Another day, another gala during NYFW! The UNITAS 2nd Annual Gala Against Human Trafficking had a slew of supermodels, TV personalities, musicians, and more in attendance.
Let’s get into their looks!
Julissa Bermudez gave a flash of abs in a Sherri Hill silver embellished, long-sleeve crop top and high-waist blue flare skirt. Hot!
Maxwell was suited up in a classic tux. He’s so handsome.
Ebonee Davis uplifted a simple, all-black ensemble with a sequin jacket. Gorgeous!
Cindy Bruna practically blew a kiss at the cameras in a lip print dress. So cute!
An on-trend corset gave added flair to Aluna Francis’s pleated white shirt dress, black leather moto jacket, and gray long ponytail.
Daphne Groeneveld looked every bit the model in a black and white, showstopping Jonathan Simkhai look and a M2MALLETIER bag. Great ensemble.
Let’s take a moment to discuss Brandon Maxwell’s meteoric rise in this cutthroat world of fashion. This being his third collection makes him relatively new to the New York Fashion Week scene, but he’s always managed to leave a lasting impression on those who view his creations and those who wear them. So it’s no surprise that longtime friend, Lady Gaga and muses Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn shimmied to music as they observed his latest offerings from the front row.
The Russian Tea Room served as the backdrop for Maxwell’s collection as a stunningly diverse cast of models sauntered in ankle strap sandals. Despite the aristocratic and ostentatious surroundings, the garments were completely devoid of embellishments and jarring patterns. Simplicity worked in Maxwell’s favor, as it always does. But this time, he lay the velvet to the side and utilized lighter fabrics like silk and crepe. With lighter fabrics come lighter colors, and petal pink was on the menu. A sexy bandeau top paired with wide leg trousers and a gown with a plunging neckline swished down the catwalk, among the company of other looks sporting this delicate hue.
Sex appeal was aplenty without compromising elegance. A black, strapless column gown with a thigh high slit and origami pleated neckline proved this point flawlessly. An olive cocktail dress featured cut-outs at the sides and a slit grazing the thigh shared the same sentiment as well.
Separates also made a statement this season. Coats were draped across the shoulders and bounced with each step. Exceptionally tailored jackets in black and the purest of white served as exclamation marks when paired with trousers and silky tops. Crop tops were also exhaled down the runway, but these ones flowed loosely from the body in lieu of form fitting ones worn by many a street-style star these days.
With athleisure and sporty, slouchy silhouettes seeming to dominate the runways as of late, Maxwell is proudly defying the notion that all things oversized that evoke a grungy aesthetic aren’t the only things currently trending. Refined construction and alluring silhouettes still have a place on the catwalk and on the frames of our favorite fashionistas. Oftentimes, less is more, and it seems Maxwell just championed that adage.
If nothing else, Spring 2017 looks like it’s shaping up to be a season of either subtly or unabashedly addressing the need for the world to be submerged in merriment and social awareness. From Altuzarra’s fruit laden, colorful collection to Prabal Gurung’s proud stance for feminism, this trend is permeating the fashion world like never before. Rosie Assoulin’s offering for next spring followed suit as she brought the beach to fashion week.
Assoulin set the scene having models stand among spurts of potted plants and beach chairs set on packing peanuts, bringing to mind the summers she spent frolicking on the Jersey Shore as a young girl. Prints ran amuck to elevate the jubilant surroundings. Wide-leg jumpsuits, structured peplum tops and strapless gowns were emblazoned with beautiful florals, reminiscent of freshly picked bouquets from an ambrosial garden.
Stripes, vertical and horizontal, dominated as well, giving reason for the eyes to dance in wonder. Multi-colored or in nudes and browns, trousers, tops and floor length dresses boasted eye-catching linear patterns.
For those who desire looks not as bold but still attention grabbing, Assoulin presented easy-going options that don’t seem to bind the body tightly and allow for free-flowing movement. A beige, belted dress with precisely frayed seams was one of the standouts along with a periwinkle belted jumpsuit cuffed at the hem. A pair of embellished mules or leather sandals are sure to uplift any of these options.
Assoulin didn’t stop there. Continuing to draw inspiration from her childhood strolls along sandy shores, a few pieces resembled kaleidoscopic beach umbrellas. Vivid bands of color streamed down dresses and skirts, and would hypnotize any onlooker should one of the models do a twirl.
All-in-all, Assoulin’s delivery was spot on. The backdrop served as inspiration to want to soak up the sun and enjoy life. She’s also an advocate for celebrating diversity in fashion given the amount of black and Asian models used to showcase her creations. However, while life’s moments interspersed with escapism from the world’s dilemmas through fashion can bring about some sort of balance, we have to be mindful to not use fashion as a bandaid to conceal global issues, but as a vehicle to inspire change for the better.
The Michael Kors show is always star-studded! This season was no exception, with our favorite models, Broadway actresses, style stars, and bloggers taking to the front row.
Let’s see what they wore!
Chrissy Teigen gave a flash of abs in a black and white dot print balmacaan, crop top, and skirt, from the brand’s Resort 2017 Michael Kors Collection. She also accessorized with MK’s recently-released silver-tone Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch. Hot!
