Category archives: Artist Pages
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7 years ago
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For those of you who might not recognize the fashion label Barragán, you are now in for an unexpected treat!
Led by Victor Barragán, the edgy label has now attracted almost 45,000 Instagram followers. Not a bad feat for a brand new, small label.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSEWsB3hNhK/?taken-by=barragannnn
In seasons past, Barragán issued looks that included 'jewelry fashioned out of sex toys or raw fruit, and bags fabricated to look like rocks.'
Victor Barragán tells Fashionista that the label began when he started making DIY, tongue-in-cheek shirts. The label quickly expanded to a full line. "For me, fashion is more than just about selling clothing for wholesale — it's about telling a story," he says.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXVd-n6Bmc0/?taken-by=barragannnn
The label's daring looks have led the design team to gain a selling slot at Opening Ceremony, as well as collaboration opportunity with the likes of Maryam Nassir Zadeh.
In addition, Barragán says that his hometown of Mexico City, and his adopted city, New York, have greatly informed his work. All of his sourced fabrics are sourced locally in NYC, while garments themselves are produced in Mexico City.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYE8GoIBf5b/?taken-by=barragannnn
And what's also inspiring about this new label is that it appears to be gender fluid. 'When we're designing, we're never really thinking about gender,' he says, adding, 'I think if people are gonna wear the clothes, they'll wear th[...]
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8 years ago
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Bucket List confession: It's been a dream of mine for quite sometime to attend the Costume Institute's Met Gala. Colloquially and affectionately referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” the Costume Institute's Met Gala is PEAK celebration of iconic style.
And as we all know by now, this year's Met Gala was a spectacular showcase of quasi-wearable, avant-garde fashion, honoring the Costume Institute's latest exhibition on Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Garçons.
And unlike past Met Gala events this hullabaloo was loaded with an incredible mix of celebrities smoking in a bathroom and meme-inducing sculptural looks that are still keeping the internet in a frenzy.
https://twitter.com/MarcSnetiker/status/859172626362585088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allure.com%2Fstory%2Fbest-met-gala-memes-2017
But if you still haven't visited the 2017 Costume Institute exhibition on Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Garçons you are missing out on a treat.
Here are three things you need to know about this incredible showcase.
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Photo by Jemal
#1 This showcase makes history
Aptly named Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, the exhibition highlights the reclusive designer's wide array of left-of-center, hyper-modern, sculptural constructions — retracing almost 40 years of clothing. And this is first exhibition since 1983 Yves Saint Laurent sh[...]
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8 years ago
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Have you seen the movie 'Hidden Figures' yet? It's the first film, with an all female (and predominately black) cast, to remain the Number 1 movie in America for two weeks in a row since 2011's 'The Help,' according to Huffington Post!
And after Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the movie is poised to surpass the $100 million dollar mark.
Yas, kween!
What's also extraordinary about the 60s-era gender and race-barrier-breaking movie is the costuming by Renee Ehrlich Kalfus who recently a nomination for Excellence in Period Film by the Costume Designers Guild of America (CFDA).
"In many ways it's not a flashy picture, so the costumes have a fresh reality in a period way that's not... flashy," Ehrlich Kalfus tells Fashionista. To create the stunning looks seen in the movie, Ehrlich Kalfus referenced vintage issues of Ebony magazine, while adhering to NASA's ironclad rules for office attire.
However, Ehrlich Kalfus managed to find inventiveness and individuality when it came to the film's vibrant looks.
Regarding Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson)'s costuming, she adds: "There was some liberty in terms of colors, styles and shapes, because she did make her own clothes and I took advantage of that."
Photo Credit: Hopper Stone/20th Century Fox Film Corp. h/t Fashionista
Vivid and rich colors abound in 'Hidden Figures,' including 60s-era jewel-toned 2-piece suits and soft prints -- a sharp contrast to the male costuming of white button-down [...]
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8 years ago
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Sayonara 2016! As we wait to learn and experience more of what this new 2017th year of existence has in store for all of us, one positive thing is for certain: New year = new start!
And for starters, there are a few epic moments that we already know will happen in 2017. Check out three of the most amazing below. Happy new year!
Alexander McQueen Biopic
Announced in late October 2016, a biopic, based on the Alexander McQueen biography "Blood Beneath the Skin" by Andrew Wilson will start filming Spring 2017, and will hit movie theaters later the same year.
Starring former "Skins" heartthrob Jack O'Connell, all of buzzy buzz surrounding this movie seem to unanimously agree that the actor closely resembles the troubled designer, who committed suicide in 2010 at the age of 40.
We can't wait to see McQueen's incredible life story be brought to life.
Below Alexander McQueen, left and actor Jack O'Connell
Photo Credit: Getty
Gingham, Ruffles and Wide Legs, Oh My!
Key clothing trends to expect in 2017 are ruffles, gingham, and wide legged pants — items that you might still have in your closet from seasons past, might be ready to take centerstage again.
Below: London Fashion Week Looks from L-R: Toga, Peter Pilotto, House of Holland, Simone Rocha and Molly Goddard.
