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NYFW F/W18 Day 4

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Day 4 of NYFW was the most chill day we had.  With the downpour still going strong from Day 3, I was thankful for the lighter schedule.

I opted for an OOTD that could withstand the rain – metallic patent leather boots (currently 50% off), leather cropped pants and a vinyl turtleneck.  With the exception of maternity jeans, I’ve been able to avoid spending money on clothing that I’ll only wear while pregnant.  These pieces are not only edgy and fit into my normal personal style, but are super forgiving for a growing baby bump.  Win-win.

Check out some great alternatives of my OOTD under $80 below.

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Claudia Li

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First on the agenda was a presentation by Claudia Li.  Another designer that I typically miss due to scheduling, I was thrilled to make her show.  Immediately upon arrival, I ran into fellow blogger friends Kat and Maria.  They both serve up incredible style and were snapped by Refinery 29 and Nylon for their on point ensembles.

Li’s F/W18 collection was rich in texture, so of course I was immediately hooked.  From glitter tunics to Mongolian shearling handbags to mohair + jacquard separates, it was a visual feast.  Following the trend of the week, she didn’t shy away from color for fall and used persimmon, cactus and fuchsia with great success.

I adored her silk gazaar scarf dress, cactus shawl jacket + slouch pants and permission blanket skirt with whimsical bird print.  It all felt easy but polished, innovative and fresh.

Backstage with Redken for Tanya Taylor

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After Claudia Li, I headed backstage with Redken while they prepped the models’ hair for Tanya Taylor.  I love going backstage during fashion week.  It definitely takes on the “man behind the curtain” feeling.  You get to witness the magical transformation and incredible amount of talent it takes to present a finished look.

Fashion shows aren’t just photo ops with pretty clothes.  They’re an entire visceral experience – they sell a feeling, an attitude, a mantra.  It’s fabulous to be a fly on the wall during this process.

The look for the day was low ponytails with natural texture enhanced by Guts, Redken’s volume spray foam, and finished with Wind Blown, for that effortless, undone feeling.

Known for her expert use of color and print mixing, the clothes were next-level.  Check out the full collection here and be prepared to swoon over the candy colored fur stoles, plaids + florals and asymmetrical sequins separates.  The effect was anything but sugary-sweet.  Instead, Taylor gave us strong, unfussy femininity.

Tanya Taylor is one of few high-end designers to offer sizing from 0-22.  Definitely keep an eye on her career – the inclusion and innovation she brings to design is trailblazing.

Even with unrelenting rain, we decided to venture out in search of cupcakes.  After having my fill of cream cheese frosting, we shopped the streets of Soho.  No NYFW trip would be complete without a visit to one of my favorite designer consignment stores, and the holy grail of flagships – Prada.

Later that evening we saw Negris Lebrum’s runway show, followed by dinner with one of my oldest friends.  Check out my Insta Story Highlight of NYFW for all the details.

ICYMI: here’s everything we did on Day 3 of NYFW!

NYFW F/W18 Day 3

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Day 3 of NYFW is always when delirium sets in.

What day is it?  Where am I?  Who am I again?

All valid questions for any show goer during fashion week’s midway point.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know I compared NYFW to the movie Interstellar.  Time passes differently in the fashion cyclone.  Each day you survive marks at least two week’s time in reality.  Fast fashion is more than just an expression.

Our day started bright and early at 9am.  Normally an early call time means a presentation – in which you can roll in anytime during the (at least) one hour timeframe – but this was a runway show.  And a special one.

It marked Alice McCall’s first ever showing at NYFW.

Alice McCall

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Hailing from Australia, Alice McCall is known for her feminine, bohemian pieces with intricate detailing.  “Portrait of a Lady” took us along on the curious girl’s escapades.  From the Tropicana motifs that evoked lounging by the pool, to the iridescent ruffles meant for a disco queen, the journey was rich with embellishment and intrigue.

The DNA of her brand was beautifully highlighted in her lace gowns and one-shoulder pieces, heightening that playful yet strong femininity.  Dusty pastels evoked a breeziness in print and a cheekiness in tailored separates.  I loved the vibrant accessories, adorned with crystals and metallic fringe.

But it was her closing looks, as described below in her show notes, that really took my breath away.

“Don’t shy away from that touch of rock ‘n’ roll glamour.  Because remember, 80s bourgeois power dressing too requires that dash of glistening dazzle.  Get ready and go.”

Ready I am.  Alice McCall started Day 3 off with a bang.

After finishing her show, we got to experience something we’ve never done in the history of attending NYFW.

Eat breakfast.

