Creating an ensemble from glass screen protectors provides a unique challenge for me as it is something that has never been done. Alpha Glass compliments my style perfectly, blending elegant and refined taste with an understated strength.”

Xiomara is typically known for her geometric patterns, but for this collection she took the art form of a “chocolatier” as her inspiration. She melted geometric shapes, creating more organic forms. The resulting printed patterns are very captivating, so mesmerizing!

With this, the color blocks were exposed of their rigidity, leaving the structure bare and originating a set of intertwined lines and points, outlined by wavy cut-outs.

The result was subtle and lighter, offering her consumer “organic geometry in wire frames.”

The collection was a futuristic and retrospective mix, with a very lucid and practical take on the urban woman. Just like a chocolatier can’t predict the shape of an individual chocolate, the silhouettes bloom uniquely throughout the line. I loved that each look was so unique, but was still a collection of pieces that belong together — each integral to the presentation’s story.

White color and smooth materials were a constant, with black outlines and striking cut-outs seen consistently in the line. Pops of color are always great, and needed to provide a breath of fresh air for a collection. But black and/or white looks are great staples to have in any collection and in one’s own wardrobe.

Speaking of pops of color, there is a great use of it in this collection. There are softer hues in pastels such as rose pink.

Still a softer tone, but with a bit more umpf, is a color such as blue or purple.

And then in full on daringly bold hues, there is spicy tomato red!

Celebrity supporters who came out to the show wearing Katty Xiomara included, Kat Graham (Vampire Diaries), Sammi Hanretty (Actress),

and Kristen Ruhlin (Actress).

Also in attendance, former American Idol singer & actor Constantine Maroulis

& photographer Jo Lance.

There were so many amazing looks in this collection that I have to show off a few more! It was so hard to narrow down to just a few faves. But hey, there is no harm, no foul, in showcasing more great looks by Katty Xiomara. And again, all in all, looks that are super fun, very girly, feminine, flirty frocks that any woman would instantly fall in love with!

The fabrics utilized in this collection were the perfect choices. There is lots of lovely lace, which I love! There is some sheer overlay, which is always a nice modern touch. Shimmery fabrics add some special sparkle to several of the pieces. The silhouettes and styles are also great, ranging from basic dresses to more escalated looks, and even to trendy separates.

And finally, what I adore about this collection are the details — ladylike collars/high necklines, fitted waistlines adorned with chic belts. There are also pleats and asymmetry for stylized detail effects.

Nolcha Recaps — Sophisticated, Sultry, & Sexy Looks for the Ladies!

Posted on September 28, 2014 by SMM

Nolcha Fashion Week has a little something for everyone! When it comes to great looks for women, you can choose from chic, full-on fashionista pieces to sensual & alluring numbers to bold, confident frocks. Let’s begin with a few looks that are so polished, very sophisticated in nature with Charles & Ron.

These pieces are quite exquisite. The collection encompasses a lot of styles & silhouettes. Taking for example this look above, very formal in nature with a full ball gown skirt — it’s divine! The prints for this collection are superbly eye-catching and stunning.

This print seen above is featured on many looks in this collection. I love seeing it on a basic dress silhouette and then on a maxi as seen below. It all works! These pieces look to be so well made, high quality, creating a very polished overall look. Charles & Ron is sticking by their signature here, feminine silhouettes adorned with modern graphic prints.

Keeping in line with a well put together ensemble, head to toe, there are some great accessories to catch one’s eye as well. There are many handbags, totes, and clutches paired with the looks — perfectly coordinated!

Another highlighted feature is this white netting, as seen above over a fitted floor-length dress and then below over a LBD. It’s intricate, very detailed, and very in tune with this overall collection, the other looks, the underlying theme.

Prints alone are great, but there is also a great use of color mixed in. Lots of black and white, but the varied pastels in rose pink, lavender, tangerine, and light teal are truly mesmerizing.

This collection is phenomenal. It’s graphic and chic fashionista style. There is an infusion of many great elements here and they all combine so well, so fabulously! LOVE!

Next up, let’s spice things up a bit, show off a little sexiness with Rinat Brodach.

The collection is called “How to expose the Heart”. It was inspired by the dilemma of exposing and protecting the heart. Rinat wears her heart on her sleeve. The inspiration was taken from everyday life where the heart is exposed, passionate, happy, sad, scared and vulnerable. This exposure leads to pieces that exhibit such confidence, also high quality design technique!