Cynthia Erivo was suited up in a dogtooth wool broadcloth jacket, matching pleated skirt, a Tattersall stretch poplin shirt, and floral georgette neck tie from Michael Kors’s Fall assortment. She completed the ensemble with a black small Kylie top handle bag. Cute, no?
A maritime denim wool jacquard jacket, matching pants, and maritime and white polka dot silk georgette blouse from Resort 2017 were on the agenda for Emily Blunt. She accented the getup with red lips and a green snakeskin envelope clutch.
Sienna Miller chose a black and white polka dot silk georgette dress, scarf, a black and white French calf double O-ring belt, and black Phyllis smooth calf sport sandals from Resort. Not too keen on the shoe choice here, but the rest of the look was adorable.
Leandra Medine flaunted her lithe stems in a black and silver sequin feather Fall 2016 shirt with a denim Scout camera bag from the MICHAEL Michael Kors Holiday 2017 collection. I’d wear this!
Carmen Marc Valvo always creates the most beautiful gowns, fit for the red carpet. This season was no exception! For his runway show for Spring, he worked with famed hairstylist Ted Gibson. “The idea behind Carmen’s collection is innocence, and for me innocence is textured hair,” said Ted. He continued, “I knew I didn’t want the hair to be curly, but rather almost frizzy. When Carmen said his inspiration was baby doll I immediately thought of the movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane with Bette Davis. In the movie her hair was very textured and I wanted the same idea for this look.” Here’s how to get the baby doll curls and waves straight from the catwalk:
1. Prep hair with Kerastase’s Spray a Porter. If hair is on the straighter side, blow dry to make it sleek. If your hair already has voluminous texture naturally, you can slightly blow the roots and piece through the ends for extra length and volume.
2. Create a deep side part. Then, create a figure-8 set by taking 2 inch sections and wrapping the hair on a bobby pin. This creates that figure 8 shape. Twist at the bottom to secure.
3. Heat set by placing a flat iron over each section and holding for no more than 2 minutes each. Once cooled, separate curls with fingers to create additional texture.
“Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.”-Jessie Williams
Black Girl Magic is in full effect this fashion week season. More and more brown skin tones are being highlighted and celebrated on and off of the runway. Despite the industry’s fascination with all things melanin, the reality is, there is an epidemic going on in our country. An epidemic that grabs the attention of the masses only for a moment, and is hushed upon shorty after. The loss of lives at the hands of police brutality has left many to feel hopeless in a country that displays all things hope.
This campaign is an unapologetic movement created by fashion goers who took New York Fashion Week by storm this week. After being pictured with June Ambrose on her Instagram page, the ladies sent social media into a frenzy. Appearing all over my explorer page, I couldn’t wait to highlight these fashion revolutionary’s and pick the brains of these fearless influencers. Shayla explains, “Slay for Change is an idea that has been formulating for over a year after the death of Sandra Bland. This idea was reignited by the death of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille. Fashion for my has always been my voice. And I felt the best way I could show my outrage, pain and disappointment was through the fabrics of my clothing.”
-Creator, Shayla Janel. “Vogue doesnt care about EBONY issues”
We were concerned to know if the girls felt any apprehension or fear before introducing such a bold movement NYFW. Shayla says, “I was very afraid! In fact it was the girls that calmed me down and held my hand. I was especially afraid when I wore the never forget penguin jacket with the names of the victims of police brutality. But fear has always intrigued me and motivates me.”
Shayla’s September 11th Penguin jacket reads, “Never Forget-September 11th” painted in white on the top half. The jacket also features the names Trayvon, Sandra, Oscar, Alton, Mike, Freddie, Walter, Tamir, Philando, and Korryn printed on the bottom half. All were victims of police injustice.
A video posted by Fashion Maven (@randomandchic) on Sep 12, 2016 at 12:31pm PDT
Fashion seasons like the New York Fashion Week seasons are set to bring influence. Often times, as fashion professionals, we are side tracked by labels, antics, and collections. This sidetracking sometimes causes us to lose sight of the the daily troubles that we face that are constantly swept under the rug. “This movement was actually all documented for a film that both my sister and myself are producing. It’s a documentary entitled,Fashion Weak. It brings the issues of fashion and racism to the forefront. And explains what it feels like to be a black woman who loves the art of fashion,” Shayla says.
Handbag reads, “As if y’all care ’bout Brown issues.”
The ladies took a daring approach, shoving reality down the throats of those who may never understand what minorities go through as a people. Yes, we’re fashionable, we are trendy, we are brown, and we are beautiful, but we are oppressed, we are tired, and we want to be recognized.
“I feel like it’s a industry that utilizes our celebrities, our culture, our style but seem to be silent about our issues. My hope for this movement was to keep the conversation going. I wanted to let the world know I’m still thinking about all of them. Sandra Bland and I graduated from the same college. At around the same time. I will never forget her!”
What do you guys think of the “Slay for a Change” movement? Leave your feedback below!
It was all about classic prints for Zendaya at the Michael Kors Access Smartwatch Launch Party. Naturally, she wore pieces from the brand—a Resort 2017 Maritime and White Stripe Cashmere Tube Top and Polka Dot Silk Georgette Palazzo Trousers:
Zendaya swapped in a striped choker for the lookbook’s dot scarf, wore a tube top instead of the brand’s cropped striped sweater, and left the shoulder bag and jacket at home.
