#NYFWStyleStudio - Fashion Fun for All
On the first night of NYFW, I had the privilege of attending a night out at Lulu Style Studio with my dear friend, Brian Choi in the Bowery at the OpenHouse Gallery. Sponsored by Lulu*s, Hpnotiq, Pop Beauty, Michael Antonio, BB Dakota, Jewelmint, PopChips, EO, Sabi, and more, this event was just the cherry on top of a great first few days of fashion week. Amazing giveaways, cocktails, and meeting fellow bloggers made for a splendid evening to celebrate: @MakeupKimPorter, @rhapsodani, @KittyBradshaw, and @HerGoodyBag, among other lovelies :)
xo
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As soon as I see anything @CostelloTaglia, I can never believe that Jeffrey and Robert are behind the brand. It’s brilliant because I truly expect the unexpected with them – and they always deliver (that’s the best part, no?).
Perhaps because of their recent nuptials (congrats you guys!), the designers were in quite a romantic mood. So romantic that their fall/winter 2012 collection resembled resort wear! Or maybe they drew inspiration from the recent bipolar weather we’ve been having where quite frankly, spring sprung and never left us. It’s the only explanation for the slew of dresses that came down the runway today.
I’m not complaining. The absence of outerwear was rather hopeful of a winter without blistering blizzards and below-zero weather. Most importantly, the absence of outerwear reminds us of the designers’ true strengths: those chic daywear dresses, plunging evening gowns, and draped creations of beauty. There is no way that you can appreciate the intricacies of their draping with a coat over a dress. Like last season, I remain in awe with their skills in fabric manipulation; as one model appears, I just stare and try to figure out how the designers were even able to achieve the silhouette on the model. Abstract pleats along with darts, knots, wraps, gathers, and asymmetric details kept the collection modern and fresh.
The colour palette and printing brought the collection to a whole other level. Inspired by Beetlejuice (Tim Burton’s whimsy with zero horror though), AirDye (aka eco-friendly) floral and stripe prints were done at large in blurred, spherical, and textured appearance. Rusty poppy reds, mahogany browns, acid greens, salmons, cyans, periwinkles, seafoam greens, and oxbloods created for a luscious earthiness.
The end result: natural visions of beauty and infinite bearhugs.
"What’s the hashtag for this event?"
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The appropriate hashtags for the following week, as deemed official by @nyfw and @MBFashionWeek, are #NYFW and #MBFW. Please use these hashtags and help our community take over.
NB: Hashtags can also be adapted by the show you are attending. For example, Rolando Santana’s hashtag during NYFW is .
Other hashtags are irrelevant and futile ;)
The more you know…
This week has been a hectic one so far. IFB Conference was yesterday and the beginning of fashion week in New York City.
Today was the official start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and all around, fashionistas were scattering to runway shows across town. Between New York Fashion Week shows (aka the presentations outside of Lincoln Center and the Tents), Nolcha Fashion Week, MADE (aka all the presentations held at Milk Studios in the Meatpacking District), and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (aka the actual shows that occur at Lincoln Center), it’s a wonder how fashion bloggers, editors, stylists, and other fashion hopefuls are still alive by the next week. Biannually, this event is the highlight of our years as fashionistas: we say “Happy Fashion Week,” like it’s a holiday. In fact, I’m tempted to petition so that fashion school students have these weeks off during the semester (I know I hold my composure but wow oh wow oh wow is it hard to manage my personal life’s responsibilities with my scholarly studies AND my blogging objectives). Case and point: it’s that serious to me.
And still, in spite of the happy frenzy, I can’t help but be incredibly underwhelmed by my experiences during fashion events like those that occur during fashion week. Though to be perfectly honest, it has nothing to do with the actual event itself.
It is at this point that I continue with an honest truth that may or may not be applicable to some but is definitely evident. An honest truth that some may or may not want to hear or acknowledge.
I have been ranting now about these sentiments on Facebook for a while but I felt like I needed to bring it to fashion community. That, and the following is the perfect motivation for the #OccupyFashion movement (one I am a part more and more, each and every day):
- Fashion people are very pretentious individuals. Before, it was just the editors who had this “holier than thou” likeness – partially in their own right because they had paid their dues to the industry and finally got to call the shots. It’s like the real life The Devil Wears Prada. As fashion and style authorities, I respect that they may have an air to them. Do I like it? No (we’re all humans) but I respect it.
- However, when fellow fashion bloggers are snubbing me, that’s when I have a problem. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have on [insert social media platform here] or who you know. We all know people, we all have insight, we all have exclusives. There is absolutely no need to flaunt, exaggerate, undermine, or be obnoxious about the experiences you’ve had or your connections. The funny part is that there are people that think so highly of themselves for being at a certain event.
- Newsflash: you weren’t the only one invited AND you’re in standing room – so get over yourself.
Besides this realization (or rather re-actualization that I come to each and every fashion week after mingling with the throngs that show up at these things – some how I forget and then, BAMN, I realize why I hate the fashion scene), fashion week reminds me of how fickle and trivial fashion (and fashion people) can be. It all comes down to the social scene. It’s all about networking. That should be good but there is a difference between good networking and schmoozing. It suddenly becomes all about cocktails, seating assignments, and gift bags.
The goal: evolve the influence we have on each other and create a more harmonious atmosphere. We all have one thing in common. No matter what background we have or where we come from, we all share a mutual interest in fashion. Let us remember what was preached at the last panel of the IFB Conference – the art of working together as a community and not competing but rather joining forces to create new opportunities for us. Not rejecting but embracing. Not perpetuating the stereotype that fashion is superficial but creating a new image. Let’s forget about the photo ops and cameras. We’re not going to these shows to be photographed, we’re going to see clothes. Not our clothes. Not the clothes already in the market. No, new clothes - we go to fashion shows to celebrate newness and creativity.
I just hope people can remember that. THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF FASHION WEEK. And as I always say, “It’s all about the clothes.”
With that, I cannot wait to start sharing…
#NYFW and #MBFW haven’t even started… and I’m already BEYOND exhausted. Fashion gods help me now!!
Here’s what WarWornFashion will be up to (tentatively)! Hope to meet lots of new people - please tweet me and say hello :)
Thursday, Feb. 9th
Friday, Feb. 10th
Saturday, Feb. 11th
Sunday, Feb. 12th
Monday, Feb. 13th
Tuesday, Feb. 14th
Wednesday, Feb. 15th
Stay tuned for lots of coverage on the designers, the scene, and most of all, the clothes.
