Cafe Louis Vuitton

 I treated myself to a fashion-centric brunch for my birthday. Who knew a heritage luggage company could make a good morning meal? Cafe Louis Vuitton gives you exactly what you would want as an aspirational fashion fan or tourist; dishes built to feed your phone first. Almost every dish is branded with the brand's logo. Each latte is stenciled with a detailed logo. The waffle served with smoked salmon or caviar carries the logo. 

I'm surprised the basket of Viennoiseries did not contain branding, just delicious, butter laminated flakiness. My husband inhaled the pecan pastry like it was merely air. 

The cafe setting was a cozy library of books celebrating travel and art. Residing on the top floor of the temporary outpost of Louis Vuitton on 57th street, you get to journey through several floors of the company's beautiful merchandise on your way to your meal. This is why the experience is set up for the aspirational fan, more than the regular shopper. Your outing was designed to envelope you in the aesthetic and luxury of the brand for those who likely can't afford to shop there regularly.  

Was it worth it? If you are a fan of the brand, and the overall visit to the NYC store is as important to you as the meal, then yes. It IS about the brand more than the food. If you are looking for an exceptional brunch purely on a gourmand level, New York City has plenty of options that are stunning, likely at a more reasonable price point, in just as charming a location.

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House of Craft x Dior Exhibit

You might admire the fashion label of Christian Dior, but do you know all of the creative people who shaped it or made it? The UBS House of Craft x Dior event in NYC's Financial District answered those questions. 

Fashion editor Carine Roitfeld, together with photographer Brigitte Niedermair, curated an exhibit of iconic looks from the House of Dior under the label's creative directors throughout its history. Sketches demonstrated the design process of leaders Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The exhibit also showcased the most memorable accessories, garments, and styled editorials, showcasing each designer's vision. There were also a series of talks about the different aspects of the fashion industry. I found the demonstrations and intimate one-on-ones with current artisans of the label the most interesting. 

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NYFW: Zang Toi Fall/Winter 2025

Zang Toi invited everyone at NYFW to board the Orient Express. The backdrop referenced the legendary train, and the collection evoked the romantic old-school art of slow, luxurious travel around the globe. The runway show was intimate, elegant, and refined, reminding me of the sophisticated salons of yesteryear.

The key colors were intense sapphire blue, jet black, and emerald green. Texturally, there is a lot of shine in the leather, silk, shimmery embroidery, or jeweled details. Zang Toi uses the most luxurious Loro Piana cashmere and silk velvet, so the customer experience of ordering a gala piece from this collection must feel like being fitted like an exotic royal. The difference is that Zang Toi is one of the few designers who make pieces in-house in New York City. 

One motif I particularly loved was the jeweled phoenix. Symbolically, the phoenix in Asian culture represents the feminine, good fortune, and harmony. In other cultures, she represents strength, fire, perseverance, and rebirth after an arduous trial—all empowering messages we need right now.

In a time of turbulent history, it was a treat to escape to faraway locales through fashion. The best collections will do that. 

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NYFW: Richerette x Care Bears Fall/Winter 2025

Stroll on by with that Care Bear Stare. Are any of you old emough to remember that phrase? I remember those cartoons as a kid and those soft, plush embroidered bellies. A redeemed Club Kid creating a collection that evokes childhood nostalgia for a new era is the perfect collaboration. 

The super bright pastels, playful silhouettes like new variations of bubble skirts, craft-embellished denim, polka dots brought a big smile to my face. Richie Rich and his Richerette brand always does.

While each runway look may be a bit extreme for day to day, especially if you are at the age where you were once a club kid, you can remind yourself that the catwalk is never meant to be taken literally. When you look at individual garments, they make fun statement pieces paired with your practical, quiet luxury staples. Having a pop color or bubble skirt peek out from under a blazer is that bit of inner child you need to resist the corporate "adulting" we're all trying to avoid. 

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Harlem's Fashion Row Collaboration with Byron Lars, Krystal A. Phillips on HSN

Are you ready for "sweater weather"? I bought my warm-weather favorites from Harlem's Fashion Row in collaboration with HSN. I love that the size range goes up to 3X, so my fashion friends of all shapes can indulge in this one. Perrenial Ms. Fabulous favorite Byron Lars and designer Krystal A. Phillips are both featured in HSN's celebration of African-American fashion designers. Extra-enticing means you can grab their pieces at the HSN price point if the designers have previously been out of reach.

My color obsession for Fall 2024 has been deep fushia. The Harlem's Fashion Row HSN collaboration has abundant this color and other hues. I started with the oversized full Melton coat (top) from Kaphill NYC, which I threw on the first chilly day upstate while picking ugly apples off my tree. For a dressier evening-wear-friendly look, I wrapped in the luxurious brocade coat from Byron Lars and Sheila Gray.

I'm in love with the beautiful textures, like lace t-shirts and the rich prints of the sweaters and dresses of both designers. They elevate essential garment items to make them the statement piece for your seasonal wardrobe. I also can't wait to flaunt the faux leather long skirt as a flashy piece to pair with new boots.

While fashion insiders like me have been longtime fans of  Byron Lars, Sheila Gray, and designers promoted by Harlem's Fashion Row, I love that an affordable platform like HSN has invested in these brands to bring them to a much broader audience. It was a great move for everyone as the styles I loved were sold out quickly but, luckily, replenished swiftly. Grab them before they are really gone!

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NYFW: Malan Breton Spring 2025

 Leather for spring? I don't know why designers often offer it only in the fall. Malan Breton showed exquisitely tailored leather evening wear in ladylike pastel shades. The seaming and corseting details were incredibly flattering for any female form. Breton's Savile Row training showing itself. The theme of the collection was "Betrayal, Revenge & Hope". 

There were plenty of gowns in traditional evening wear fabrics, also in the sugary pink and rosy pearl greys, but also a pop of citric yellow. Of course, sophisticated black is an easy sell for customers every season.

In some cases, it was a LOT of dress, even for the professional models. A few struggled with the long tapered silhouettes or had to carry the enormous skirt down the runway. One model continually toppled over in her heels. If the pros are having a hard time, how are the rest of us mortals supposed to navigate such fabulousness?

Malan Breton always shows a glamorous collection that evokes old-school elegance that is increasingly lost in today's world of athleisure and streetwear. The Project Runway alum has also been an accomplished filmmaker as well. His autobiographical film "A Journey to Taiwan" was a moving tribute to his roots and creative process. He debuted "Je Suis Mona" a documentary featuring his muse/model and philanthropist Elton Ilirjani, winning the Trailblazer award at the NYC International Fashion Film Festival.

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