RIMOWA, SEIT 1898 NYC

Rimowa cases from "friends and family" showcased at the RIMOWA, SEIT 1898 exhibit

Entering Chelsea Factory, guests are instantly transported into a world of travel and innovation. The journey begins as you join a line leading to the ticket counter. Along the way, striking blue branded carpet, clocks set to different time zones and sleek black retractable stanchions set the scene for adventure. With a boarding pass and curated booklet in hand, "passengers" venture into the Rimowa SEIT 1898 exhibit, entering a dimly lit space where the magic unfolds. This is where the story of Rimowa's remarkable 125 year journey "SEIT 1898"--since 1989--comes to life. Launching in parallel with NY Fashion Week, Rimowa presents a showcase that pays homage to the profound impact it has had on the "transformation of transport." Keep reading for a look inside...

#NYFW2018: SANIA STUDIO @INDUSTRIA STUDIOS

SANIA STUDIO NYFW presentation at Industria Studios as part of the CAAFD showcase Monday Night

Monday evening, Pakistani womenswear designer SANIA STUDIO drapes the runway with swaying silks and expertly tailored brocade. Known for innovative prints and artisan crafted fabrics, Sania Maskatiya channels a unique design ethos through an "interplay of colors, depicting imagery inspired by nature and her environment, often juxtaposed with a darker twist" (Sania). With expertly structured pieces and loose-fitting luxury, SANIA STUDIO presents the best of both worlds as one of four designers in the CAAFD's emerging designer showcase. Keep reading to see more...

#NYFW 2018: JUN JIE S/S 2019

Jun Jie at Pier 59 Studios

'Retrofuturisim' powered by colored furs and abstract prints dominate Jun Jie's 70's lounge at Pier 59 Studios Sunday afternoon. Rocking a retro vibe, the S/S 2019 collection combines Mod colors + patterns with candid, sci-fi silhouettes in a "modern interpretation of a retro trend" (Jun Jie). Wavy coifs, bags by CUTO and slick, square-toed chaussures complement the layered looks. Keep reading for look at the overall aesthetic...

#NYFW 2018: REBECCA JUSTH S/S 2019

Opening look at Rebecca Justh, presented by Art Hearts Fashion at the Angel Orensanz Event Space

Haute hats and metallic jacquard rock the runway at Rebecca Justh. Christened "Madam de Pompadour of the 21st Century" Justh's S/S 2019 collection boasts exaggerated asymmetry and curiously high necklines. Gold and platinum headwear paired with like-hued handbags complete the looks. Keep reading for more photos...

#NYFW 2018: SARENE FU S/S 2019

 Sarene Fu runway show at the Angel Orensanz Event Space in the Lower East Side

Belles in ballgowns magnify celestial grandeur as Taiwanese designer Sarene Fu's floral fantasy floats down the runway Friday evening. Part of the Art Hearts Fashion showcase at the Angel Orensanz event space, Fu launches her Ready To Wear line for S/S 2019. Having dabbled in bridal wear, Fu expands her vision through her first RTW evening collection. Keep reading to have a closer look...

CHRISTIAN COWAN A/W 2018

Lights dimming, Pre-show at Christian Cowan, Spring Studios

It's LIT Saturday afternoon as party hats, neon lights and sassy, see-thru styles parade down Christian Cowan's runway. Saturating Spring Studios with bountiful bling, a steady stream of sparkle and shine ends a harrowing wait for elevator service (to enter the show). An assortment of casual wear, party wear and sportswear--interpreted with maximalist appeal--comprises Cowan's Fall/Winter 2018 collection. Keep reading for a look inside...

SNOW XUE GAO A/W 2018

 Snow Xue Gao 2018 A/W runway collection presented at Jing Fong 

Stylish suiting with juxtaposted jacquard are the featured special at Chinatown's Jing Fong  Thursday night. Every seat for Snow Xue Gao's  A/W runway presentation was "front row," with onlookers snaking around servings of tea and dim sum. Situated on the second floor of NYC's largest Chinese restaurant, Snow Xue Gao returns with a third showing at NYFW, with a wacky, non-traditional Mad-Men meets Picasso sequence. For A/W 2018, Gao fuses traditional tailoring with amplified proportions, crossing boundaries associated with gender-based fashion. Keep reading for a look inside...

