NYFW Coverage: Pamella Roland Fall/Winter 2014

Loved it, loved it, loved it! Pamella Roland featured 47 looks for her NYFW Fall/Winter collection and each was a gift within itself. Oh, and did I mention I loved it? I cannot even begin to describe my admiration for this designer and her ability to create classy and stunning fabric based works of art. Don't believe me? Well, the minute I walked out of her show, I turned to my friend jaw dropped, speechless, and so thrilled to be apart of that experience that I asked her, "What did you think?" She goes onto say, "Probably my favorite!" I then turned my head once again, and like a crazy school girl in the 80s, at a Rick Steves' concert, I jumped and exclaimed "Me too!" 

While I watched each dress, coat, skirt, and blouse make its way down the runway, I was reminded why I love fashion and what attending NYFW really felt like, a glamorous dream filled with Chopard jewels, well executed music, and models in Manolos. For me, a runway show at fashion week should be all these things and more and Roland captured exactly that. With her line of many tweed, leather, and chiffon pieces, she brought sexy back in ways that not even Justin Timberlake could do. 

This all makes sense, being that the line was created to "exemplify" the energy of New York City, which by many, is seen as sensual, exciting, and breathtaking. The city life was implemented through the color palette of the collection with hues such as berry, navy, gunmetal, and pale gold. To add to the inspiration, Roland used textures from laminated window pane tweed to multi-dimensional beading to give it that extra Big Apple kick. 

In the end, as the lights followed the purple/black gown with cascading train, down the white paved road, and onto TJ Wilcox's sunset filled skyline, all I could think of was the song they had played earlier, "She's a lady." After all, with this collection any woman can be a lady in the best of ways. 

Favorite Thing: Cut It Out

A few of the dresses, like the wine crepe back satin gown with black fishnet sleeves and back, had a cut out or two designed into them. This added a little element of risque to the more elegant and safer design. 

Not Loving It: Are Those Toothpicks or Models?

I understand the fashionable thing has always been to use skinnier models in this industry, but seriously? Have we still not moved on from that ridiculous phase? The pieces were gorgeous and would look even more so on women with a few more pounds and actual curves. Not even the celebrities sitting front row are as skinny as these models and their the ones who may end up wearing the collection at Red Carpet functions. It actually gave me chills to look at some of their legs. I thought they would snap at any moment. Girls, you are beautiful, Stop starving yourselves and eat. Eat to your heart's content, like me at 4 am with a bag of bacon and a bowl of noodles. No shame! 

Photo Credit: mbfashionweek.com

Photo Credit: mbfashionweek.com

Photo Credit: mbfashionweek.com

Photo Credit: mbfashionweek.com

NYFW Coverage: MESKITA Fall/Winter 2014

"I was afraid the girls would fall. (chuckles) That is my biggest fear." That may have been Brazilian designer, Alessandra Meskita's, worry on Sunday night, when she debuted her ready-to-wear collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, but fortunately this scary thought did not become a reality. Instead, her first time show at Mercedes Benz, was a complete an utter success. So much so, that by the end, she received a standing ovation, the first one I had witnessed this past week.

It is no shocker that Meskita received such praise. She was considered to be a pleasant surprise with her  minimalist take on Fall/Winter fashion. Drawing inspiration from the old Hollywood glamour of the 1950's, she designed a collection in honor of greats such as Sophia Lauren, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. All of whom, were known to wear waist hugging gowns and ensembles. She mentioned to me that she wanted to design pieces  that would "slim women in an easy and complimentary way," hence the many belts that accompanied her outfits on the runway. 

Aside from the 1950's, Meskita also incorporated the year of the horse into her line. The strength that the horse represents is shown in the collection by the sportswear elements that were added to the ensembles. The purpose of such a move was to show how women can bring sportswear into their everyday clothes, whether for daytime or night. 

Although some pieces used body conscious neoprene, not all of the items in this line are for the everyday woman's body. For instance, the leather corsets, or jumpsuits can be worn by only a handful of women that have a thinner waist, but not to worry. Some of the coats, chiffon pieces, and circle skirts will do just fine. 

Favorite Thing: High Pony-Tails

Fizzy hair, stringy hair, side swept hair, yup I have seen it all this week, but my favorite locks to walk the runway were from the MESKITA show. They were simple yet perfect to match the inspiration of the year of the horse. Plus, they took the attention off the model herself, and made the audience focus more on the clothes, which was brilliant. Well done Anthony Crosfield for your work as the lead stylist and to Marshall Lin on styling the hair as well for this presentation! Brava.

Not Loving It: Too Much Skin

This is a Fall/Winter line right? For clothing that will potentially be worn by people in cooler weather, there was a lot of skin being shown. If next year's weather is anything like this year's than we need to cover up more, not start dressing in preparation for pneumonia.  

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Photo Credit: Dan & Corina Lecca

Photo Credit: Dan & Corina Lecca

Photo Credit: Dan & Corina Lecca

Photo Credit: Dan & Corina Lecca

NYFW Coverage: Academy of Art Runway Show

When one thinks fashion week, many connect the famous week-long event with even more famous names such as Oscar de la Renta, Zac Posen, or even DVF. However, fashion week does not only belong to the designers who "made it," but to the ones who are on the road to that same brightly spotlighted, model filled, and organza encompassed world. Therefore, to watch the future of fashion grace the runway, by the hands of a few current college students, can be quite the treat. This was the case for the Academy of Art Show. 

The show, which featured looks from various young designers, delivered everything from Willy Wonka inspired bright hues and cartoonish silhouettes, to modern prints, and over-sized coats. Out of all the collections, my favorite would have to be the the lavender line. Lavender hasn't been a color seen too often in recent times. People either pick light purple or more a long the lines of everyone's favorite talking dinosaur, Barney. This time though, lavender had its spotlight and it was breathtaking. With grayish undertones and silver embellishments, this line brought the entire show, or at least me, to an utterly impressed moment of bliss.

In its entirety, if I had to compare this show to their last one in September, which I also attended, I would have to say that last time they were just some nice students studying fashion, but this time they were potential epic designers in the making. That's why, for me, it is so important to appreciate the students that showcase their work during NYFW. These are the designers who will one day take over, while all the current ones are aging and hitting retirement. So watch out and never take for granted a college fashion student with a needle and thread. Amazing what a few classes and a cat-walk can do. 

Favorite Thing: Moral Support

When the designers made their way out onto the runway, many thought the show had ended, but it in fact was just beginning. One of the designer's mother's stood up, started yelling, and moving her hips like Shakira, in support of her child. Everyone, which is easily over two hundred people, immediately began to not only clap for the designers, but their families as well. This one mother brought laughter and smiles all around. Considered to be the best part of the line, it represented something deeper than seams and social media. She reminded everyone that through this week of image, materialism, and at times celebritism, there will always be family and that moment they see you accomplish your dreams. Plus, I won't lie. I cried a bit when this happened. 

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NYFW Coverage: Raoul Ready-to-Wear Presentation and Accessories Launch

Designers Odile Benjamin and Raphael Young for Raoul'14

   If you've seen the show Girls, on HBO, then try to imagine all the characters and their personalities, represented through clothes and accessories-and not because the leather pieces were as bravely naked as Lena Dunham in almost every episode of the hit series. This has a deeper connection.

With Illustrator Kendall Lock

When I attended the Raoul presentation, on the kick off day of Fashion Week, many things came crashing into my mind. By that, I mean literally because I was bumped into a gazillion times, but it's fine. I still found my way and when I did, I was not disappointed. Before I get into the plethora of handbags and shoes I want from their collaboration with Raphael Young, I have to start off with the the company of the hour itself, Raoul. 

Raoul's line of gowns and ready-to-wear clothing can not be described as anything else but a spectacular melting pot of style. That's why I find so many similarities between their new line with the HBO series. Each section of the presentation showed evident differences from the last, which broke the common cliche of a fashion line always having to have a constant flow. Here's the brilliant thing: They may vary in time period inspirations (some pieces look more 50s-60s while others are the 30s all the way) or even prints and hues in general, but somehow, when done looking at all that they have offered you, the designs blend well together. Alone, these designs would be lost, but among each other, they compliment the last, as different as they are. 

This is where the series Girl's comes in. There is a group of young women, all of whom are quite opposite in style and personality, but there is something there that brings them together. Well in their case it is selfishness. Seriously though, all of them on that show are way too self absorbed. Of course, don't tell them that. They will call you a "bad friend" and take a whole new meaning to the word hypocrite. Point here is, the line is like them in that way, accept minus the crazy outbursts of self indulging irony. 

Favorite Thing: Prints

The prints for this show and a color blocking similar to that of a jester, were quite fun in a chic way. The one that caught my eye the most, of course, was no other than the one on the very invitation for this event. His yellow daisy top and skirt combo, is so bold, that the Marc Jacobs obsession with this particular flower seems minimal. 

Not Loving it: Hair and Make-Up

The way a model's locks and face are portrayed is actually quite important for representing the line at a show, than one may think. They complete the look the designer is going for. In this case, the subtle glamour that Raoul's pieces had, became second to the disheveled appearance of the models that Shiseido bestowed onto them. Each woman had greasy stringy hair and a smokey eye, but not in a good way, that made one focus more on her than the clothes. In all actuality, it was a little painful to look at them. They seemed so sad and tired and I'm not sure if it is because they actually were, or it was just the make-up/hair department. Talk about terrible Fairy God Mothers.

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Fashion Show at the London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony

If you missed the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony this past Sunday then you missed one hell of a fashion show. Pardon my French. Some of the most famous faces in fashion, whose home is Great Britain, strutted their stuff in a tribute to English lad himself, the late Alexander McQueen. Leading the pack as always was one of the most famed models in fashion history, Kate Moss. Alongside her were models Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, Georgia May Jagger, and many more. With some David Bowie music blasting in the background, this fun fashion segment represented the stylish side of England in the chicest of ways.