NYFW: Evan Hirsch x Goodwill

Designer Evan Hirsch brought sustainable fashion and high end thrifting to his first show on the official CFDA calendar. In his second collaboration with Goodwill, he demonstrated how previously owned items can be used as raw materials for art and couture.

Each of his key looks was inspired by a popular category on the ShopGoodwill website. For instance, Lego sets remain a special category unto themselves. Hirsch took the block concept and interpreted it into a jeweled embellishment pattern to upcycle a former Joseph Abboud suit.

A hand-painted hooped party dress was a collaboration with art students of Art Strong NYC, where they were given individual panels to transform before coming together in a cohesive look.

Lots and lots of jewelry can be counted on to be found at the stores an online. Hirsch took mixed pieces, bags of pearls and vintage lace garments to createe this bridal look. The embroidery alone took him over a week.

With sustainable style in mind, this fashion collection was never intended to be manufactured en masse. Instead, Evan Hirsch is reducing waste and creating one-of-a-kind statement pieces meant to be treasured or collected like art. 

Slow, second-life styling may not be a lifestyle people will adapt to overnight, but Hirsch has made a great pitch for it.

Read more >>

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. 

Read more >>

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. 

Read more >>

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.

Read more >>

NYFW: Naeem Khan's Wicked Spring 2025

Are we excited about the Wicked Movie? Naeem Khan's Spring 2025 collection was a tribute to both witches and the movie musical. It is the most anticipated movie for the holidays and muse to the most fashionable promotional tour this fall.

The NYFW fashion show was staged at the ornate Angel Orensanz center on the Lower East Side. The dramatic venue was the backdrop to intricately sexy gowns inspired by "Elphaba" in black or emerald green. Embellishments included jet beading and re-embroidered lace.  Dresses for "Galinda" included flowing chiffon, sheer pink, and angelic ivory. Embroideries included tulle petals, silver feathers and shimmering beading. 

Read more >>

NYFW: The Blonds FUEGO

The Blonds brought the heat to the Starrett Lehigh runway Saturday night. Their collection, FUEGO, was a tribute to Latin culture, the fiery, the strong, and the stylish figures who inspired them. Design-wise, this manifested itself into dimensional flame appliques in snake patterns and metallic leather and crystal-encrusted details. 

The Blonds as a label is not for day-to-day lifestyle wardrobes. They are one-of-a-kind statement pieces favored by the biggest entertainment icons like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus. You need charisma (and some strong muscles) to carry off any of these larger-than-life looks. You need a hefty budget for the handmade pieces, but consider it an investment for your worldwide tour. 

If you were a nightlife fixture in the 1990s, this aesthetic would seem familiar as a muse. Legendary club divas like Diane Brille and drag queens were in the audience, as well as entertainers like Becky G.

The hair and makeup of course had to be on the same level. I watched the wigs, which were as sculptural as the clothing, being built up backstage. I have never seen winged eyeliner ready to take flight more than the models on this night.

Watching this runway, I felt nostalgic for a time in New York when going OUT was a production. Sure, a chill night at home is appealing, but I miss when the process of getting ready was as much fun as the destination. The Blonds will forever capture that era.

Read more >>

NYFW: Custo Barcelona SS24

When I think of SPRING 2024 collections from this past NY Fashion Week, Custo Barcelona's SS24 runway was the first to come to mind. The sunny rays of yellow, sky blue and statement shades from the runway are exactly what I needed on this frigid, snow-filled week. I am looking forward to warmer, brighter days, hopefully in the coming weeks! 

Many of the looks were breezy, sheer and flowing. While I shiver here in the show, I daydream of these Custo Barcelona outfits on the beach boardwalk in warmer times. I always loved this brand's mix of patterns and color. This spring, the design details also include sexy cut-outs, continuing a popular trend from recent seasons. Also, some sparkly embellishments accent daytime looks. While the silhouettes are can be more relaxed, the designer wanted to make sure that casual, athleisure is a thing of Covid past. This label has never been for the wallflower, and that's what makes is so fun. Bring on the sun!

