This past Tuesday, July 12, menswear designer Ricardo Seco brought awareness to the runways with his SS17 collection, entitled LIFE.
This past Wednesday, July 13, Rochambeau designer duo Laurence Chandler & Joshua Cooper debuted their SS17 collection on the runway at Skylight Clarkson Square in Chelsea.
On Monday July 11, contemporary menswear brand ARTISTIX held its official NYFW:M afterparty at the Folley Gallery in the Lower East Side.
Once a year, the best and brightest Korean fabric and textile designers come to New York to showcase their Fall/ Winter 2017 collections. This year is the 20th KPNY show, and about 70 designers were selected to attend this prestigious event.
Reviews of the following Spring 2017 Men’s collections, shown at New York Men’s Day (NYMD) presented by Cadillac, part of NYFWM: Uri Minkoff, Private Policy, Krammer & Stoudt, Rideau, Robert James, and Chapter
There’s no way to deny that, actor, Wilmer Valderrama is quite a beautiful man from his beaming smile to his well-groomed tresses.
A celebration of personal identity and freedom of expression, the Afro-Latino Festival receives our precious city with open-arms.
The initial reception is welcoming, homely. People dance, sung, ate, took pictures. The single room was filled with people. Joyous faces. But the real excitement took place in the auditorium. Blessed with awards for very important members of the Afrolatino community and soulful music to compliment the gathering.
A genuine sense of pure enjoyment filled the air here. An event that simply celebrated being human. It was necessary; as merely days after a dual-tragedy shook the very foundation of black culture in the United States, that people come together with positivity in times of mourning. The weekend of July 8-10 was suitable for just such an occasion.
Friday’s version of the Afro-Latino 2016 festival was hosted by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, in Harlem. However, within it’s barriers transpired a celebration of which knew no bounds. People were able to be themselves, and pay tribute to their heritage unbarred. Many adorned festive clothing catered specifically for the Afro-Latino union. It was lovely, weird and stylish. After an hour of casual meeting, we made our way to the theatre. There, we were met with hospitality and music. Suddenly, with rapid movement, the beneficiaries of the evening’s celebration arrived on-stage. The Awardees of the evening were: Danilo Parez, Moises Medrano, Aysha Schomburg and Dr. Arianna Curtis. All four recipients have made significant contributions to their respective communities, and were represented as such.
This issue of the Afro-Latino Festival also featured performances from a plethora of artists and musicians. After the award observance, we were treated to a live recital composed of: Afrodisiaco and Proyección Folclorico, among others.
On Friday evening, there were two more venues taken for more Afro-Latino excitement. This part of the festivities, located in other parts of the city, had their own pleasurable affairs. These events included several musical numbers from Colombian-based band El Caribefunk and Brazilian Carioca Bass / Baile Funk performer Zuzuka Poderosa – both of whom premiered at the Afro-Latino festival after-parties in Manhattan’s SOB’s and Brooklyn’s C’mon Everybody venues respectfully.
The weekend editions of the festival took place at the Restoration Bedford Stuyvesant Plaza, in Brooklyn. With people exercising their customs and cultural traditions; of which involved Henna stands, vendors, African & Latino clothing lines on full display for watchful onlookers, potential buyers – and more. It was a mesh of the colorful, the exciting, the eventful. With participants exercising their rights to freedom of expression. The park’s center-stage was composed fully of dozens – following the beat of the DJ while the African dancers on-stage moved with grace to their hearts content.
Bodysuits, cutouts and crop-tops dominate the latest additions to the clothing line.
This Friday, IVY PARK rolled out new pieces as part of the High Summer collection. Matching the crisp logos and breezy cuts of the original collection, the latest additions branch off from the traditional white, black and steel colors to include bright, fresh tones such as navy and mint. Some pieces, from cropped hoodies to tank-tops, feature subtler or perforated logos rather than the standard bold print present on the line’s previous release; the result? A stylish, body-friendly athleisure line that fits both your morning workout and weekly brunch date.
Judging from the original IVY PARK collection and clothing lines released by other artists – think Rihanna’s collaboration with PUMA – expect this line to sell-out fast.
IVY PARK is available at Topshop, Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter and more. Most items are under $60 and, as it is all dancewear inspired, is best worn when layered. Check out the video below for some styling inspiration.
On June 7th, Cédric Charlier’s SS17 runway show was held on the roof of Shop Studios in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Roughly 100 guests were arranged around a serpentine catwalk as the sun set over the Hudson River. The 25 models were outfitted in cleanly tailored pants in neutral colors and ruffled neon dresses, chokers that extended down their backs and full glitter suits.
There was a sense of whimsy to be found in the combination of flouncy midi skirts paired with silver tipped oxfords and the use of large floral prints in several pieces. Instead of reading like something to be worn to a picnic in a Wes Anderson film, everything in Charlier’s collection is intensely wearable. This was made abundantly clear as the wind on the roof picked up, whirling skirts and momentarily suspending hair as if lifted by electric shock. Though the gusts tried to interfere, the garments stayed in place and if anything looked more alive thanks to the disruption.
As per usual, Charlier’s pieces are things that while beautiful, are meant to actually be lived in. It’s easy to imagine wearing the gray, pleated suit jacket or any number of the loose, floor length dresses out and about. The beauty for the show reflects this sense of wearability as well. The makeup was scarce apart from the occasional intense winged eyeliner. The hair, styled by Shinya Nakagawa and his team, was simple. The team used products from Pai-Shau to enhance the models’ natural texture without making the hair look overdone. It was then secured behind the ears to counteract the natural disruptions that come from having a runway show on a roof. The understated beauty looks were necessary with such a vibrant collection in which nearly everything had some surprising color or texture.
These surprising elements are always balanced with something more expected. If a top is electric blue with ruffles, then it is paired with an equally electric pink suit that is expertly tailored. The balance in his SS17 collection is what really showcases Charlier’s skill and eye for designing not just a single garment, but a look. If this is what 2017 is going to look like, the future is bright.
–Cara Best
We spent the evening at the High Line in Chelsea, NYC for the Coach x Friends of the High Line party to celebrate the High Line elevated park project.