Category: Fashion

February 20, 2013

Glass Handbags, Paper Skirts and Dancing Runway Models at Japanese-Influenced Neodandi Show

Last Tuesday evening I attended Neodandi House of Couture’s New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013 Show at EN Japanese restaurant downtown. We were all greeted with some great Japanese cocktails; sake and an amazing Ginger drink that I must find the recipe for.

Ghanaian designer NiiLartey De Osu created the Japanese-inspired line and featured very interesting silhouettes and cuts. Neodandi had quite an interesting show with models dancing and/or walking down the runway to show off the clothes. I was taken by the glass handbags and paper skirts, they were very different from the norm. I aksed one of the models if the glass handbag was really heavy and she said no, that she would definitely wear it to a nice event. I’m very curious about these.

Afterwards, they continued the cocktails and had some lovely Japanese bites from EN restaurant, a place I would definitely return for a nice date. Very creative and different work!

Yours Truly,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

February 17, 2013

Funky Street Style, Grunge, Punk and Pop Art on the Runway during NYFW FW 2013

So, grunge, punk, pop art and New York street style walked the runway during this past New York Fashion Week. Jeantrix, Tumbler & Tipsy, Ashton Michael and Jeremy Scott all gave us funky street style, embracing New York for Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013. They all combined funky street style with grunge, goth, punk rock, art or pop art images while fully embracing city life and taking their imaginations to another level.

Jeremy Scott fully embraced color, specifically neons, with major inspiration from pop art.

Ashton Michael’s “Black Heart” Collection gave us full New York City chic grunge shown at Conair Style 360 New York Fashion Week.

Jeantrix, originally from Philadelphia, has always embraced the pop art theme. Check out the multicolored leather jacket on the male model in their Lucid Dreams F/W 2013 Collection Fashion Film (featuring their version of the Harlem Shake).

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Also shown at Conair Style 360, some funky punk rock looks from Tumbler and Tipsy.

Interesting and creative stuff from these designers. Shop the Funky Street Style Look here.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

February 15, 2013

Black, White, and Oxblood from Nicci Hou at Designer’s Premiere NYFW Fall 2013 Show

Later this past Sunday, I attended the Designer’s Premiere NYFW Show at Helen Mills Event Space downtown.

Nicci Hou featured some interesting cuts in mostly black, white and oxblood for men and women. Check out some of the looks below.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

February 14, 2013

Le Normandie: Catherine Malandrino Fall 2013 Fashion Week Presentation

This past Sunday I helped at the Catherine Malandrino Fall 2013 Fashion Week Presentation downtown. Le Normandie was the name of the collection featuring great geometric shapes, beautiful silhouettes and lace overlays. And, of course, the international fashion community was there to check it out.

The look on the models was very natural and simple, but the clothes were anything but that. I wore one of her Black Label leather skirts with lace cut outs along with leather boots for a biker look. Check out some of the looks and photos from the presentation below.

February 9, 2013

Do Color in the Winter: Harlem Fashion Row Fall/Winter 2013 Collective Fashion Show

This week I attended Harlem Fashion Row’s sixth annual Fall/Winter Fashion Show at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Well, it was quite the event with everyone from Nana Meriweather, Tatijiana Shoan, editor-in-chief of As If Magazine, Bevy Smith, Tyson Beckford and more in attendance. Above looks from designers Chantell Walters and Kimberly Goldson, finalist from Project Runway.

For those that don’t know Harlem Fashion Row is a company that supports emerging African-American designers and perhaps me sometime soon. This was their very first Fall/Winter show and I applaud Brandice Henderson and the designers for their hard work.

Espion Atelier by Deidre Jefferies

My favorite collection is kind of a toss between the first and the last. The first collection by Deidre Jefferies featured great ready to wear in mostly black, grey or bright yellow. It was funny to see because that’s exactly what I was wearing; a bright yellow dress, black blazer and grey coat. Even though black is New York’s most chic color, I am definitely not afraid of color in the winter.

The last collection by Kimberly Goldson featured some amazing, unique and beautiful pieces. She is a former Project Runway star and said she was inspired by Michelle Obama. Wanted for all of us to “see ourselves in the clothes.” Well, I did Kimberly, and I am leaning towards being most excited about your collection.

