I was beyond excited to attend BCBGMAXAZRIA Fall 2012 collection at Lincoln Center. Like seasons prior, I zoomed right in line and waited until it was time to go in!  Minutes later,  I made my way to my seat and met two fashionable friends over at Becauseiamfabulous.com .

I admire BCBG’s Spring 2012 collection and could not wait to see the Fall 2012 collection in person. From the press release:

“For Fall 2012, an artful proposition: Harmoniously synthesize shape and color in new elongated proportions, fusing form and function to create a geometric abstraction of  Bauhaus style. Hue, space and light create a composed palette, manifesting an architectural aesthetic. Lightweight skills, chiffons and crepe de chine are juxtaposed with woolen and luxe outwear. Contrasting hues and rich textures add character and depth to accessories.”


One of my newest favorite trends, color-blocking, is not leaving anytime soon it seems! Making its way in collections from Spring 2012 and now to Fall 2012 is a good sign. This sign keeps reminding me that color is popular, too, along with black & grey. Besides, who does not like a good pop of color?

Key items: Furs, long wool coats, earmuffs, geometric shapes &  the ankle  heels! I am really feeling the accessories from the Fall 2012 collections.  Especially the handbags!

After the show, I headed backstage where I met and interview Max Azria for a quick three seconds. We talked about his inspiration behind this season’s show! He was very kind and grateful for the press for coming to see the show and thanked his longtime supporters/fans for buying his past/current collections. I couldn’t have interviewed a more humble man.


Congrats, Max Azria!

This collection is for the cool gals. Are you on board with the color-blocking trend? 
Images from Style.com, Zimbio.com and Christine Shepherd

If glitz and glamor had a name, it would most definitely be: Christian Siriano. You really have not seen anything like it, until you see a Siriano Creation.

On arrival, hundreds of cameras set up stock waiting for any celeb, socialite and of course, the show to start. All attendees received a booklet and a paper. The booklet lists each look, style, and color. The paper had a Quote from Christian Siriano and his clever partnership with Pay less.

The sheet also list new shoes and their titles: The Harness Booties, The Orchid Pump, The High Vamp Pump, The Cobra Bootie, The U-Bootie and The Tall-Shaft Armor Boot. These shoes will be readily available at a Payless store near you, which will also include two handbags (The Christian Siriano for Payless Collection)

I, for one, will be looking forward to Christian’s Runway-to-reality collection at Payless. Talented designer + inexpensive shoes = a shoe maven’s dream.

Now, onto the show.

Black is back and it is here to stay, should be Fall’s new motto.

First half of the show, sheer, black and wool, like Eva Minge, dominated the most part, what stand out for me, was the concept of each look. It would go from sheer to romantic to loose trousers and then back again. The heels the models were sporting was also a killer.

Who doesn’t like studded heels?

The heels gave off a dominatrix type of vibe! High, studded, dangerous (literally!) and shiny black. If only i can walk in heels, I will pre-order them right away. The shoes will definitely be a best-seller.

Second half and last part of the show, was Jungle themed mixed in with everyone’s favorite dress. The red carpet ball gown dress that literally charmed our socks off. Before I get into the awe-inspiring and beautiful finale dress, there were several pieces I found interesting.

The shade green, which on the runway, was heavenly, but can the color (olive green, dark brown green & honey green) translate well off-the runway? This made me even more curious. We can all  agree that Christian has a great eye, especially when it comes to color and style. The romantic pink on the runway was beyond words! All the dresses, are realistically-wearable.

The finale dress was met by the “oohs and aahs” from the crowd, including yours truly. The finale dress always have to deliver, some do, some do not. The Christian Siriano dress not only deliver but will set a wave.  You may remember a similar dress like this from his S/S Collection, but they are different. He uses the color pink at the bottom of the the dress, in his signature ruffle style.

I wanted to become a princess. That dress is stunning in every word possible!

After the show, I went backstage to say my congratulations on another successful collection, which I’m sure will be hit among critics and fans alike.

It was packed with journalists, his celeb clients, fans, publicists and models. I was fascinated! After, the photographers made their rounds and took a thousands photos of Christian, I finally made my way and greeted him.

He was very sweet and humble by all the attention and appreciate those who attended and work hard on this collection. I told him I was so proud of him! 1.) he is from MD, I am from D.C. he is representing the DMV area and words could not have express how inspired I was.

Runway images via NY Mag

The show kicked off with Carla Bruni singing the seductive Raphaël song. A great way to set the mood for the first half of the show, models strutting down the runway with perfect ease as I looked on. This is my first time attending a Zang Toi runway show  and I was eager to see his work.  I loved that he was not shy to stay away from the High-Octane Glamour to the downright sexy. Also loved the masculinity in the female looks. I am a fan of the rise and fall dress but to add a slick sick trench jacket to the mix? SOLD!