While I always manage a coffee and granola bar, a hot, ready-made breakfast had always alluded us.  Having two hours to kill before our next show, we promptly hit up The Roxy for some excellent French toast, sunnyside eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice and lots and lots of coffee.  It was divine.

R13

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Not many denim brands show at NYFW, so as a self-proclaimed denim fanatic, I was thrilled to attend R13.

Upon entry into the minimalist, industrial space guests were given neon beanies embroidered with the brand’s logo.  Since we arrived early, I got to people watch.

You can always tell what kind of show you’re about to see by the crowd.  Unsurprisingly, R13’s audience was made up of incredibly hip people – rappers, artists, the best of Tokyo street style, and people with haircuts you’ve always wanted to try but know you could never, ever pull off.

There was even a baby, decked out in head-to-toe black, wearing a beanie and one-of-a-kind handmade shoes.

My excitement grew.

The FW18 collection focused on utility.  Tactical coats in neon colors, waterproof puffer jackets and blanket skirts rounded out the core denim.  Accessories focused on function – camping backpacks, belt bags – while the prints went literal outdoorsy – leopard, camo and floral.

To make a statement in support of wilderness, bears and eagles in graphic print were splashed on hoodies, leggings and dresses with the message, “Utah Stands with Bears Ears” in reference to the legislation surrounding the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

While I would have liked to see more denim, the denim featured was fantastic.  I loved the cropped, wrapped waist jeans that closed the show to the tune of “Power to the People”.

After the show, we managed a few OOTD photos before the sky turned dark and a downpour began.

Holed up in our hotel room eating gluten free donuts, we relaxed until a very late dinner with friends at Le Coucou.  To say it was exquisite is an understatement.  From the moody glow of drippy candles at each table, to the French inspired cuisine, I highly recommend a visit if you can get a reservation.

ICYMI: here’s everything we did on NYFW Day 2!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia

NYFW F/W18 Day 2

Day 2 of NYFW F/W18 was probably my favorite fashion week day in many, many fashion weeks.  I can’t recall a day in which I was so inspired, met some of the most fabulous people imaginable and felt so happy with how my OOTD came together.

It was truly one for the books.  Read on!

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When Raf Simons debuted his first collection for Calvin Klein I was absolutely blown away.  He’s a favorite of mine, and while I rooted for him at Dior, it was never his true calling.  But at Calvin?  A match made in heaven.

Planning my NYFW outfits is something I do almost a year in advance.  I carefully curate the upcoming collections with secret Pinterest boards and bookmarks to keep a running tally of what would look great with what.  There’s even an Excel spreadsheet involved.

I was this close to purchasing this yellow coat from the collection, but tapped my inner 80s obsession and went with arm warmers instead.  Why arm warmers you ask?  Why not?

BCBG

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After many seasons of not being on the NYFW calendar, BCBG returned with gusto, and I was beyond thrilled.  Having never seen their presentation before, I didn’t mind the early call time one bit.

F/W18 played with contrasts: masculine and feminine, polished and undone.  Aptly named “Rough Glamour” we got oversized pajama dressing (a personal fave), structured jackets and soft ruffled gowns.

Following suit with Day 1’s fluidity, the trend of a seasonless collection continued BCBG.  Dark, bold and pastel colors were used in conjunction yet still achieved a seamless effect.

The slouchy knee-high boots and hair styled in messy waves echoed the “I’ll dress how I want” mantra we saw the day prior.

In the summer camp spirit that accompanies NYFW, I ran into my good friends Kelly and Julia before meeting my fashion week style sister, Carolina.  A fellow mommy-to-be, we found out we have the exact same due date!  Beyond our future baby similarities, her OOTD was on point.  Anyone who can rock a crop top 7 months pregnant in 30 degree weather is an absolute god in my book.

Yay for new fashion friends!

Bibhu Mohapatra

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If there’s one word to describe Bibhu Mohapatra’s design aesthetic it’s this: decadent.

He makes clothes you want to touch.  Clothes that are accompanied with ooh’s and ahh’s, stolen second glances and quiet head nods that confirm, yes, this man knows how to enrich a piece of fabric.

It was no surprise to me that Linda Fargo and Hamish Bowles sat front row at his show.  Like the prom King and Queen perched on a velvet throne, they too fell deep into the complex Dickensian love story that unfolded before us.

Berry, crimson and plum marched in front of us, morphing from leather canvas windbreakers to lace tennis dresses.  Mesh and pleated cocktail attire got embellished with feathers, while fur coats were paired with jewel encrusted turbans.  When the mini dance dress topped with a lacquered leather parka walked before me, I about died.

Let me repeat that.  Lacquered leather.  DEAD.

It’s impossible not to leave a show like Bibhu’s feeling lighter on your feet and a little sing-songy.  The clothes are just too good.

