It’s no doubt New York Fashion Week is a mixed bag, you have ready-to-wear, sportswear, shoes, beauty and beyond. Once in a while, an invitation rolls in as special as the place that inspired it. That invitation was Rafael Cennamo and that place was the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
“My inspiration for Fall/Winter 2013 began with a recurring dream I’ve been having for years. In the dream, I’m running as fast as I can until I take off into flight. I also recently visited an exhibit with these really interesting midcentury photographs of birds at MOMA and became fascinated with the shapes they create with their wings while in flight. So you’ll see a lot of graphic shapes in the collection that were inspired by those references. With regard to tailoring, I began thinking a lot about vintage military and aviator uniforms shapes while developing the silhouettes for the season.” – Monika Chiang, Designer
The third floor of Center 548 could have been mistaken for the dressing rooms of a major theatrical production… or maybe that’s exactly what it was. On one side of an intensely long arrangement of tables was the Bumble and Bumble hair station where fine tooth combs went up and down in harmony building levels of volume that would make Marie Antoinette heights look tame. Across the row, faces were going pale, pretty much porcelain, by an army of MAC make up artists being lead by Sil Bruinsma. Sil took a minute to explain how the look came about for Thom Browne‘s regal collection and the basis was fantasy.
A snow storm couldn’t prevent the show from going on. However it’s melted remnants around the Highline Stage area of the meatpacking did pose a challenge for a chic shoe choice. Once off the slippery, soggy sidewalks, the crowd inside for Rebecca Taylor was buzzing. I overheard someone coming from backstage saying “it’s a really good kind of different for her, I think people will love it”.
Backstage with Antoinette Beeders for Aveda at the Kimberly Ovitz Fall/Winter ’13 show she creates a killer asymmetrical corseted ponytails with milliner string. (This you can get a roll of at a local craft store for super cheap, its a 1/8″ elastic string used sometimes for corseting.) “This look captures the mood of Kimberly’s collection which explores the hyman psyche and innate defenses foun in animals and insects,” says Benenders. “I wanted to create a look that complemented the cloths – lik a shield of armor or an armadillo’s shell. The texture is smooth, and finish is shiny, but there is a veil of protection. Think of a 1920’s wave in a futuristic interpretation, just touched with danger.”
The two most essential products used are Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam for shine and hold, and then Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray to secure the style in place. Beeders also mentioned that when working with thin hair she first styles with teh Aveda Pure.
Hereis the step by step on how to create the look:
The elements can’t stop great fashion! And if you happen to be looking for outfit choices that’ll keep you warm this fall, Porche Design’s The Urban Modernist Fall/Winter 2013 collection will do the trick! Not only were all looks beautifully crafted, but
Upon walking into the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the red carpet premiere of the documentary “MAKERS: Women Who Make America”, I immediately felt this a ridiculous fierce energy just knowing I was surrounded by some of the most groundbreaking women in America. Proudly presented by PBS, AOL and Simple Facial Skincare, in walked the likes of Gloria Steinem, Allison Williams, Katie Couric, Amy Goodman, Marlo Thomas (alongside husband, Phil Donanhue) and Tavi Gevinson (to name a few). As part of a sneak preview of the documentary, they let guests view the 1st hour and part of the third. The film is a unique initiative that documents the extraordinary impact women from all walks of life have made in America over the past 50 years. The ladies featured filled me with tears of inspiration and awe.
Mark your calendars (literally go get a pen!), MAKERS: Women Who Make America debuts on airs February 26, at 8PM on PBS. Watch the preview here.
Inspired by “The Winter You Froze Away” this show couldn’t have happened on a more fitting day. Nemo was about to coat the streets of NYC while Color Club Nails, led by Simcha Whitehill aka Miss Pop, was coating the nails of the models for the Katie Gallagher show. She started with a pointed nail (the freshest trend in nail shape that all the stars are rocking lately) then dotted the models nails with colors: Dove Grey (custom), Where’s the Soiree, Muse-ical, and Zodiac, creating the stormiest nails
Timo Weiland didn’t miss a detail in their Fall 2013 look. It started backstage where MAC artist Chantel Miller was priming skin to give it a soft sheen while being careful to not over do it, as the make up looks were inspired by “feminine tomboys”. Hair had a bit of volume and some subtle waves, a kind of careless texture that you would covet from the girl who doesn’t fuss too much courtesy of L’Oreal Professional stylist Joesph DiMaggio. Zoya was on the scene with their Pixie Dust polishes creating a nail look that