Photo Credit: Imaxtree/Fashionista
More Over, "It" Bag, Make Way For Mini Purses
When Nicolas Ghesquiere debuted an iPhone case shaped like a bag October 2016, little did we know that there was a bi[...]
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8 years ago
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In the world of Google, names like Priyanka Chopra, Beyoncé and Hillary Clinton certainly ruled 2016. But did you also know that a fashion designer from Mumbai, India was also a top ranking search this year too? Of course, it was thanks in part to the Duchess of Cambridge's infamous 'Kate Effect.' (more on that below)
In the meantime, meet Anita Dongre, head of India's leading fashion houses House of Anita Dongre. Her Rajasthan-inspired designs have been well-known in India since she launched her fashion line in 1995.
Anita Dongre
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMb8JopAfE1/?taken-by=anitadongre
However, 2016 was the year where Dongre's name became recognizable worldwide thanks to Kate Middleton decision to wear one of her dresses — the “Gulrukh” dress from the SS16 Love Notes collection — during her visit to India and Bhutan in May 2016.
According to Telegraph UK, the original gown had a full length skirt, complete with matching traditional stole. Kate's stylist Natasha Archer helped to alter the look by shortening the hemline and adding a belt.
Kate Middleton playing Cricket in India, wearing Dongre's multicolored design.
Photo Credit: REX
It is also reported that Kate's final choice to wear Dongre's dress to a Cricket event was unexpectedly delightful as the designer "had no idea that her designs made the cut."
“It was a real surprise," she tells the news source. "I was at home when I saw the pictures and was so delighted.”
Since the princess wore the number[...]
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8 years ago
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In addition to the kick off of a Trump presidency, this winter is forecasted to be brutally cold. So why not embrace the frosty temps by looking cute in a fabulous, statement-making coat!
Recently, Canadian first lady, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was seen wearing an "ELODIE" coat from House of Mackage for the Remembrance Ceremony at the National War Memorial.
Trudeau, with her husband Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Her choice of overcoat that piqued our interest in the Canadian outerwear brand, and in their collection of luxe, high-end cover-ups.
For those that don't know, House of Mackage specializes in outerwear for both men and women. Check out 3 gorgeous additions to their latest line of coats!
BABIE
We're partial to this camel version of this maxi length, cashmere blend belted wool coat. Notice the classic smoking jacket inspired notched lapel and semi-fitted silhouette! Supa dupa fly!
HELINA
This cloak is the perfect overcoat when you've reached maximum winter layering. The HELINA is a double- face wool creation that's longer in the front with zippered closure at the collar.
TRISH
TV Star Priyanka Chopra is seen here wearing a classic down-filled number that comes complete with a split hood that doubles as a sumptuous shawl collar.
Happy winter! Stay warm.
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8 years ago
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It's official. The Obamas will be vacating the White House soon. And at their last state dinner, the first lady Michelle Obama wowed the world with a custom, rose gold Atelier Versace gown, made with chainmail.
President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/REX/Shutterstock
This gorgeous number can now be added to a long list of stunners FLOTUS has worn over the years. And from Jason Wu to Vera Wang, Mrs. Obama has represented her country flawlessly decked out in memorable American-designed creations.
She has also incorporated high fashion from international brands, including Versace.
President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Donatella Versace says in a statement: "I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to dress the first lady of the United States Michelle Obama. Thank you, Michelle, for all of the things you have done for America and for the rest of the world, for the women in the United States and the rest of the world."
As E! Online points out, rose gold is on trend thanks to Kylie Jenner's dyed rose gold hair, and actresses Blake Lively and Emilia Clarke's gown selections (coincidentally both by Versace) at the recent 2016 Emmy Awards.
Blake Lively
David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
A final thought: Will Michelle Obama's stunning look serve as a hint to potential daring numbers a FLOTUS might wear in the future? Who knows.
But one thing is certain: Firs[...]
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8 years ago
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On September 24, the National African American Museum opened its doors to public. And while the museum's timed passes are sold out for the rest of the year, it's still a great time to learn about what's currently on exhibit.
And if you are wondering if there's a showcase at the museum that relates to the world of fashion, you're in luck. The museum will be showcasing a selection of Ann Lowe's dresses, and they are a must-see!
Ann Lowe — a highly sought after designer in her day — is the first world-renowned black designer who created dresses for socialites and brides. She created looks for families including the Auchinclosses, DuPonts, Kennedys, Posts, Rockefellers, and Roosevelts. She is also the first black designer to own a boutique on Madison Avenue. And her stunning creations were also sold at Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.
Pink satin and organza ball gown, designed by Ann Lowe, 1959, once owned by Patricia Penrose Schieffer, wife of CBS News' Bob Schieffer. Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane. Photo courtesy of NMAAHC
Famously, Lowe designed Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding gown in 1953. Lowe crafted a dress made up of fifty yards of ivory silk taffeta for the Bouvier-Kennedy nuptials, and cost approximately $700 — roughly $13,000 factoring today's inflation, according to Racked's Danielle Kwateng-Clark .
And as Kwateng-Clark deftly sums up, Lowe "did the impossible in the Jim Crow-era by making a name fo[...]