The draping around the areas of the heart show us different situations and feelings from exposing the heart to protecting the heart. Sometimes art doesn’t make sense, ’cause it comes from the heart. But Rinat’s draping is very much her signature, and she does it so beautifully. Her pieces tell a story, and everything from the draping to the simplistically minimal style draws you in. You want to know more.

The materials used for this collection also add into this story. Everything is of such high quality, captivating in nature. You wonder what is used right! It is different kinds of jerseys with some amazing textures on them, Cotton Satin, and Cupero. So not leather, but it’s great that the varied fabrics leave the eye & mind to wonder!

I think it is great that Rinat echoed her signature, doing what she does so well with high-fashion construction and drape, and using this signature to further tell this collection’s story. The draping and construction conveys a mode of expression, inspiring women to lead from the heart and to bring out the inner sensuality, with the feeling of confidence and security.

What makes this collection so intriguing to me is how understated the pieces are, yet still they are so captivating. It’s because of great technique in draping, high quality, great fit, and a clear story that grabs one’s attention.

To complement these looks, Brodach collaborated with jewelry designer, Orly Ruaimi, to deconstruct Rinat’s concept of “How to Expose the Heart” (SS/2015) to its literal foundation, the arteries and veins of the human body. Copper pipes, with their stunning visual presence and metaphorical connection to the body’s blood flow, became the building blocks for the collection. Additional sterling silver finger shields were incorporated by jewelry designer, Schentell Dominique Nunn.

Moving on, let’s take a last look at a designer who infuses feminine sex appeal and culture into her pieces, Sofia Arana.

Sofia Arana is another designer who is not afraid to showcase a little bit of sexiness with her pieces, but at the same time, they are super girly, fun, and flirty! You can see her Puerto Rican heritage & culture infused into each piece, from the prints to the colors to the silhouettes.

This yellow & grey floral print is a featured print for this collection. I love the flirty feminine vibe it gives off and the cutout is just a great touch! This piece perfectly encapsulates Arana’s vision of a basic, classic shape, or silhouette, but adding her own signature, modern touches to keep up with today’s trends.

Her lace detailed pieces are some of my personal faves, also keeping with today’s trends, especially with the use of sheer overlay. Sofia also loves to keep with a vintage appeal and I think she has really stuck by her true aesthetic with this collection, but just taking it to the next level.

The pieces have just such a great flare, a lovely vibe. You would be able to wear these pieces at so many different places, dressed up, dressed down, on the streets, to a cocktail affair!

Sofia’s signatures are being whimsical, yet a classy style for the young woman who appreciates casual elegance and a romantic vibe. All of these pieces take a new spin on this signature, a new twist that continues to stand with modern times and today’s trends.

I love this print, have to feature it again! This look is probably one of my faves and would be great to dress up for a summer night out, or even pair with some flats for an on the go busy NYC day.

All in all, the pieces are for women who like to have a little fun when getting ready, are infused with a great confidence, and are not afraid to be a little flirty, a little sexy in the styling.

I also have to highlight ANTM cycle 10 model, Stacy Anne Fequiere, workin’ it for NYFW 2014, always great seeing her strut her stuff and do her thing!

Special guest celebs were Jessica Pimentel & Madeline Brewer of OITNB!

Nolcha Fashion Week Recaps — Varied RTW Styles for Women

Posted on September 27, 2014 by SMM

Continuing on with more Nolcha Fashion Week posts, lets check out a few of the designers presenting from the “Ones to Watch” collective show. This group is a talented bunch, emerging designers who are certainly going places.

First up, Gregory Apparel for S/S 2015, presented by Rachel Gregory.

This collection encompasses some very feminine & flirty RTW options for women in 2015. There is an ease about the looks due in part to the minimal silhouettes and soft pastels such as rose pink and sky blue. This sky blue deep V-neck dress below is probably one of my most fave pieces. It’s chic, easygoing, and for a woman who wants to be confident and carefree — that’s me!

The delicate, easier going vibe of this collection is not just about the lighter hues, but also the lighter weight fabrics, such as crepe. The fits of the fabric create a more relaxed fit, but all in all, still a very chic and well put together, polished look.

The bold pops of red, as seen above, was a great choice to add for these Spring pieces. It pairs very well with the stone and cream tones.

