Last week, Beverly Johnson hosted a New York Fashion Week Book Release Party at the Museum of the City of New York after a talk with Andre Leon Talley the night beforehand. I haven’t had the chance to read it yet but they say it’s very interesting! As we all know, she’s a trailblazer as the first African-American model to cover Vogue Magazine in August 1974. In any case, I had a great time! I wore a blue layered romper from Clove exclusively at Nordstrom and vintage blue Giuseppe Zanotti heels.
So as Fashion Month is upon us I have gotten my calendar together and have to just put together those outfits. My closet is full of clothes and shoes and bags. Some that have hardly ever been worn. Some are my ‘faves’ and well, are in need of retirement. Rummaging through my closet became a sort of fun shopping experience. It was like my clothes and I became re-acquainted after some time. I pulled out that amazing winter fur vest and actually started to get excited for cooler weather.
I also began to realize that although there is much to do about ‘fall’ this and that. Fall just isn’t here yet. And that’s why they have pre-fall. 🙂 Anyway, I came across this amazing pre-fall Herve Leger number inspired by African prints. It’s too much like a Herve skirt from a few years back so I’m not going for it but it surely is beautiful.
By the way, have you seen the fashion shop? It’s updated.
All in all, since it’s still about 90 degrees outside this is the perfect time to catch some pre-fall fashion andsales!
Have you been looking? You absolutely must check out these sales. Peep the list. Everyone seems to be having one.
My random fashion thought for 2013. So what year do you predict plus-size fashion will be considered somewhat mainstream fashion? 2040? 2050?
On the heels of 2014 and another year passed, I reflected today on what will be the future of the fashion industry. Online trade shows, market weeks and incoming fashion for ‘curvy’ women? This year Paris held its first plus-size fashion week, Pulp Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week debuted its first plus-size collection from Eden Miller. It felt like a small victory for the curves in the world and was kind of a ‘new’ thing for NYFW. So, when will plus-size fashion be considered mainstream? When will designers go up in size and possible have spin-off ‘curvy’ collections just as they do petite? I mean, the averageAmerican woman is a size 14 and many women complain about not being able to find fashionable clothing appropriate for their size.
This is quite the opportunity. But, as designers, are we really thinking about how a fabric might drape from a curvy arm or leg? If you read my Sketch Model Wasnt Skinny Enough post, you definitely saw that most of us fashion students aren’t trained to think about the plus size woman (or average American size)! It’s quite possibly insane but from the looks of it, the industry is starting to make some strides to change. So, I ask again, what year do you think we’ll see ‘plus-size’ as simply ‘average’ size?
At the Nolcha New York Fashion Week Media Lounge, several brands showcased their products and I zeroed in on handbags. I came across a gorgeous handbag from Marylai with a decorated handle, something I have not seen before. It went perfectly with my outfit as well as a yellow clutch from Medusa.
I have a confession to make. When I first learned how to sketch fashion models and various fabrics, I remember being repeatedly chastised for drawing too wide of a nose and hips. It was like I had to re-learn the human body outside of my own shape or what I thought most people look like. Now, hey, fashion language is fashion language. And, fashion rules are ‘rules.’ Right? At this point, there’s just a few books being used to teach sketching, and an entire segment of our population is being ignored.
I’m not just talking about plus-size folks. I’m talking about anyone above a sample size. Anyone who isn’t at least five feet eight inches tall and skinny. And the largest segment, anyone who isn’t fair-skinned. It was funny that in class I naturally drew some color on my models while many others reached for the light pink marker only. Nothing wrong with that in class, but isn’t there something wrong with that in real life?
As Fashion Week (or month) approaches, we will all wait with bated breath to see the new Spring 2014 Collections, but we will also wait to see if anyone used a different marker for their models. That is, will we see any African-Americans or just plain non-white models on the runway? Recently, designers have missed the mark. And as the rich and famous (i.e. Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly, Beyoncé) continue to be a muse and advertisement for designers, what does it really say that they can be photographed in the merchandise but no model on the runway can look like them?
Now you may care less and really this is not about my personal feelings. This is business. The world does not all look the same. I have admittedly not done my statistical research but from what I know, non-white women buy and enjoy high-end fashion as well. So why not break up the monotony of those fashion sketch models and moreover real-life models on the runway and represent the true diversity of the world?
According to the New York Times, fashion model Iman will be organizing a social media campaign at the beginning of New York Fashion Week to bring attention to the lack of diversity on the runways in the past several years. She contends that something is “terribly wrong.” Her experience in the 1980s and 1990s was that designers would routinely hire black models and now they barely hire one.
Whatever happens, I just hope that designers and the industry can wake up and see that huge business opportunities are being missed by completely ignoring of an entire group of people.
So I am so excited that this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Exhibition entitled Punk: Chaos to Coutureis all about punk and funky street style. I’ve blogged about funky street style almost all year; New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013, Versace’s Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013, and even createdan amazing set of mix and match items for your every day (or night) funky street style. The punk and grunge look is what is now and if it’s not your style, you should try a piece or two and see what it feels like! If anything you can try a nice bikerleather jacket or vest like the one I wore here.
I can’t wait to see what everyone wears at the Met Gala this coming May 6, ModaOperandi will be live streaming the red carpet at 7 PM. They are also giving our readers the opportunity to pre-order looks straight off the red carpet from Anthony Vacarello, Balmain, Delpozo, Rodarte, Nina Ricci and Wes Gordon on May 7. I will be live tweeting and running around the city as usual. Get excited and check out Exclusive Punk Collection, I’m kind of loving these mohawk headpieces and Hermes‘ attempt at the graffiti trend with their new Kelly bag. They even etched “New York City” on there for us locals and NYC lovers.
Last week I also attended the later Nolcha NYFW Show in midtown and caught works created by Studio 6th Sense, Adolfo Sanchez, Andressa Leão. There were some very sexy pieces that I just adored but wondered how I would wear given that they were see-through! With those you would just have to get some good nude underwear. What do you think of the dress above?
Andressa Leão turned up the pretty and feminine factor with some very beautiful dresses.
And, Studio 6th Sense and Adolfo Sanchez turned up the sex factor with skin-tight leather dresses and see through fabric.
I saw some great stuff, met some great people and became a fan of Foco Coconut Water. I also spotted rapper Wacka Flocka Flame who posed for photographs and left the building driving an absolutely gorgeous Rolls Royce. Others were spotted like singer Cocoa Bella, Jersey Shore star Sammi Sweetheart, actress Dawn Olivieri and Mercedes Javid aka “MJ” from Shahs of Sunset. Nolcha held a brunch and fashion lounge the next day that I quickly caught during lunchtime last week. Adolfo Sanchez told me that Alexander McQueen inspired him and his headwear in his runway show.
I also began to realize that although there is much to do about ‘fall’ this and that. Fall just isn’t here yet. And that’s why they have pre-fall. 🙂 Anyway, I came across this amazing pre-fall Herve Leger number inspired by African prints. It’s too much like a Herve 