Read more >>

NYFW: Dur Doux Spring/Summer 2024

It is September and hot and humid as hell. It would take a stellar collection and event to get me to wander out in the thunderstorms. and the Dur Doux show Saturday night was it. Mother and daughter designers Cathy and Najla Burt presented "Sous-Marine" a collection that pays tribute to the delicate marine life of their native Florida. 

Dur Doux has been a label committed to sustainable practices and this season features eco-friendly Italian knits fabrics certified by OEKO-TEX.

The reds, pinks, and golds evoke the corals, flamingos and sunsets. The body-conscious silhouettes are the best of beach-worthy glamour. 

I will always be a sucker for any fashion label that brings family together. Just look at that hug from the finale!

All photos by Mariana Leung

Read more >>

NYFW: NARDOS Spring 2024

Are you looking for Venetian-style couture by way of Northeast Africa, via Texas, then New York? Nardos Imam's gorgeous collection was presented at the St. Regis Hotel on Friday. Bright spring colors, like a vibrant garden of flowers, took center runway. Nardos is already beloved for her bridal collections. The luxurious gowns of Nardos Spring 2024 were inspired by Venetian architecture, Murano glass and large, luscious blooms. You could see this influence in the sculpted, expertly draped dresses. As an embroidery designer, I loved the dimensional embellishments from crafted appliques, beaded, sequined accents, 3D flowers and threadwork lemons. 

The bright pink is obviously a hot color still following the Barbie movie. Some of the silhouettes evoked iconic movie looks, like the pouffy dress that evoked Sabrina. 

I don't know why you don't see more color on brides; each look here would be lovely to get married in. More appropriately, Hollywood red carpets should be filled with Nardos looks. 

When looking at the accessories, how much do you love the floral crowns integrated into the hair? That puts all of the bows and other hairclips to shame.

Take a trip around the world in a gown from Nardos. Why not?

Read more >>

Subdued Cool at Richard Chai Fall 2012

Shout-out to my fellow Parsons School of Design alumni Richard Chai.  He has been one of the more notable successes from my graduation year.  He just landed a collaboration with boot brand Palladium and is the darling of men's and women's hipster threads.

At Parsons, we used to joke that black and grey were the official school colors.  It seems he brought that reference back as the first half of the show were variations of black and grey separates or stripes.  There was a bit more color added in the form of very subdued hues of navy and russet along with the black and grey.




This is a designer that manages to show men's and women's looks seamlessly, so they actually look like they come from the same collection.  Richard Chai isn't doing anything earth-shattering, but wearable.  Some of the jackets had odd proportions. The over-sized 3/4 coats on women looked like she was borrowing from her father, and the short, wide double breasted jackets on the men just looked ill fitting.

More school references... The giant backpacks seemed to be a throwback to all of the supplies we used to have to carry to class. At the risk of dating myself, Chai also had modernized versions of Morissey songs as the soundtrack.  It was the sleep-deprived student's anthem.

Read more >>

Scream Queen Glamour - Christian Siriano Fall 2012

Did you ever find classic horror heroines elegant and sexy?  Apparently designer Christian Siriano did.  For his darkest collection yet, the Project Runway winner paid homage to the divas of scare Saturday night at EyeBeam Studios. 

The prolific dressmaker sent elaborately detailed fishtail gowns, floating wings, ruched tulle, sequins and satin.  The palette had lots of sculptured black, dark blood red, with some ghostly white thrown in.  Hair was a severe pulled back ponytail and deep vamp lipstick.  Red carpet fantasies for those with a wicked sensibility.

Yes, we may have seen a lot of fishtails at recent awards shows, but Mr. Siriano exaggerates the silhouette even more, with more fluid fabrics.  Draped shoulder details turn into wings when the model moves.  Instead of ruching as a trim, it is stacked upon stacked to built structure.

Congratulations Christian, you have achieved elegance for the post-Twilight generation!

Photos by Ching Leung

Read more >>

Rich Prints at Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2012

This is one of the shows I always look forward to.  Rebecca Minkoff understands the NYC woman likes an urban edge, but sometimes wants to be girly, or occasionally ironic.  Fall 2012 was a mix of long lean pants and dresses, with a few mini skirts too.