This is another fave of mine with this collection, very delicate, not over the top, a look that really encapsulates the underlying theme of this presentation. The looks are all so graceful, delicate, and understated, one of my most fave styles, simplistic minimalism at its best!

Love a great, fun dress with some pockets — it’s a detail that comes in handy!

Next up, J.Burgos NY with business glam for S/S 2015!

I love this look below, it’s a great look to showcase the elegance amplified this collection encompasses, thanks in part to the structure and shimmering satin fabric. The emerald jewel tone coloring is also a wise choice in demonstrating how luxe and glamorous many of these looks are.

Mixing in quite well with the emerald jewel tone are bright pops of tangerine orange. It definitely livens up the presentation, showcasing a more bold, daring side to the collection.

Some of the pieces definitely present a bit on the sexier side, a very sensual, alluring quality, such as with this black and white look above.

Separates aide to the business or professional vibe this collection has to offer. As seen above, there is a modern pencil skirt in a pretty blush pink and ruffled skirt. Or as seen below with a look, if paired with a basic black blazer, it could work great for being on the job. And then sans jacket, it transitions great to a date night or happy hour look!

The emerald leopard print is featured on a couple of looks, a print that dresses up quite well a basic look or classic silhouette.

And finally, there is B’venaj, presenting for S/S 15 a modern, urban RTW ensemble of looks for women.

A great aspect of this collection is the ability of taking the brand’s woman on all walks of her life. There are upscale, more glamorous looks, and then ones you could wear to work, a modern professional vibe. The collection runs the gamut for sure!

B’venaj utilizes color so well, also prints. Whether its the bright tangerine orange, the light blue, or red, all are used quite stunningly and are very eye-catching. What’s even more brilliant is the combo of solids with bold, dynamic prints.

A few of the looks feature a modern trend in silhouette — crop top & skirt. The crop tops work with both fitted skirts and of a more fit and flare style.

The looks are very chic, so sophisticated. But even with such polished looks, there is still a sexy, confident vibe to the pieces. This is all done very tastefully, quite appropriate to add more versatility to the collection.

B’venaj presents some truly amazing pieces for women, but luckily, there is a little something to offer for the men as well!

Nolcha Fashion Week’s official sponsors include: Dasani, Franciacorta, DON Q Rums, Adrian London Skincare, OtterBox, SUBWAY, Defiant Whisky, Bella Forma Wines, and Neulook.

Nolcha Fashion Week Recaps — Eveningwear & Project Subway Fun!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by SMM

One of my most fave parts of NYFW is attending the Nolcha Fashion Week shows. I always see such bright, emerging talented designers. So many of the looks are always super captivating. I have a great time mingling with other fashion industry insiders. And also, a lot of great sponsors and partners take part in the series of events. This is why I wrote so many intro posts on Nolcha. And I am of course now very excited to start showcasing some images and look details for the many designers who presented their S/S 2015 collections at Nolcha during fall fashion week 2014!

So for my first piece, I have to start with the breathtaking and alluring eveningwear and more formal looks I saw. Also, Project Subway was back, and those looks are super creative and fun, thus, a CAN’T MISS! Up first, Mariana Valentina and her Spring 2015 entitled collection Le Jardin Persan.

Mariana Valentina’s “Le Jardin Persan” is a collection inspired by two films. The first portrays a mystical garden where there are fantasy-like women who live there, and then blossom into beautiful vines and exotic florals.

The other film focuses on a Persian warrior empress, from the times when the gods and goddesses ruled the world.

Persian warrior empress and vines may seem to be a mismatch, but it’s so NOT! It’s a classic play on hard & soft, which Mariana does beautifully. The looks incorporating vines and/or exotic florals really help to demonstrate Mariana’s signature of being elegant, yet sensual. She uses a lot of sheer effects in these looks, all done very tastefully and beautifully, but still present a woman who is full of confidence and not afraid to be sexy and daring.

What creates the wonderful intersection between Valentina’s differing worlds for this collection are the use of sheer effects. The soft and strong pair magically to create some truly luxe and gorgeous looks. The black asymmetrical look below is my most fave look and I believe very much encapsulates the underlying meaning of this collection. I would be proud to don this look and I’m sure the it would garner me much attention!

Mariana really has done a great job with this collection. I’m IMPRESSED!! She has stuck to her true aesthetic of sexy simplistic minimalism. The beauty in many of these pieces were the details, whether it was how the sheer effect was making your eye wonder or your eye being caught with the placement of embellishments. Get to know more about Mariana with a few other features on her already up on Fashion Nexus!

