Nestled within the vibrant tapestry of the East Village, Kōbo, the brainchild of Chef Ruben Rodriguez from the esteemed Nai Restaurant Group, quietly opened its doors in December 2022, swiftly embedding itself as a local culinary gem.
As autumn sweeps into the bustling heart of New York City, the chill and rain of the last week led a friend and I to an enchanting establishment that transports diners to the serenity of the Hamptons amidst the Flatiron district’s urban buzz.
In the dimly lit theater, a lava lamp background casts an otherworldly glow as a bright spotlight illuminates a motorcycle center stage.
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.
On Sunday evening, as the rest of New York underwent a rainstorm, the attendees of an evening NYFW runway show experienced an event similarly tempestuous.
The Steven Spielberg multi-verse continues to expand.
How does one write a disco pop opera about the life of Imelda Marcos, former Philippine first lady, and de facto dictator for over a decade?
NEW YORK, NY – For its summer season finale, the American Ballet Theatre performed Romeo and Juliet (Kenneth MacMillan’s choreography and Sergei Prokofiev’s score).
NEW YORK, NY – There are three people who have been single handedly responsible for capturing the harrowing experience in Mariupol in the early days of its siege in February 2022: Associated Press journalists Mstyslav Chernov and his team, Evgeniy Maloletka and Vasilisa Stepanenko.
When we think of a Western, several images come to mind.
A tumbleweed rolling through a dusty town. The hero has to be the first to draw his gun. John Wayne rides off on his horse into the great wide somewhere. These stories tend to have one thing in common: a man in his natural habitat. The Old West towns, the wide open plains, the badlands are all considered to be rightfully possessed by the hero who roams them—and that hero is always a man.
Then Callie Khouri’s screenplay for Thelma & Louise flipped the script on the genre forever.
In lieu of the Western genre’s signature cowboy, Thelma & Louise featured two anti-heroes cursed by their femininity. Instead of a horse, audiences got a blue 1966 Ford Thunderbird. The scenery of mountains, oil rigs, deserts, and canyons were deserving of the genre—but served the purpose of being their escape instead of their domain.
From the first moments that best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) grace the screen, we are introduced to two women who have accepted their roles in a man’s world—or so we think. Both are tragically stuck in claustrophobic, soul-sucking environments; Thelma, a housewife who caters to the every need of her emotionally immature husband and Louise, a diner waitress in a lonely relationship.
If their indoor environments act as nothing but a prison, then the outdoors is their liberation. What begins as Thelma and Louise’s drive to their cabin for a serene fishing trip to escape their humdrum lives becomes a hurried dash to flee the country as fugitives after Louise shot and killed the man who raped her best friend.
All of their misfortunes are caused by men being men in a man’s world, from Thelma’s emotionally abusive marriage to the “unspeakable” thing that happened to Louise long ago—even getting their money stolen by a drifter. But it’s a world they’re determined to take back piece-by-piece, one stretch of road at a time.
Our heroes’ journey is just that; a story of survival and desperation. Thelma’s skirt and Louise’s headscarf goes the way of tattered t-shirts and jeans. Louise throws her lipstick out of the car as she drives, and by the end of the film, both women aren’t wearing any makeup at all. Thelma’s naivete quickly chips away when she takes charge and does what needs to be done—she robs a convenience store at gunpoint to make up for letting a drifter (played by Brad Pitt) steal Louise’s life savings. As the movie gets grittier, Thelma and Louise not only get sweatier and grimier, but also tougher, finally standing on equal footing with each other before the story’s end.
It’s no wonder Geena Davis relentlessly pursued the role for a year. She was able to play two characters so flawlessly: the sheltered, ditzy Thelma, and the resilient, badass woman Thelma becomes, forever changed by the journey. But it’s Susan Sarandon who takes the wheel, giving an incredible performance just by acting with her eyes; we are told all we need to know about what happened to Louise in Texas without a word of it leaving her lips. It’s what drives Louise to protect Thelma at all costs, like an older sister would—protection which Thelma demonstrates she no longer needs after blowing up a catcalling truck driver’s oil tanker.
Debuting a 4K transfer of the film, The Criterion Collection’s edition of Thelma & Louise looks stunning, capturing the grime and dust of Ridley Scott’s landscapes while extenuating its beauty. Scott beautifully uses scenery to tell the story of two women fleeing their suffocating environments to find freedom on the road. He uses canyons, mountains, and deserts to pay tribute to the tradition of the great Western film, while not telling a story of good vs. evil.
Critics and detractors who described the film as “man-hating” back in its day tragically missed the point; it’s about women taking back the keys to control their own fates. Heroes become outlaws during times of oppression, which makes Thelma & Louise as relevant as ever today in a post-#MeToo, post-Roe v. Wade world.
So many critics and directors missed the point during its time, giving the film a well-deserved edge today. Thelma & Louise is not pretty or coy; it’s a rallying cry of frustration and rebellion. They are outlaws who realize they can’t be free in a man’s world.
But if they gotta go out, they’re gonna go out fighting.
“Thelma & Louise” is now available in 4K and Blu-ray via The Criterion Collection (featuring exclusive interviews with Ridley Scott and Callie Khouri, commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and more!)
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