The show also featured a menswear line by Sandro Romans with very interesting headwear. One of the models told me that they actually wore a scarf around their head with a hat pinned to the top. Creative, I thought.

Yours Truly,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

February 5, 2013

AS by DF Fall 2013 Fashion Presentation

So, last week I attended AS by DF Fashion Presentation featuring some new Fall 2013 designs from Denise Focil who is doing a relaunch. She’s done work for J. Lo and others and is mostly based out of Los Angeles but is trying to get her stuff out here to New York. Leather is her thing and I liked some of the leather pieces that she had.

Denise wore a dress from her new collection with some great leather striped detail featuring see through fabric. I’ve noticed this seems to definitely be a trend this year.

Her ASTARS Line, a lower price point collection, evidently might be at Intermix stores this Fall. There was a dress that I absolutely adored with very soft fabric and stretchy vegan leather sleeves that will be retailing for about $90. I was impressed.

Tyson Beckford and Melyssa Ford came by to view the collection as well. Good stuff Denise, looking forward to seeing your stuff in New York.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

Photo Credits: Carly Otness/BFAnyc.com

January 29, 2013

Schiaparelli, Structure and Shoulder Pads, are they here to stay?

I personally like shoulder pads in women’s clothing. Know they were big in the 1980s, I hardly ever saw my mom walk out to work without them in a fancy suit. They have recently made a come back but, are they here to stay?

I was sitting in textile class talking about how different fabric does different things for women’s wear and shoulder pads came up. We started chatting about if in ten years, we’ll look back and say absolutely not. I know that mohawks and shaving half of your head will definitely be a thing of the 2010’s but shoulder pads, I don’t know.

Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian designer of the 1930s and 1940s inspired by Surrealists like Dali, is noted to have introduced shoulder pads in women’s clothing. She seemed to be into form and structure like what we are seeing in some of the newer designs today. Like, for instance, this skeleton dress with shoulder pads below.

Check out the detail on the shoulders of this dress worn by Mrs. Reginald Fellowes in 1933. Schiaparelli and Prada were featured and compared at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) last year for their spring exhibition.

Schiaparelli had some great vision for her time. I think there might be periods when the shoulder pad will be more prevalent in fashion than others, like the 1940s and 1980s. But, my prediction is that the shoulder pad is here to stay.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

January 12, 2013

My favorite piece from Malandrino’s Spring 2013 Collection

I just love this leather vest from Catherine Malandrino’s Spring 2013 Collection. The details are beautiful and I just love the candy-colored, Spring pastel green color. Comes in ivory too. Looks like they’ll be in stores, especially at Bergdorf Goodman this Spring.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

January 7, 2013

Soft, Slouchy Pants and Overalls for Spring 2013

Here’s a trend I can get behind for Spring 2013: soft, slouchy and comfortable pants! I don’t know about you but with this NYC cold, I’m already looking forward to Spring and can’t wait to wear some cherry-colored pants like these Joie Crepe “Jogging Pants” (pictured above), these black leather Vince “jogging pants” (pictured below). You could also do these lilac Phillip Lim pants from the Fall collection (below, left). Check out my “Soft, Slouchy Pants Collection” on Lyst here.

Looks like comfort and style are winning this Spring and I like it. I especially love these Phillip Lim Overalls, pink, green or black leather!

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

December 9, 2012

Do These Sequined Numbers for the Holidays

So, it’s that time of the year again. Happy Holidays everyone! As you shape up your plans and outfits, check out a few of these bedazzling numbers to get you glowing at your next holiday event!

Love these black shorts Halston Heritage sequined black shorts (on sale for $98).

Do it with a cardigan, a sweater, a jacket or a really nice blouse like this Chanel look with black sequined shorts from 2007 and Beyoncé from the Grammy Awards last year.

I’m also in love with these wintery white sequined Herve Leger dresses. They are absolutely gorgeous, and not to mention the Pink Sequined Bandage Dress is 50% off!

Finish it off with sparkly nails… I love Metallic 4 Life from the Nicki Minaj OPI Collection. It’s on my toes and I adore them. Also, try Snooki’s new Party’s Here, seen here.

Enjoy!

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles