The fashion brand out of South Carolina put on a vibrant, avant-garde display for New York Fashion Week.
New York Fashion Week witnessed an awe-inspiring spectacle on September 11th as the Dennis Basso Spring-Summer 2024 show hit the runway.
The Dennis Basso brand has always been synonymous with the highest quality luxury goods. Nestled in the heart of New York City, the brand’s studio has been a hub of expert craftsmanship for decades. Meticulously handmade designs have always been the hallmark of the brand’s dedication to fashion, modernity, and innovation.
For the Spring-Summer 2024 collection, Dennis Basso drew inspiration from the enduring style, strength, and grace of great American families across generations. It was a tribute to the iconic women who personify American glamour – confident, free-spirited, and endlessly vivacious. The runway became a stage for these visions of modernity; poised and polished looks breezed through the runway.
The collection embraced occasion day dressing and special evening wear tailored for summer resorts and sunny winter havens. Silk chiffon, tweed, satin face organza, and embroidered lace draped the models, exuding elegance. Man-tailored jackets with a feminine twist, petite evening boleros, and urbane jumpsuits mingled with stunning one-shouldered silhouettes, flared cocktail dresses, and flowing gowns. The palette ranged from pale blue to midnight black, polka dots to bronze, copper, and pristine white. Each piece was adorned with meticulously handmade flowers, adding a touch of couture magic to the collection.
The Dennis Basso SS24 show was not just a fashion event but a celebration of American elegance and craftsmanship. It was a testament to the enduring allure of timeless luxury and the artistry that goes into creating it. As the models sashayed down the runway in their gowns, Dennis Basso once again reminded the world why he is a legend in the fashion industry – because true style never goes out of fashion.
Photography by: GERARDO SOMOZA
Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng co-directed the film Invisible Beauty, which will be released in theaters on September 15th.
In this interview, designer Phillip Lim discusses his fashion line, 3.1 Phillip Lim’s return to the New York Fashion Week runway for the first time in four years.
Following the success of their 2021 14-course after-school design course, Timberland and CNSTNT:DVLPMNT returned to New York City for a series of spin-off events.
Timberland
Other than NYC, the workshops are making stops in Philidelphia, Charlotte, and Baltimore to introduce BIPOC students to various careers in the design industry since 7% of all professional fashion designers identify as people of color.
“The importance of this is for them to understand that they have somebody that looks like them, that does this job, and also they can do it too. But, learning early gives them opportunities to grow within this industry, learn the different parts that they can be a part of,” stated Christopher Dixon, the founder of CNSTNT:DVLPMNT and Timberland footwear designer.
Timberland
Here in the Bronx, the footwear brand hosted 25 students in grades 6-9 from the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology at the City Jeans store on Fordham Road. Throughout the five hours, the students learned the fundamentals of footwear, sketching, creative concepts, and color theory.
Between extensive work sessions with the students, Dixon, Timberland footwear designers, and Bronx Native Jae Tips spoke with the kids about creativity, passion, and hustle. Specifically, Tips emphasized to the students that although they are young, they should begin taking the steps now to lead them to their desired goals in life.
Timberland
At the end of the day, the students went home with gift bags, personal designs, and newfound knowledge and interest in the design world that can lead them to their college careers and beyond.
Timberland
Dixon’s favorite part of the workshops? “Seeing these kids not know anything about design and catching on quickly. And then breaking out of their shell by speaking in front of people. We get to see caterpillars turn into butterflies.”
As Timberland celebrates its 50-year anniversary, they’re looking forward to continuing initiatives like these to fulfill its mission of inspiring a new generation to move the world forward.
Actor Jalyn Hall smiles brightly during his recent back-to-school campaign with Invisalign.
For my second visit to NYFW The Talks, I got to see a sneak peek of the new documentary series The Super Models.
This week at NYFW The Talks, presented by Anne Klein, I got to hear from some of the key players for the 50th anniversary of The Battle of Versailles.
New York Fashion Week is back and active, as everyone gathered near and far to be apart of the many shows, press events and after parties. It’s a full week affair and on Saturday September 9th I had the pleasure of attending Leonardo 5th Avenues NYFW Runway show located at the infamous Spring Studios.
New York City on a rainy September evening, anticipation and excitement filled the air. I had the privilege of attending a highly anticipated fashion show at Spring Studios, a venue renowned for hosting some of the most prestigious events in the fashion industry. Leonardo 5th Avenue promised to be an unforgettable experience, and I was eager to immerse myself in their collection. Designers, Leonardo and Ana Sofia, debuted their RTW Spring/Summer 2024 collection on the runway with the rainy day, but the show must go on. Leonardo’s show was filled with so many unique attendees dressed to impress. As the doors to the hall opened, I made my way to the front row, where the runway extended like a glistening pathway. The stage was bathed in bright lighting, creating an atmosphere of anticipation. The pristine white catwalk seemed to stretch into infinity, a canvas awaiting the artistry of the designers.