The palette was a New Yorker's palette of black, jewel tones, reds, blues, orange. The prints were painterly, almost abstract, very saturated in color. While the looks were fitted and tailored, the fabrics were soft.

Rebecca Minkoff is most famous for her handbags. Built for a busy NYC lifestyle, purses were roomy, (even envelope clutches) and structured.

Spotted in the front row: Fern Mallis, Twilight's Nikki Reed, Abigail Breslin.

Read more >>

Win a Trip to NY Fashion Week! - #NYFW Survival Kit

Mariana, aka Ms. FABulous in the photographer's pit at Lincoln Center

Gird your loins...NY Fashion week is almost here.  Anyone who is working in some capacity can say good-bye to sleep for the next few weeks.

Designers are biting their nails waiting for their samples, praying models won’t be naked on the runway.  Publicists are swimming through tens of thousands of egos and invitation requests.  Photographers, journalists and bloggers are gearing up and sorting itineraries of conflicting shows…And I love it!

I have worked on all sides of the runway in my career.  This season, I will be going as blogger and photographer.  I am culling my looks together for events where I need to be chic (particularly excited about Kohl’s Rock & Republic Launch Fashion Show and Party!)  

Alternatively, I am also stocking up on hard toe boots, layered clothing and memory sticks for shows where I'll duke it out in that pirate's crew they call the photographer's pit.  

My Fashion Week survival kit: 

-Water and raw almonds (counter balance those cocktails and lack of meal times)
-iPhone with my essential NYFW apps: Fashion GPS, Yelp, Instagram, HootSuite 

-Foldable slippers (only non-humans can wear platform heels for 16 hours a day)

-Compact for beauty touch-ups (ok, realistically, blotting when you sweat in the photo pit) 

Have your invite yet? Glam Media is sending Fashionistas to NY fashion week with a full-on makeover at Rock & Republic, tickets to the big runway show, airfare, hotel and spending money.  RSVP through their sweepstakes right here. 

Kohl's provided compensation to me as an incentive to blog about the Rock & Republic launch event.  The opinions expressed herein are those of this author, and they have not been reviewed or approved by Kohl's in advance.

Read more >>

Kara Ross Spring 2012

Need more bling in your life?  Jeweler Kara Ross has gems on her mind this spring, along with exotic leathers, metals and style.  All shades of turquoise, lapis and amethyst dominated this seasons' collection.  You could see it in the shades of painted skins on the envelope flap bags or embedded in the jewelry.  

Some of Kara's signature touches are the faceted finishes resembling the closeup view of precious stones on rings and cuff bracelets.  The other is the jeweled clasps on her purses for that extra luxury touch.   Some of the rarer skins used in the handbags are then set in metal like a jewel for a truly symbiotic design process across categories.  Is that an artists' perogative? Thrifty or an eco-minded creative process?  Either way, Spring's blue skies will be beautiful.

Mdivani Monroe interviews Ms. Ross to discuss her baubles in depth:

Read more >>

Lela Rose Spring 2012

Can you do ladylike and still be young and fresh?  Lela Rose has mastered the elegant garden party look for girls who just like to party....(Just ask the Bush daughters).  Eva Mendes, Sofia Vergara and other red carpet regulars also love the designer.

For her Spring 2012 collection, the designer had all the hot colors (according to Pantone) like tangerine, pale gold, blue, sand and cream.  There were bright prints that incorporated all of them as well (just in case you couldn't decide).  The sunny colors are what you would expect from a Texas-born designer.

The dresses were wearable and sexy, with floral embellishments on one, swiss dots on another, embroidery or transparency to make it extra special.  They strike a great balance between elegant, but not stuffy.

The front row contained enthusiastic editors as well as celebs like Rose Gowan and Susan Sarandon:

Read more >>

Vivienne Tam Spring 2012

The Queen of Pop-Art Chinoiserie.  Vivienne Tam created a niche of contemporary designer sportswear inspired by traditional Chinese motifs reborn as ironic design.  She first made waves re-interpreting images of Mao in a Warhol-esque palette.  Since then, she has introduced delicate embroideries into cutting edge looks and high-tech digital printing for her signature pop prints.

