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. 

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Naeem Khan's Human Family - Fall 2017

Fall 2017 was a season of female empowerment on the runway. Naeem Khan's muse has often been regal and global. This season, that muse has skewed younger and more contemporary. There were luxe renditions of the pajamas as outerwear look. Relaxed, embroidered drawstring pants and tops, delicate, expensive lace bras underneath. Long gowns with more of a body-conscious silhouette with sheer panels or sleek silks with geometric graphics.

In addition to elegant floral motifs, there were bold leopard spots in metallic sequins or lace. Oversized earrings and layered beaded necklaces of different sizes were a nod to tribal jewelry. At one point, the music stopped, and the soundtrack for this show was the voice of Maya Angelou, reading from The Human Family.

Models of all ethnicities graced the catwalk in a range of colors and silhouettes. While literal ethnic costume references were not used, the subtle styling of each look was a tribute to the many cultures around the world. This was not an obvious political statement, but a stylish stance on the beauty of diversity. The finale of the show was a spectacular bride in gold embroidery and headdress who looked like an African queen floating through the venue.

It was gratifying to see the majority of designers this season make a positive statement in one way or another. The fashion crowd rarely gets involved in politics. Some made deliberate moves to call out and publicly reject particular politicians. Others like Naeem Khan evoke the idea of inclusiveness by designing for a multicultural customer and sharing an iconic poem. The Human Family is one we all belong to.

Photos by Mariana Leung

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#NYFW: Naeem Khan Spring 2015

Casual royals? Naeem Khan ' s spring 2015 collection was beautiful,  ornate as usual. However, he also seemed to be tapping into the sporty chic direction many other designers are going for in his own way.

The show started off with shorter dresses, tops that resembled a tshirt and tunic. This is Naeem Khan though, so the deceptively simple pieces were elaborately embellished with gorgeous embroidery. Lots of beads and lots of jewels encrusted 'casual' garments. I guess this is meant for the celebrity or socialite who walks red carpets in daytime?

Then there were the show stopping spring ballgowns. Long, sweeping silk gowns that looked like they were masterfully painted with blooming flowers. Funny how these formal silhouettes did not have embellishments beyond the print.

The color palette was graphic back and white, bold tropical colors or monochromatic metallic when it came to the embroidery.  The closer you look at the beadwork or threadwork, the more intricate it seems. 

The models were styled very simply. Loose, natural hair and makeup so the clothing is the star. The Naeem Khan spring 2015 collection is definitely one of art that needs to be appreciated in person!

Photos by Mariana Leung

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Best Embroidery at the CMA Awards

The Award season dry spell broke with tonight's Country Music Awards.  When you think country music and embroidery, my city gal snobbery thinks of denim, fringe, and chintzy beaded numbers from 1980's television specials.

The reality is that the divas of country music rocked the red carpet in the most sophisticated of gowns, pulling from the best fashion designers.  As always, I have chosen my favorite use of embroidery.  Tonight, I chose Kelly Pickler who wore a dark gown by Johnathan Kayne.  The look combined a revealing sheer base fabric contrasted with heavy opaque beaded panels.

Country princess Carrie Underwood was glowing in a champagne and gold beaded dress from Lorena Sarbu.  This was an incredibly flattering dress with the high/low hem and use of beading.  The sheer shoulder, then the embroidered motifs melting into a sparkling skirt that just skimmed over that baby bump.  She was so pretty, it would make most pregnant women weep.  She also killed it throughout the night in a midnight beaded gown AND another dress that featured a painted bodice and jeweled belt by THEIA.

Faith Hill a fab haircut and beaded Naeem Khan gown.  The charmeuse bow below the neck would normally look matronly, but on this gown it has an updated proportion to highlight her graceful neck and face.  The beading had a glittering effect, but a more subtle chevron pattern on the body that had a slimming effect.

Who was YOUR favorite from last night?
Photos by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

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Artisan Embroidery at Naeem Khan Spring 2014

 Latin love was the aesthetic inspiration for Naeem Khan's gorgeous collection at NY Fashion Week.  The rose floral embroidery was a nod to the peasant blouses of Mexico, but embellished with a bit of luxury crystals and beads.  The jungle motifs from South America were also alluded to in the bright palette of the painted stripe dresses and wild leafy embroidered sequin dresses.

Naeem Khan is still Naeem Khan though, so the sweeping gowns, red carpet stunners and elegant sheaths that dress royalty are still the key silhouettes of this runway.  They just happen to be interpreted with some Latin flavor in the most luxurious way possible.  One of the most striking embellished groups were the ones with black base fabric and then embellished with fur, beads and crystal which vaguely resemble the aristocratic tribal looks of Mayan culture.  The jacket and built up shoulders just looked so rich and indulgent.

The braided hairstyles were a perfect blend of elegant updo with a respectful reference to the traditional braided hair of Mexican women in ethnic garb.  I would love to imagine that Frida Kahlo's most elegant dreams would be dressed from this collection.

original photos by David TW Leung

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Naeem Khan Fall 2013

I always think of Naeem Khan as a dressmaker to queens.  His regal style always involves ornate beading and embroidery. Mr. Khan's factories have long mastered the artisanal skill of this fashion art.  The silky velvets and golden threadwork are often associated with royalty garb in multiple cultures.