#NYFW 2017 : SHERRI HILL S/S 2018

Sherri Hill S/S 2018 at Gotham Hall NYC

Sequins and sparkles are in strong supply as Sherri Hill's princess-esque ballgowns cascade the catwalk at Gotham Hall Tuesday. Known as a purveyor of prom and pageant attire, Sherri Hill's strategically stacked sidelines complement the famous faces gracing her runway. Miss USA Kára McCullough, Miss Globe 2016 Corinne Foxx (a.k.a Jamie Foxx's daughter), Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere and child actress Alvia Alyn Lind exude confidence in the gowns they represent on the runway. Proud parents Jamie Foxx and Keenan Ivory Wayans support their daughters from the front row. Other notable names in the audience (many wearing Sherri Hill dresses) include supermodel Nikki Taylor, singer Jordan Jones, Fuller House actress Landry Bender and Kevin Can Wait actress Mary Charles Jones. Keep reading to see more looks from the collection...  

#NYFW 2017 : NAMILIA S/S 2018 (*WARNING: NUDITY*)

"The Indiscreet Jewels" Namilia Spring/Summer 2018 at Skylight Clarkson Square

Provocative pieces in predilect portions strut down Namilia's catwalk Saturday evening. In a jaw dropping presentation of fashion-forward feminism inspired by Denis Diderot's The Indiscreet Jewels, Nan Li and Emilia Pfhol's 5th collection leaves little room for imagination. Tassels and tentacles--sometimes both--join fins and floral in an erotic jigsaw of satin and skin. Pearl encrusted asymmetry partially obscures the physical perfection outlined by thongs and bodysuits. Keep reading to see more from this collection (**WARNING: Contains Nudity**)... 

#NYFW 2017: PAMELLA ROLAND @ PIER 59 STUDIOS

Pamella Roland Spring/Summer 2018

#NYFWSS2018 starts softly with haphazard drizzle, overcast skies and a loose lethargy. Slinking towards Pier 59 Studios Thursday evening--pizza in tow--the somber streets strengthen a craving for sartorial splendor. Whetting my appetite for Fashion Week, Pamella Roland pushes the tempo with formalwear inspired by a recent family trip to the Grand Prix of Monaco. Amid bold brights and sheer lights, feathers and crystal cascade down a star studded catwalk with attendees the likes of Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, actress + Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo, Victoria's Secret model Nadine Leopold and famed photographer Nigel Barker. Keep reading to view the looks...

CHRISTOPHER ESBER F/W 2017 @ INDUSTRIA STUDIOS

Christopher Esber F/W 2017 at Industria Studios

The fine lines and futuristic finishes of Christopher Esber's F/W 2017 collection fill 4,800 square feet at Industria studios, as automobiles and attire intermingle. Merging masculine silhouettes and feminine cuts, Esber's NYFW debut boasts a very wearable assortment of stylish separates. Solid colored slashed tops and stretched skirts peek from statement pieces and trenches. Keep reading for a closer look...

JILL STUART FALL 2017

Jill Stuart Fall 2017 presented in 2 Acts; model in sheer black velvet and lace dress

Medieval goth meets Victorian charm as luxurious gold and dark hues up-scale velvet and lace. Inspired by a love of essential oils, Jill Stuart accounts, "clothes are like a favorite song or a favorite perfume." Leaving room for interpretation, her Autumn 2017 collection embodies an essence of complexity through a contradictory discourse of "show" and wearability. Set in the lobby of a former AT&T headquarters in the Financial District, giant marble columns surround models on pedestals. The grandeur of the space complements the sheer artistic splendor of the collection. Keep reading for more...

#NYFW 2016: KUHO

Kuho presentation at the Supermarket (393 Broadway)

Stripes, solids and spots are on featured special at Supermarket this past Wednesday. Layered looks in subtle, circus-inspired styles introduce South Korean brand Kuho to the North American market. Designer Hyunjung Kim's simple silhouettes deliver "an emphasis on flawless luxury, comfort and functionality, each season offers up effortlessly cool, minimalist pieces that often find their roots in the creative sphere." Part of Samsung C&T Fashion Group, Kuho commands a $90 million business via 66 retail stores overseas. Keep reading to see sample looks... 

#NYFW 2016: HALE BOB & IBRAHIM VUKEL

Hale Bob designer Daniel Bohbot and two models

California chic meets Hollywood hippie onstage at Hale Bob's runway show Sunday evening. A favorite of celebrity clientele (e.g. Salma Hayek, Keidi Klum, Halle Barry), paisley prints (designed exclusively at Hale Bob's LA studios) carpet the catwalk. Shortly following, Ibrahim Vukel takes the stage with creative cutouts. Keep reading to see snaps from both collections... 