Milly

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There are moments in my sartorial life where it’s taken every fiber in my being not to snatch the clothes right off of someone’s back because true love hit me so hard.

Enter Milly F/W18.

While I thought it impossible to top my vibrant mood thanks to Bibhu Mohapatra, Milly rolled out the entire ROYGBIV spectrum.  In a rainbow of lush fabrics, sequins and expertly tailored separates, she also served up strong neutrals for the minimalists among us with closet maximalist tendencies.

I found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Milly, take my money.

The collection succeeded in its quest for inclusiveness by driving home the point that our individuality is beautiful when it comes together to include all – a literal rainbow.

A reception followed the vibrant burst of color on the runway and I got to meet the creative team that makes up the Milly family.  You couldn’t find a more cohesive group of fabulous people.  It felt like I had been welcomed home.  The perfect warm fuzzy end to an utterly fabulous show.

Paul Andrew

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If Ron Burgundy describes his love for Scotch by repeating it over and over than let me do the same for one of my true loves.

Shoes, shoes, shoes.

I like a shoe that makes a statement – edgy yet polished, unfiltered yet pristine.  Paul Andrew manages to capture these qualities season after season.

His structured mules with box bows, peep toes with textured fabric and slingbacks with jeweled embellishments impressed.  But it was his killer boots in suede and patent, bejeweled and laced, snake skin adorned and knee high that really got my blood going.

The men’s looks contained the same DNA, wrapped in buckles and elevated with slight platforms.  I’d wear both.  Correction: I will wear both.

As we were leaving, we got the meet the creative genius beyond the collection.  Paul Andrew was warm, gracious and so humble.  It made me love him even more.

Just as I turned towards the door, someone backed up at the same time and accidentally stepped on me.  It was Hamish Bowles.

Two Hamish encounters in one day?  Could NYFW F/W18 Day 2 have seriously ended any better?

I think not.

Don’t forget to check out everything we saw on Day 1!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia

 

NYFW F/W18 Day 1

Day 1 of NYFW is always the busiest.  It’s as if the fashion gods know they need to start strong, because the cyclone of creativity that’s about to unfold cannot be contained once it gets going.

In other words, release the hounds.

Last February I acquired my first Jacquemus pieces and this year I knew it was time to pad my collection.  This stunning black coat has a romantic 1940s vibe.  I knew it needed dramatic accessories, so a velvet turban headband and extreme cat eye sunglasses did the trick.

If there’s any way I can describe how much I love Jacquemus, I’ll simply leave you with a quote about his FW17 collection of which this coat is comprised.

“It was about this Parisian girl who wears couture who falls in love with a gypsy in the south of France. She tries to be like a gypsy, but she cannot—she is too couture!”  If I can somehow be a part of that world, you know I’m all over it!

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Noon by Noor

As in seasons past, our first show of the day was Noon by Noor.  Known for balancing softness and strength, the FW18 collection featured oversized coats and wide shoulders paired with feminine silhouettes like pencil skirts and sleek day dresses.  I adored the use of faux fur sleeves and pleated silk peeking out the bottom of tight skirts like petticoats.

Inspired by the starry nights of Bahrain, celestial patterns were found on closing looks, while “to the moon and back” was embroidered in Arabic on peekaboo sleeves and knitwear.

Color was used in unexpected ways for fall.  While the palette was grounded in black and navy, atomic yellow and hot pink were potent through-lines.  This made for a refreshing take on what is normally a “dark” season.

While I had yet to realize it at the time, this would mark a trend throughout the rest of the week, making FW18 the most fluid of seasons I’ve seen in the past five years.

Get ready world, fashion is serving up season-less collections.  And hard.

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Collina Strada

It was my first time attending Collina Strada, the New York label helmed by designer Hillary Taymour.  Going in, I knew to expect dramatic statements, and sure enough, we were treated to part performance art, part fashion.

Amidst the #TimesUp and #MeToo movement, Taymour wanted to express notions of love.  Not romantic or brotherly love, but the love of oneself.  Expressing the importance of feeling safe to be who you are, she staged a wedding.  There was no groom.  The bride married her higher self.

As models of all ages, shapes and sizes descended the runway, we saw reminders of strength.  “Within Us” and “Self Value” were written, front and center, on models’ faces.

The collection used classic prints and fabrics – crushed velvet, deadstock leopard print – in modern ways.  Organza capes, gloves and overlays were used in several looks with beautiful, dreamy effect.  Every well-rounded collection needs juxtaposition, and an influx of edge was present too.  Nipple piercings on mini dresses and see-through bodysuits drove home the message of ‘love me for me’.