Blushing from the hint of a Love, Sex and Magic on the runway, I noticed that Zang Toi‘s Spring 2013 collection took a few cues from Old Hollywood.  Key items of the show: Garter-like stockings (I own the urban outfitters version), pastel colors (Trend Alert for Spring 2013) and chiffon. Zang Toi received a standing ovation after the show! The look on his face seeing the crowd on their feet was priceless. A beautiful moment to witnessed! A great women’s and menswear collection that is bound to be a hit with the celebrities.

My favorite looks are below:

Photos by zimbio.com

The inspiration behind the Bibhu Mohapatra Spring 2013 collection was the Luna Moth. They live only for one week giving Bibhu the inspiration of the ” woman constantly evolving.”

His Spring 2013 collection acknowledges the prophetic symbolism of the Luna Moth to celebrate the evolution and transformation of an ever-intuitive Bibhu Woman.

Before the show started, I made my way to my first front row seat, sitting next to uber stylist, Annabel Tollman (RIP). After a few minutes chatting and watching her being interviewed by the  press, the audience quickly settled down once the music started. It was time for the show to began!

A white carbon day dress with morph print side inserts and peplum look kicked of the show followed by many Morph print day, applique, steel, chartreuse, rose lace chiffon and alabaster chiffon dresses. This also included the  Beige Filigree embroidered pixie pants which I loved.

After the show, I had the chance to go backstage and meet with the talented designer. There he discussed more about the Luna Moth and why he is only focusing  on one accessory at a time: Bags. At the show, Bibhu and co-designer, Brancher Emden, debuted the Luna Moth bag on the runway before an upcoming capsule collection.


I had a great time at the show meeting Annabel and Bibhu! I look forward to see what next season has to offer. Until next time!

What was your favorite show of Spring 2013?
Photos by Christine Shepherd and Zimbio.com

My favorite looks:

The stories were right: The articles and countless admiration comments from Top editors, Bloggers, Fellow designers, A-list celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Ali Larter and Beyoncé, just to name a few, follow her work. Reem Acra is legendary. When it comes to Evening wear, Reem Acra is Queen.

“The Reem Acra Spring 2013 Collection comes to life with a modern attitude. Evoking Aaron Young’s famous series  of motorcycle inspired works, the abstract and destructive energy of his pieces are taken to create a defined, sophisticated and compelling statement on  modern femininity. Wearable art that speaks to and inspires women  while  giving them a commanding voice personifies the evolving female identity. Modern tailoring is executed through laser cuts, vivid colors and uniquely juxtaposed elements, defining the powerful female form. Evening is evoked through the use of geometric cut materials, molded to the body and accented with Reem Acra’s signature use of embellishment.”

As I stated on twitter, I see options for the Top two glamorous Film Festivals: Venice, Cannes and most definitely, The Oscars.

Key items from this glorious collection: Dormeuil tailored jackets, Ivory silk chiffon and Embroidered gowns.

My favorite looks are below:

Photos from FashionGPS.com

I had a blast watching Desigual debuting their latest collection for the first time at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week! The runway was so much fun & delightful-leading the crowd to move to the energetic music.

I really enjoyed the fun the models were having on the runway. Also, the famous kiss at the end of the finale said it all! Fashion is the most enjoyable when you’re having fun.

The breath of spring brought Mediterranean sunshine, and the happy attitude that the idyllic landscape inspires in its people and culture. Embodied in the brand’s motto of La Vida es Chula, or Life is Cool is the lust for living well, feeling free and dressing expressively. Spring/Summer 2014 brought lively colors in florals, tie-dye and stripes to capture the essence of the good life — which whisked your spirit away to the warm, mesmerizing waters and the fragrant, lush terrain of the cities and the islands of the Mediterranean. I look forward to what Desigual have in store for us next!

My favorite looks are below – I had so many, but here are my top 3:

You will be surprised on how many designers opted to kick start fashion week a day early. Mostly menswear and RTW presentations were held today to start the week long festivities of party hopping, and countless fashion shows. While the snow and rain may steer most fashion folks away, at the Lisa Perry F/W 2014 collection today you would not  have guessed that it was cold and snowy outside. Presented at her studios on Madison Ave, standout guests included Ken Downing and Simon Doonan who watched the presentation as 19 looks went by.


Although I love color and a variety of prints, I can’t help but wonder if this is really a Spring 2015 collection. I know that most designers like to get spring-happy when creating their fall/winter collections, but it would have be great to see some realistic fall/winter clothing. I know that we all want warm weather to come soon, but I have to say-sometimes it’s hard to buy into a collection when the reality is further from the concept. Which can work on exceptional occasions, of course.

I think this collection is fairly gorgeous and eye catching, but for a spring collection.

What say you? Spring or Fall?

My favorite looks from the Lisa Perry F/W 2014 collection:

Staged at the Prince George Ballroom, Tia Cibani presented her fourth collection on February 5th. I was recently introduced to Tia Cibani’s work through a peer of mine and what she stated to me then was “Her work is very transitional.” That word can be interpreted in many ways.