NEW YORK FASHION WEEKEND: #TOMMYNOW @PIER 17

#TOMMYNOW at Pier 17/ South Street Seaport

The stars and stripes of Tommy Hilfiger's America-inspired attire saturate South Street Seaport with upbeat enthusiasm. Tornado accompanies a 40-foot ferris wheel, a nail bar, a fake tattoo parlor and assorted activities to promote Tommy Hilfiger's new collaboration with Gigi Hadid. A day after the SS17 women's runway show, the carnival continues at Pier 17. Keep reading for a look inside...

VIVIENNE TAM @ THE ARC #NYFW 2016

Sweater, sequins, silk and slim dominate Vivienne Tam's F/W 2016 runway Sunday evening at The Arc at Moynihan Station

Seasons of consecutive showings create a craving for creativity beyond commercial consumption. Which designers will dazzle with cutting-edge concepts? Sunday night, 'retro' returns with vibrant vigor via Vivienne Tam's Fall/Winter runway at The Arc. Sequins, sweaters, foil and floral reinvent the visuals of a 'Cultural Dreamland'; the 'New Silk Road' reincarnates with glittery glamour. Tribal themes on quilted knits and patterned prints echo energetic exoticism and illustrate the path from Persia to China. Long dresses and long sleeved sweaters dominate, with a healthy dose of Tam's signature embroidered embellishments. Keep reading for a closer look... 

DANIEL SILVERSTAIN @ SHOP STUDIOS

Daniel Silverstain SS2016 at Shop Studios

Fashion week returns with a fresh look and fractured forums. In merging MADE and IMG, NYFW adopts a new logo and two different downtown locales--Skylight Clarkson Square and Moynihan Station. Similarly showcasing its strength for sponsorship, the CDFA unites its body of designers under a blue + orange logo with show spaces scattered throughout NYC. Looking beyond the decentralized model for showcasing style, I find a new designer to watch this season. Keep reading for a look at Daniel Silverstain's Spring/Summer 2016 collection...      

NYFW: MICHAEL COSTELLO FALL 2015 @ LINCOLN CENTER

 Michael Costello Fall/Winter 2015 presentation at Lincoln Center's Salon; Lavish lace and luxury!

Lavish lace and lustworthy looks lap the catwalk at Lincoln Center's Salon Tuesday afternoon. Set alongside an energetic cadence, Project Runway veteran Michael Costello stuns the crowd, showcasing sultry silhouettes and red-carpet worthy attire. Inspired by Japanese minimalism, Paris sparkle and London layers, Costello's mostly monochrome color palette is matched with topknots and red lips to complete edgy ensembles. Special Thanks to NYKeiko for the front-row seat. Keep reading for more scenes from the show (photos may take a minute to load)... 

NYFW: METAL NOIR FALL 2015 @ PIER 59 STUDIOS

Metal Noir Fall 2015 collection presentation at Pier 59 Studios

For me, New York Fashion Week is a bi-annual event to fête the achievement of established and emerging designers. Each season presents new opportunities to meet new designers and watch veterans shift gears from sun to snow. Sunday evening, I venture due West, despite the bitter cold, to attend Metal Noir's 2015 Fall/Winter presentation at Pier 59 Studios. Having been amply impressed by the brand's stand-out Spring/Summer 2015 campaign (see it here), my curiosity piques. Keep reading to find out more...     

NYFW: PINK + PLAID + PLAYFULNESS: KATE SPADE FALL 2015

Kate Spade chocolates clutch as presented on February 13, 2015 during NYFW [image: Cindy Ord/Getty Images]

Another Valentine's Day comes and goes. Visions of romance, chocolates and happiness abound in celebration of the courtly services provided by St. Valentine. With New York Fashion Week in full swing, Kate Spade's Fall 2015 presentation is coincidentally timely, fostering hints of flirty playfulness at the collection's core. Set against a backdrop of sketches by illustrator Michael McConnell, pretty pink dresses, plaid ensembles, and notoriously endearing purses fill the raised platforms, amplifying the vision of Kate Spade's Chief Creative Officer Deborah Lloyd. Keep reading to preview the Fall line...