Tag: New York Fashion Week

August 8, 2013

My Sketch Model Wasn’t Skinny Enough

Rough Fashion Sketch by Malinda Knowles, 2012

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.

Sincerely,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

May 2, 2013

More Funky Street Style, Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Exhibition Punk: Chaos to Couture

So I am so excited that this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Exhibition entitled Punk: Chaos to Couture is 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 created an 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 biker leather 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.

Yours Truly,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

February 24, 2013

Nolcha New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013 presented by RUSK

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.

Yours,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles

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).

[wpvp_flowplayer src=https://malindaknowles.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/JEANTRIX-Lucid-Dreams-Fashion-Film-2013-YouTub1.mp4 width=640 height=360 splash=https://malindaknowles.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

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 6, 2013

The Cost of Producing a Fashion Show

New York Fashion Week is almost here and everyone is very busy getting all those last-minute details together to make for a perfect show. And, you know that old Murphy’s Law– what can go wrong will go wrong.

So, I was thinking to myself, just how much does it cost to put on an amazing show? Well, of course it depends on if you are keeping it basic or doing something over the top like Chanel. But let’s get to the bottom line. It’s business and designers are selling clothes and an image. So how much does it really cost?

Well, here’s a list of a few possible costs;

Production and Equipment; 50K to 300K+

Videographer: 3K to 5K per hour

Stylists: 5K to 20K per day

Hair and Makeup Team: 5K to 100K+ per show

Models: unpaid to 200K+

Venue: 10K to 50K+

According to the New York Times, the Marc Jacobs show cost $1 million in 2011, or $1750 per second. The breakdown on that; 500 guests, 63 outfits, 45 second model appearance, 22-inch human hair extensions for each model at $180/head, 50 hair stylists, 35 makeup artists and 70 dressers. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show rang in at about $12 million last year, says Business Insider.

Last year’s Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2013 Paris show directed by Marc Jacobs featuring models descending from escalators in the Louvre. Burberry literally made it rain/snow at their Fall 2012 London show.

The smaller fashion brands have done presentations instead of runway shows, spotted their own venues, casted their own models and utilizing the help of volunteers and interns to cut costs. So, given what brands shell out in terms of money, we can all understand why it’s so important who is at your fashion show and where they are sitting.

I can’t wait to see who takes the cake this year in over-the-top fabulousness.

Yours Truly,

“Fashionably-Late”

Malinda Knowles