For Spring 2012, these trademarks were translated into pretty, ladylike silhouettes, but at sexy lengths.  Miniskirts were paired with embroidered or transparent print blouses.  Appliques and more embroidery framed necklines and bodylines in a flattering way.  The colors were tonal shades of celadon, blues, greens or violet, coral, cream and pinks.  They looked like a bolder, more cosmopolitan idea of pastels for the urban girl who really doesn't do pastels (like me).  

Ms. Tam's shows during NY Fashion Week are one of the favorites I look forward to every season, and I'm there with my nose pressed up against the glass at her Soho boutique and sample sales.  

Read more >>

House of Waris Jewelry

Some of the most interesting designers of NY Fashion Week were not on the runway.  Waris Ahluwalia first made waves co-starring in The Darjeeling Limited and other quirky movies like Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Undead.  He is consistently spotted by NY media as the ultimate global hipster socializing around town.

As a designer, he has craftsmen in Rome and India make the jewelry for the House of Waris.  His collections have been known to sell out at luxury boutiques like Maxfield's in Los Angeles and Bergdorf Goodman in New York.

The collection he showed in the Lincoln Center tents during Mercedes-Benz Fashion week had an elegant look with European and Eastern influences.  Gold pieces were inlaid with delicate stones, shapes were inspired by forms in nature.  I don't know what I like more, the idea of Waris, an international man of style celebrated for his "exotic" look, or that he has the multi-tasking career that any fashionista would dream of (boutique/jewelry/tea shop entrepreneur with an acting career in artsy films).

If you're shopping for a jetsetter this holiday, this collection is the one to complete your gift list.

Read more >>

Parke and Ronen Spring 2012

Sweet threads for the boys, eye candy for the girls...Happy holidays to ME!  West Coast editor Mdivani Monroe brings us goodies from Parke & Ronen's Spring fashion show and chats with the designers, all for our shopping and viewing pleasure:

As you know, I LOVE to shop!  I especially like shopping for myself, finding new and interesting things to wear and trying on a slew of garments!  Only problem is that I am extremely picky (no big surprise) and there are very few things that really speak to me.  Even more frustrating can be finally finding something I love and it not being available in my size!

Due to my high standards, there really are only a very few collections that really draw me in.  A recent discovery, Parke & Ronen is one of those lines.  As I have stated previously, I am not a super relaxed casual guy and when I am dressed casual, I still like to be stylish and put together.  Parke & Ronen fits my casual style aesthetic perfectly.

With chic swimsuits, workout gear, casual shirts, casual shorts and pants and nicely cut jackets, Parke & Ronen offers me the look I want for the gym, the beach, vacation or just a casual weekend in town!  The Spring 2012 collection offers all of that and in great colors to boot!  As I watched the runway show, I was already making a shopping list in my head!

We went backstage before the show to meet the Parke & Ronen designers, Parke Lutter and Ronen Jehezkel, to find out more about them, where their inspiration comes from and what we will be lusting after for the Spring 2012 Season!

Reported by Mdivani Monoes of Ladies Who Lunch Travel, video by Nicholas Waickman

Read more >>

Son Jung Wan Spring 2012

One of Korea's top fashion designers landed Stateside via Capri, Italy to show her collection at NY Fashion Week.  Designer Son Jung Wan was inspired by the pretty Italian island for Spring 2012.  She brought the blues of the water into palette, and used silk chiffon to represent the fluidity.  Shimmering golds, sand and ivory represented the landscape and surrounding caves.

The silhouettes were clean, sexy, flattering.  The looks were fashion forward, but not overly trendy.  They were young, sophisticated and exactly what many New York women would want to wear.  The designer added a few menswear pieces that blended seamlessly into the aesthetic.

For more on the styling concept of the show, and Son Jung Wan's journey to New York designer, check out Mdivani Monroe's backstage interviews:

When it comes to fashion,  Son Jung Wan has no problem adapting from East to West.

Read more >>