Bunny Michael closed the ceremony with a spoken word poem before the bride said her vows.

Once again, NYFW served up the unexpected, with its beautifully chaotic, creative expression.

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PH5

From the peek of modernity, to retro cool we went.

PH5 takes its name from the pH scale.  Measured from 0 to 14, the 5 represents almost middle of the road neutral, with a slight lean towards femininity.  Known for their expert knitwear, they served up pastel stripes with scalloped edging, glorious sock boots and hi-lo hem and necklines that were sexy without being overt.

Staged in the Samsung gallery space, the retro cat eye sunglasses, bad ass gloves and tight bang curls were oh-so-fun.  I was thrilled to see the exact earring I wore to NYFW in September used in the styling of PH5’s show.

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Tadashi Shoji

When it comes to NYFW, it’s a fabulous feeling to know that you have mainstays.  Those shows you can count on to deliver the goods, while making you feel right at home.

For me, Tadashi is one of those designers.  Give the man a swath of fabric and he can drape a gown with his eyes closed.

While I know what to expect – extreme glamour – I enjoy walking into his shows slightly unhinged: not knowing what he’ll throw at us in terms of color, styling or inspiration.

Like his counterparts, Tadashi was also inspired by the #TimesUp and #MeToo movement and served up a bold collection featuring more black statement pieces than I’ve seen in 5 years of attending his shows.  Some were lingerie inspired, with lace bodices and nightgown-esque silhouettes, while others evoked elegant masculinity.  His lace tuxedo jumpsuit and sequins power suit took no prisoners.

The FW18 Tadashi woman wears what she wants and dresses for no one else other than the reflection looking back at her in the mirror.

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Pamella Roland

In seasons past, I’ve always missed the Pamella Roland show due to scheduling, so I was thrilled to be able to attend this year.

Or so I thought.

NYFW shows start notoriously late (at least 30min), so when I had to get from Tadashi’s 3pm show in Soho to Roland’s 4pm show in Chelsea I thought we’d be fine.

After checking in with PR and racing up the stairs of Pier 59 in my 4 inch stilettos and growing baby bump, I made it to the entrance only to have the curtain close right in front of me.  It was 4:14pm.

No (fashion) soup for you.

As a theatre kid, I know how rude it is to enter the performance space once the show has begun, so I completely understand what happened.  Was I bummed?  Of course.  But luckily I got to witness the models take the catwalk from backstage.

Check out my Insta Story Highlight of NYFW for the full scoop.

After running like a little Tasmanian devil in heels all day with nothing to eat, we promptly nabbed an egregious amount of food at one of my fave restaurants, The Dutch.  Belly full of fried chicken, I met my girls Cathy and Dawn for dessert to recap the happenings of the day.

Stay tuned for NYFW FW18 Day 2 on the blog tomorrow!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia

Red Hot Booties

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Shoes of Prey customized booties (c/o) // Madewell jeans (non-maternity here)
J. Crew tee (sold out, similar here) // Zara jacket (sold out, similar here)
Pianegonda ring // Quay sunglasses

Since winter started, I’ve been wanting a pair of red ankle boots.  With the amount of black I wear, I knew they’d be the chic pop my wardrobe needed.  Little did I know I wouldn’t have to spend weeks searching for the perfect pair, but that I could design my own via Shoes of Prey.

Shoes of Prey is a bespoke fashion company that allows you to customize your dream shoes without the luxury pricetag.  When I first visited their site I was blown away by my choices.  Flats, pumps, sandals, sneakers, boots – you name it, they have it.

I love to be original, so the chance to play shoe designer was a dream come true.

You begin by using their 3D editor to pick your style, followed by fabric choice, color and heel style.  I chose the Kiel boot and was set on their fiery red Nappa leather, but they also offer fabric, suede and vegan options too.

To add to their already fabulous DNA, I pushed the envelope with a crocodile effect leather stripe down the side and stark white zippers to give them a racing feel.  I could have gone with a higher heel height for the utmost drama, but stuck with the 2.8 inch stiletto for this growing baby.

The best part?  You can customize an inscription on your shoes.  Mine say In Spades on the inner sole, but I almost went with “Heels on Fire” because it fits so perfectly with these booties.

Shoes of Prey is offering a free custom inscription ($49 value) to all my readers with code INSPADESBLOG!

Use it for a fun personal touch to mark your first endeavor as a shoe designer (how perfect would it be for bridal parties and other milestone celebrations?).

On Wednesday I’m set to depart for NYFW and love that I’ll be bringing a pair of boots that are totally unique to me.  No awkward wardrobe dupes here.  Check out Shoes of Prey to design your own dream shoes that are one of kind.  Dare to be bold.

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