Next up, MIMI TRAN!

Let’s check out her collection for S/S 2015, red carpet & eveningwear looks to the extreme! Definitely not a bad thing!

Mimi Tran knows luxury, Hollywood glamour, and high fashion. This is what she is known for and she does it all so well. If you are looking for a formal gown for an event or red carpet, or even a look for a pageant or prom, there is no doubt you could find something to instantly fall in love with from Mimi! There are a lot of unique and distinguishing aspects to Tran’s work. This is what will set you apart and stand out at whatever formal event you are at!

Red carpet or evening looks work great in black and white. It’s hard to go wrong with those colors and with any collection surrounding formal pieces, you must be able to create some stunning looks in either color. Mimi has done just that, whether it was with a white floral tethered gown as seen above, or a circular beaded number as seen below, which also incorporates another great trend for any major red carpet event — Sheer effects!

Black and white aside, there was a great pop of color use as seen below with royal blue, personally my fave color!

Another great aspect to this collection is all things SHEER! Sheer effects are a trendy staple I’m sure we are going to see for a long time to come and not just on the red carpet. But you have to still be clever with how you are incorporating sheer overlay into your looks. You have to make the trend your own. And that is what Mimi has done here. She was really strategic in how she played with sheer and the use of it with her looks. It created for some great intricacies, especially when paired with luxe gorgeous beaded embellishments.

Formal looks are not always floor-length, so it was great to see Tran’s signature work utilized with a shorter, sexier look. The shorter looks are still full of Mimi Tran glamour and feminine appeal, still showcasing a boldly sensual and sexy vibe!

Mimi Tran did a great job with remaining contemporary and creating some truly beautiful creations for red carpets and formal events around the world. Check out my intro feature on her brand as well, up also on Fashion Nexus!

Finally, let’s take a look at the 2nd annual Project Subway creations for Nolcha! This go round, Project Subway challenged the up and coming designers, F.I.T. students, to construct one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by vegetables found in a SUBWAY restaurant — spinach, onions, tomatoes and all!

The winning look, onion inspired dress & coordinating hat by Veritee Hill!

The judges chose the winning design based on creativity, originality, beauty and best representation of the vegetables. As a reward, Veritee will receive a $1,000 cash prize and have his/her original design displayed at a New York City SUBWAY® restaurant.

Eveningwear bright red delicious tomatoes anyone!

Spicy, bold, and sexy structured green pepper mini!

Yes! Incorporate the subway logo, great idea!!

Is this garment using an actual product??

Voluminous asymmetrical banana peppers for all!

Lots of green, but carrots anyone!

Greens — could be lettuce, maybe a slice of draped cucumber!

How about a little lace with your lettuce!?!

A celebrity panel critiqued the designs, including: Johnny Wujek (celebrity stylist), Bella Thorne (actress), Nastia Liukin (Olympic champion), and Russell Westbrook (pro basketball’s MVP of fashion and SUBWAY Famous Fan).

Check out some other celeb images from Nolcha Fashion Week!

Russell Westbrook & Rocsi Diaz, ET Correspondent

Nastia Liukin

Fashion Week Journeys — Some Fun in the Sun!

Posted on September 25, 2014 by SMM

Fashion week for S/S 2015 is almost already making me forget about the bitter cold winter that is ahead. There is a lot of bright color and fun looks in store for next year so I’m already counting down the days — LET’S GO!

CZAR BY CESAR GALINDO

Czar by Cesar Galindo is preparing us quite well for S/S 2015. The plan — to make us forget about a cold, dreary winter by showcasing a full of zeal, colorfully bright, sparkly celebratory collection for spring & summer. The pieces are vibrant and vivacious, and they have a distinct Latin & African underlying inspiration. As seen above, hairstyles were tightly pulled back in a braided ponytail, very simple, very chic!

This collection can simply be summed as FUN! You could don at a vast array of locales, a beach or pool party to a high profile Manhattan or Miami club. The pieces look luxe, very high quality. There are varied lengths ranking from knee-length to maxis. There is also variety in the silhouettes, crop tops, fitted looks, and comfy chic. Not in the mood for a dress, keep an eye out because there are plenty of separates to choose from as well!