I understand now what she means by stating that–after watching her past collections, I could see a series of adaptive stages. There is nothing like watching a new designer debuting their first collection and seeing how far they come! Good or bad, seasons change, the clientele either grows up or become younger, but the designer still have self learning/discovery to do. I find it fascinating from season to season.

This season she venture on a similar color palette during her S/S 13 days. I love the rich hues! Reminds me of early fall. This collection is giving me strong romantic vibes. I am calling this the Dark Romance novel collection. While I tend to favor a more top/skirt/jean combo, I like to give a gown a spin or twirl once in a blue moon.

Images from Giovanni Giannoni/WWD.com

WATER ON THE MOON: For his Fall 2014 show Judson Harmon, model, store owner and designer behind the namesake ØDD. men’s and women’s collections is using the metaphor of “water on the moon” as an illustration of the prevalent dilemma between natural and manmade, past and future, masculine and feminine, smooth and rugged. With the help of audio visual artist duo, sound artist Adriano Clemente and Videographer Jason Akira Somma who is in residency at the Park Avenue Armory this year this first show of the ØDD. men’s and women’s collection is going to be a tribute to visual art, sound and technology, creating a participatory environment in which the collection will be a “mise en abyme” of the relationship between masculine and feminine, rugged and smooth, formal and casual, proceeding through the evolutionary stages of the lunar cycle. In this collection the phases of the moon reflect the stages in one’s life from rebellion (the rough surface of the moon) and fluid ( water on the moon) both casual elements, to tailored, refined, and definite.

This is represented through a mixture of structured and flowing silhouettes, moldable fabrics, and textiles that have both a soft and more textured hand, featuring a combination of synthetic, manmade fabrics as well as natural textiles, cashmeres, wools and dense cottons. The casual element will also be prevalent in the sporty silhouette which is the reflection of an active lifestyle that calls for clothes that can transition easily from day to night, and that give room for self expression, through elements of personal style. The masculine and feminine opposites melt into a collection in which both elements subsist in a neutral way. For example dropped shoulder seams can easily transform an originally designed men’s jacket into a softer, casual yet fitted women’s blazer. The idea of genderlessness will be embodied through famed Elliott Sailors who will open and close the show, appearing dressed in men’s wear as well as women’s wear.

A participatory environment, the space will be equipped with a new sound mapping technology:  sensors being worn by models will control musical tones as they walk about the space. The sound then also reflects and combines the opposite aspects, of the image of water on the moon: the movement of the models will be modulating the pre-existing smooth sound scape, expressing yet again the playing field of yin and yang, corner stone of this collection. Judson Harmon moved to New York City from San Diego, California in 2010.  After his studies of music and dance, and his discovery of fashion as a more suitable means of self expression, ØDD. was born from the idea of taking theatricality and dance to create a welcoming and experimental retail environment.  ØDD. was launched on Harmon’s 20th birthday in January 2012, and the physical store location opened in October of the same year and served to debut the first namesake collection.  Now, five seasons in, Harmon continues to design men’s and women’s wear from a genderless perspective and shows every season at New York Fashion Week.

Adriano Clemente has worked with MGMT and RCA Records but is best known for his unique approach and pioneering of interactive sound installations with the Kin-Hact Project in which a body’s movement orchestrates the composition.  His work has been featured in Rolling Stones Magazine, and in numerous publications in Europe.  Clemente is a frequent consultant on new musical technology including such prestigious companies as Korg, Ableton Live, Dubspot, Walt Disney Imagineers, and Google.
“Jason Akira Somma is a visual art anomaly who has done some pretty revolutionary things in the space of performance and technology.” (The Creators Project -Intel, Vice).  

Known for his unique hybrid of numerous aesthetics which he calls “Past-Modernism” Somma’s work has been featured in the Guggenheim Museum, MoMA, New Museum, Center of Contemporary Art (Glasgow), Chaillot National Theater of Paris, and Lyon Opera Ballet,.  Theories on Somma’s work have been presented at Yale, Princeton University, and MIT.  He has consulted projects for Marina Abramovic, Walt Disney’s Imagineers, Robert Wilson, and the Glasgow University of Neuroscience.  Somma was a recipient of the Rolex Arts Initiative Award in 2008.

Together Adriano and Jason premiered the very first  free-floating-interactive holograph gallery show at the Location 1 Gallery in SoHo which received international accolades. They continue to explore and engineer new technology that merges audio and video “that defies categorization” (Rolex).

Images from Zimbio.com

First time showing during NYFW, Douglas and Odile Benjamin, owners of the Raoul label presented their F/W 2014 collection at Stanley H. Kaplan penthouse.

I immediately  was captivated by their accessories line. Their official accessory launch during the present ion according to the designer Odile where I briefly interviewed her on the collection. Since we established that designers and their love for warm weather is not going anywhere no time soon, I could not help, but notice how gorgeous the details are. Up close? Stunning. Take a look.

I cannot wait to get my hands-on the printed blouse and skirt. New Yorker chic!

Photos by Christine Shepherd