The silhouettes are sexy, but a certain modesty implied which I'm sure reflects his international clientele.  There were rich teals, garnet and shades of black perfect for a night at the opera.  More glittering dresses were no doubt waiting to be chosen for an upcoming red carpet while long elegant gowns in luxurious fabrics were probably headed to charity galas.

While the Naeem Khan show is traditionally not one of the crazy, paparazzi bait front rows, A-list celebs in attendance included Matt Damon who counted himself a fan for the fact that his wife Luciana Barroso looked fabulous in his clothes.

This fall 2013 collection is for women who have graduated from dressing like a princess and ready to reign as queen.

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Hot Flavors of Summer Fashion

 Memorial Day is coming up, so you had better be ready with your summer style!  I'm looking forward to warm weather cocktails and bright breezy frocks!  The top shades this year seem the align perfectly with the top flavors this season...

Tangerine Tango was named Pantone's color of the year.  Designers Vivienne Tam, Carlos Miele and Derek Lam certainly knew that.  They worked the color into elegant and flirty frocks perfect for a garden party or Hamptons gala...The perfect accessory?  How about a Citrus Squeeze?  Recipe here.

 Remember having a lemonade stand when you were a child?  It was my first foray into entrepreneurship.  You can give the ultimate summer beverage a nice upgrade by making a Pucker vodka-infused Lemonade Lust.   Dress for success with a printed dress from Diane Von Furstenburg, jewelry from Lulu Frost, or swish gown from Cesar Galindo!

Throw a Raspberry Rave! There is a flattering shade of berry pink for everyone.  Naeem Khan has a bright shade with a lot of movement in his ruffled skirt.  Theia has multiple colors of pink in his crunchy cocktail frock and Farah Angsana has a deep raspberry concentrate in his dramatic gown.

What flavor flatters you?  Discuss on Facebook. 

Break up with boring vodka! Pucker® Vodka is a premium vodka with unique flavors added that will give you a taste experience that’s as intense as it is unforgettable.  Whether you’re hosting a house party or out on the town, the bold flavors are perfect for sipping, mixing and dancing the night away! http://www.puckervodka.com/

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pucker Vodka via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pucker Vodka.

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Naeem Khan Spring 2012

Awards season is in full swing...That means lots of gowns down the red carpet.  Do you have enough frocks lined up?  Naeem Khan is one of the more regal designers out there.  He dresses royalty from all reaches of the planet.

For Spring 2012, he had a mix of sexy, bright, pastel and floral.  The best gowns had dramatic silhouettes or intricate beaded flowers.  The body hugging sleek dresses that were the most simple were also the most sexy.

Some of the looks were too long and too covered up, giving an impression of suffocation (though I suspect those are for princesses of more conservative religious countries).  There was a small group of printed floral looks, (pants on a one piece, dresses with a Bo-peep shape) that didn't work for me either. They just left me scratching my head as they felt out of place among such elegant creations. Then again, Mr. Khan probably has a more diverse clientele than most designers, so he has more divas to please.

Whichever look you choose, you are guaranteed to make a grand entrance.

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Naeem Khan Fall 2011

 Naeem Khan comes from a long line of designers.  His grandfather and father had dressed Indian Royalty before him.  Mr. Khan has now made his name dressing "American Royalty" on the red carpet for celebrities like Beyonce and Carrie Underwood. 

The Fall 2011 collection was dramatically elegant.  Long, draped gowns of silk and intricate embroidery will no doubt find their way onto red carpets.  Richly printed silks expressed the designer's silk road theme.  Feathers and soft beading accentuated the movement of the body.  The techniques and traditions of his family's history is brought forward in this aristocratic show.

Whether you are a princess or film star, the man to dress you has been found.
Photos by Ritika Wahal

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Fashion Designer Couture Ornaments

Are you ready for a Red Carpet Holiday Tree?  Want your pine boughs trimmed with ornaments personally designed by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Sean Jean, Gwen Stefani, Naeem Khan, Carlos Falchi or Jonathan Adler?
You can get festive and have the most fashion-forward decor of the neighborhood with the Home Shopping Network's  HeART HSN Designer Ornament collection.

100% of the profits in this collection will be donated to the St. Jude Children's Hospital.  St. Jude's is a pioneering research hospital devoted to finding cures for pediatric cancer and childhood diseases.

The Home Shopping Network launched this collection with an intimate soirée at their showroom last week. St. Jude chair Marlo Thomas hosted the event while ornament designers like model Iman and Naeem Khan attended in support.

Swarovski is a participant and the famed crystals are featured prominently in many of the ornaments.  The price range for the pieces range from below $20 to $40 for most of the collection.  You can also splurge up to $299 or a jewel-encrusted Naeem Khan piece. The collection goes on sale October 20, 2010 through HSN and will be available through the holiday season.

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