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8 years ago
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New York Fashion Week officially ended today.
If you've been following any news from this week's past events:
*You would know that Hood By Air made weird fashion magic with PornHub
**Kayne West's Yeezy Show was considered a hot mess
***Fashion insider Eva Chen was everywhere you wish you were.
Former editor-in-chief for Lucky Magazine, Chen is Instagram's head of fashion partnerships, as well as CEO of Trend Micro. (She's also my hero)
Over 600,000 fans keep track of the fashion maven via IG. And if you are an Instagram stalker like me, you'd know that she's pregnant with her second child to Tom Bannister, and loves to show off her shoes from the backseat of car services. I especially love her #ootd shots, featuring designer Rosetta Getty and Tanya Taylor.
Chen is also a brilliant digital strategist. In an interview with Business of Fashion, Chen lays out five basic principles for clothing brands big and small.
Paraphrased from Business of Fashion:
Seek real conversational engagement online. "It's not a numbers game," Chen says. "You can have millions of followers, but more important is whether people are commenting and tagging their friends. That means you’ve created something that people are talking about and that’s what makes a good post."
Possess a strong visual identity. "ust as when you pick up a magazine, whether it’s Self Service or Vogue, and you could remove the title from the cover, but you would still know which magazine it was j[...]
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8 years ago
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Designers, looking for ways to connect your brand with clients? Master class is in session, y'all! Brand activation is the go-to marketing strategy for spurring direct consumer engagement via an event, campaign, or experience.
"Brand activation is not just about gaining affinity -- it's about inspiring consumers to act," says Amanda Hansen for Ad Age. A brand must present a flawless, harmonious, and fluid union of all available communication vehicles in a creative platform in order to activate consumer interest.
And it would appear that the women's e-commerce website Revolve Clothing are the experts at brand activation, and they have the ad-dollars to prove it!
Even their macaron game is on point.
They work with celebrities, jetsetters, model, style influencers in order to create an overall exciting and enticing image in order to drive consumers to their e-commerce checkout line. And this past month, the brand invested in a 6,636 square foot Hamptons beach rental that costs about a $37,500 a month to rent.
For the stunt, Revolve hosted tastemakers, including pay-for-play bloggers who boast a following of over 1 million on Instagram like Natasha Oakley (1.8 million), Danielle Bernstein (1.5 million), Chiara Ferragni (6.3 million), Eleanor Calder (3 million), Kristina Bazan (2.4 million), Negin Mirsalehi (3.2 million) and Camila Coutinho (1.9 million), according to Fashionista.
Revolve covered all of the bloggers' travel expenses, appearance fees, and[...]
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9 years ago
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At The James Baldwin School in Chelsea, AFP's program is in its 3rd year, offering after school digital audio production, musical instrument instruction and performance coaching. Students range from 9th to 12th grade and come to the program with a variety of individual goals in mind. The sessions vary, and participants usually work individually or in small groups.
The class combines a combination of elements which are often going on simultaneously. One group may be learning how to sequence beats to a metronome track on one computer, while another student is involved in the more advanced stages of a fully fleshed out track on the next. At the same time a vocal duo may be working out harmonies to a rock ballad, while others are learning how to build scales and chords on the piano. In all cases, the fundamentals of music making are uncovered and explored. The focus is always on building a working musical vocabulary and developing the ability to use music for self-expression.
This year at Baldwin I have seen remarkable progress on every front. Beat-makers have progressed from struggling at playing simple kick and snare patterns, to building complete tracks and having their friends rap over them. Drummers who had never played a drum-set maintain a groove behind a full band. I’m especially impressed with Reshwan and Katana who had never met before. Within a few short months they have become a powerful cohesive duet act eagerly learning the theory to support their development[...]
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9 years ago
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On February 14, celebrated fashion designer Tracy Reese's intimate Fall 2016 collection paid respects to her hometown of Detroit, while tipping its hat to new innovations in runway presentations. And as part of all the newness, a nine-minute film called Detroit Love Story, helped to round out the loving tribute to her beloved city.
Design elements in Reese's Fall/Winter Ready-To-Wear includes bold patterns like florals, plaid and herringbone, and retro-inspired polka dots, calf-length coats and garter socks.
Find out more about Reese's fashionable hometown love affair after the jump!
Photo Credit: New York Magazine
The mini-movie was followed by a relaxed piano-accompanied showcase of Reese's latest designs. The untraditional presentation points to a "runway fatigue" that's now taking hold in the design world. Take designers like Vetements, Michael Kors and Rebecca Minkoff, for instance, who are eschewing the customary fashion schedule for see now, buy now looks. Designers like Reese are interested in changing the way new designs are showcased.
"Doing the same thing season after season doesn't seem relevant," Reese tells Vogue. "This felt like the right moment to do something different."
Below: Images from February 14 Tracy Reese showcase
Photo by Robert Mitra/WWD
But what's also noteworthy about this creatively nostalgic showcase is its tribute to a city that typically gets a bad rap. In one sweeping moment, Reese helped us to see "the motor city" throug[...]
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