Shimmering brilliantly, these dresses have a dynamic, nearly hypnotizing energy to them, with hundreds of fish-scale sequins dancing in the light, in conjunction with the movement of the wearer. Many looks are in bright optic solids, but there are also some stunning pattern prints, in mosaic, bohemian vibes. The heels were also quite eye-catching, various colorings of snakeskin, open-toed heels & booties.

African art clearly defined the style behind the jewelry. A mix of statement gems and stones with thick necklaces come close to the neckline. Often incorporating a polished stone or even contemporary acetate, some looks forgo the jewelry all together, allowing for a completely carefree attitude. Certain looks that were simplistically minimal in nature, were definitely spiced up a bit with these statement-making jewelry pieces.

Clearly these looks are so bold, very dynamic. They are photographed well and look great from all angles. The looks are very inspiring and certainly encouraging to get us all thru a quick winter!

GEORGINE

Georgine’s S/S 2015 presentation began with thunder and darkness, but it was not soon thereafter that summery hues and airy fabrics took over the runway. Light music thumped in the background as Georgine’s audience was taken away on a beach vacation straight out of the 70s. The specific inspiration was the glamorous demimonde who descended onto Saint-Tropez during the summers of the 1970’s.

Wearable retro bathing suits were certainly featured, parading down the runway and off to the beach with towels, or to a cabana, draped in a glamorous silk and lace coverups. Speaking of towels, looks were accessorized with mink tote bags and beach towels as well as leather clutches in the shape of surfboards in collaboration with Max Steiner Design. Women certainly love high fashion, that includes beachwear, more specifically beachwear sophistication. There’s a great deal to choose from here with sexy deep-V necklines, bold prints, and soft mint green looks.

Georgine Ratelband deviates from her usual dark color scheme for this collection, choosing instead to feature beach-y shimmery metallics and bright mints, oranges, and pinks. Luxurious gold was a major component of the collection, with standout looks including a gold silk trench perfect for a breezy summer day. The mint green was also a great tone utilized for this collection. The way it was mixed in with golds, nudes, rich creams, and in prints was refreshing; I loved the softer easier vibe with a pastel such as this or in taupe.

After showing off a sea of summery shades, the collection did revert back to Ratelband’s usual dark, structured image. Several stark ensembles completely in black, including a black silk organza lace dress with leather detailing, were impressive. A brand is nothing without staying true to it’s signature. It’s great to see current trends and modern updates, but I think it’s smart to mix in with what you know. And with black signature basics like the looks below, Georgine clearly knows structure and how to make their version of an LBD or black ensemble stand out.

The models’ hair was as relaxed as the majority of the collection, left down and wavy or covered by intricate turbans, floppy hats or flower hairpieces, all created by Ric Pipino for Melville Pipino Salon.

The makeup stayed fresh, with no heavy eye-makeup distracting from the effortless ensembles, created by Gordon Espinet with the MAC Pro Team.

Special guests included Kimiko Glenn star of OITNB, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps of The Real Housewives of NYC, country singer/songwriter Stephanie Quayle, actress Edy Ganem of Lifetime’s Devious Maids, singer Katy Tiz, and actress Bianca Santos.

These looks are definitely for a similar type of clientele. And what I enjoyed most was that it takes that woman on a journey. It follows her on the go. The muses of this collection included paragons of style such as Bianca Jagger, Slim Keith, Gloria Guinness and Loulou de la Falaise. Also influenced by the photography of Slim Aarons and Helmut Newton, GEORGINE has crafted gorgeous bathing suit inspired evening wear, elegant beaded chiffon caftans, and trench coats worthy of a stroll down both the boardwalk and Fifth avenue alike. Georgine is providing for their clients looks to take them to a cocktail party, a beach or pool get-together, a Sunday brunch, an evening affair, and/or more!

These looks have a vintage feel, but certainly stand on their own and are quite unique. I see them as a breath of fresh air and I would be ready to take in a little sun proudly with any of these lovely looks!

Event PR — Mao PR

ARTS HEART FASHION — AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

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 designers to showcase their collections in a contemporary runway setting.

Check out Jaslene Gonzalez, Cycle 8 ANTM winner workin’ the runway!

This season ART HEARTS FASHION is presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and will feature collections by:

Mister Triple X: The SS/15 “Pair-A-Dice” ColleXtion will feature bold tropical prints and monochromatic undertones in a Stepford Wives retro-future inspired presentation, continuing the journey of the Mister Triple X story told through fashion.