The show commenced with a breathtaking display of creativity and innovation. The designer’s collection was a unique expression of their artistic vision, and I was captivated by the diversity of styles on display. From sleek and minimalistic ensembles to bold, avant-garde creations, every piece pushed the boundaries of fashion. The destructed tailored suits, paired with the models dark grungy black Smokey eye makeup, was the perfect combination of elegance and grunge. The models, with their impeccable poise and grace, glided down the runway at first in pairs of two. They walked with a vampire blank expression, sharp movements and confidence that brought the garments to life. The music pulsated in harmony with the designs, adding an extra layer of excitement to the spectacle. This is my first viewing of the brands clothing and I was blown away. The innovation of turning unisex suits into rockstar styled outfits is amazing. The collection was a mix of high fashion quality with street style inspiration. One model had a suit with a studded choker, long cape attached to the romper style suit and chunky leather high heel boots. This was a moment everyone’s jaw dropped in awe of this silhouette.
What I found equally fascinating was the backstage chaos that contrasted with the elegance on the runway. Hair and makeup artists worked tirelessly to ensure each model’s look was impeccable. Designers and their teams hurriedly made last-minute adjustments to the outfits, and the energy backstage was electric. As a fellow model, I saw a few familiar faces that are good friends of mine and other fabulous models I’ve shared a runway with. It’s always a proud moment to see models flourish and grow while being chosen to walk show to show throughout the chaos of fashion week.
The final walk, where all the models appeared together, was a spectacular. The audience erupted in applause, acknowledging the immense talent and hard work of the designers, models, and everyone involved in making the event a reality. Leonardo and Ana Sofia graced the runway with their presence and walked amongst a roaring applause in support and congratulations to their showcased collection. They took pictures, press gathered for interviews and others hurried to the next show.
Congratulations to Leonardo 5th Avenue. I am now aware of this brand and will be on the lookout for what is to come of their next collections and even interests in pulling one of their fabulous evening wear pieces. For more information about Leonardo 5th Avenue, check out their instagram and vogue runway pictures online.
There’s something about an alice + olivia NYFW show that always feels so blissfully New York, and this year’s Spring 2024 presentation was no exception. Before guests entered the glamorous walk-through experience at 48 Wall Street in Manhattan, they were greeted with a rather unique gift, bagels and cream cheese. Pop-up bagels had set up shop right at the front of the show, passing out bags enscribed with “Not famous, but known” and containing an iconic New York snack.
Since it’s 2002 origin, alice + olivia has become synonymous with modern, feminine, and whimsical clothing that captures the essence of contemporary women’s fashion, and its shows are always an over the top display of all of the above. Stacey Bendet, the creative force behind Alice and Olivia, has crafted a unique identity for the brand, blending art, culture, and individuality to create clothing that empowers women to express themselves boldly and authentically.
The bagels contrasted nearly everything else about the experience, which took place in a stunning historical room that was completely circular. The experience felt very much like a ball, which was exactly Stacey Bendet’s vision. According to the designer, she drew inspiration from the collection from Truman Capote’s Swans, so the experience was designed after the 1966 Plaza Hotel Black and White Ball.
The experience started on the ground floor of the venue, with attractions meeting guests before they’d even reached the spiral staircases up the the main event. Models adorned lively floral outfits, striking poses amidst a rainbow garden. The event, like all, was completely star studded, with Nicky Hilton, Zooey Deschanel, Leni Klum, and others, scattered throughout the venue.
One of the defining characteristics of alice + olivia is its ability to seamlessly blend vintage aesthetics with contemporary flair. The brand’s designs often feature playful prints, vibrant colors, and unexpected details that set them apart in the fashion industry. The pieces, from dresses and tops to pants and accessories, encourage women to embrace their uniqueness and make a statement with their style. This idea came out to play with this years show, as it featured 8 different exhibits that personified elegance and glamour with many fun touches. Models in dazzling beaded black ballgowns posed next too vanities and a chandelier on a floor at one area, while a display of yellow outfits posed in front of a cartoonish background at another. The contrast of the different outfits and exhibitions creAted an exhilarating environment for all attendees.
alice + olivia is known for creating experiences within their shows, with their iconic anniversary events (with themes like Prom Night and Summer Camp) as well as the immersive walkthrough experiences when it comes to fashion week. The show was not just a runway presentation; it was an immersive experience that celebrated fashion, individuality, and the vibrant spirit of New York City. Stacey Bendet once again demonstrated her ability to create a world where fashion meets art, where the past meets the present, and where women are encouraged to express themselves boldly and authentically. It was a night to remember, leaving a lasting impression on the fashion world and reaffirming Alice and Olivia’s place as a trailblazing force in the industry.
Hear more about alice + olivia here!