Control Sector: In an increasingly digital world, CYBER BULLY (SS/15) is the result of an interpretation of our physical experience being filtered through the electronic layers of reality.

Gregorio Sanchez: Will present a sophisticated and classy SS15 collection which features ethnic inspiration from Mexico, India and Bali.

Shrekahnth: Will present an SS/15 pret-a-porter collection featuring uniquely inpsired patterns and prints with an ethnic flare. Juliette’s inspiration is drawn from Aztec and Masai civilizations.

Hallie Sara: Hallie Sara’s iconic SS/15 collection is comprised of a sumptuous selection of luxurious materials — for which she is best known– intelligently crafted into sophisticated, sensual silhouettes that blur the lines between the timeless elite and cutting-edge hip.

Altaf Maaneshia: Will present a Garden inspired high-end fresh and contemporary SS15 collection roused by structured and fashion forward cuts.

MTCostello: The sophisticated line by Michael and Stephanie Costello will present will present SS/15 “Illuminati Collection” an exquisite and esoteric line inspired by ancient mysticism.

Furne Amato: Will present his SS/15 Evening In Space Collection which is inspired by a Space Odyssey.

From Edgy Street-wear to Couture Creations, guests will enjoy a journey of style told through fashion. Leghila’ handbags from Italy will be featured throughout the presentations showing that diversity and class can be carried throughout various genres all of which will be featured on LeJolie.

Special guests included Angela Simmons & Elizabeth Savetsky.

Skingraft for S/S 2015 – Enjoy “Santa Sangre”!

Posted on September 24, 2014 by SMM

Skingraft showcased its recent S/S 2015 collection for MBFW at Lincoln Center and the runway was set on fire! Okay! No! Not a literal fire, but the collection did focus on the elements of blood, smoke, earth, and bone. The pieces were inspired by Santeria and Mexican prayer alters.

Skingraft explored the collection’s various themes and ideas thru a presentation of signature brand prints and silhouettes. The brand also showcased this exploration thru its traditional capabilities of working in both dynamic and bold menswear and looks for women.

A lighter mystical side of Skingraft is in store for Spring 2015 and its unveiling comes in the form of sheer silks,

nylons, — very dynamic, sleek, bold looks

and mesh fabrications. — great updated twist for chic streetwear, such a modern vibe.

In addition, this collection features a print collaboration with NYC based blood artist Jordan Eagles. You can’t deny Jordan’s talent and his collaboration with Skingraft clearly produced undeniable striking looks. The audience was captivated from start to finish!

Special guests in attendance were as follows –

Will.I.Am — far right

Perez Hilton

Jerzy London, Whoopi, & Stacy London

Ally HIlfiger, Skrillex, & 2 Chainz

Philip Bloch & Telana Lynum

Model Shaun Ross

Additional presentation details –

Production & PR – People’s Revolution
Art Direction – Rick Gradone
Casting – Anna Lev

Stylist – Masha Orlov
Makeup – Yin Lee for AOFM using Alcone Cosmetics

Music – Jonny Cota
Hair – Jon Reyman for Aveda

Nails – Patricia Yankee
Sneakers – Cinzia Araia x Skingraft Collaboration

Skingraft know hows to strike the balance of practicality & wearable looks with that of modern fashion. The brand’s talent is bar none, creating such a memorable presence, both at fashion week and in the fashion world. The Skingraft brand encompasses so many talented capabilities, to design so well for both men and women, to be so versatile with lots of separates to dressier looks — all in all, such a dynamic, fashion-forward brand!

Fashion Nexus

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

Tag Archives: Fashion week

More on Fashion Week Brooklyn, The Intro Continues…

Fashion Week Brooklyn Fall 2014 Intro – “Designs of the Times”

Kia Vonvega for S/S 2015 – Vivacious Looks w/ Vibrant Colors

Nolcha Recaps – A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Katty Xiomara for Nolcha — OtterBox Innovation & Flirty Frocks!

Nolcha Recaps — Sophisticated, Sultry, & Sexy Looks for the Ladies!

Nolcha Fashion Week Recaps — Varied RTW Styles for Women

Nolcha Fashion Week Recaps — Eveningwear & Project Subway Fun!

Fashion Week Journeys — Some Fun in the Sun!

Skingraft for S/S 2015 – Enjoy “Santa Sangre”!

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

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