NYFW Fall 2013: Mathieu Mirano

The Mathieu Mirano presentation was held yesterday morning at The Box and even considering it was bright and early on a Monday the room was packed with fashionistas vying to get a peek at what this bright young designer had to show us this season.

Unlike last Fall, the collection seemed to be a toned down a notch. Sophisticated but a bit more restrained. Luxurious but quieter about it. The designer told Style.com that, “The collection is all about classic silhouettes executed in a new way.”

The color palatte was simple with a focus on blush nude and black with hits of black or gold shimmer in the fabric and gold toe shoes.

The strong message with this collection was geometry with very linear style lines and a bold grid pattern was prominent. Sometimes the grid was woven into the fabric while other times it was created through beading. Seaming details, strategic color blocking and piping in a rectangular formation only strengthened the statement for geometric shapes throughout the collection. Only one knit dress had  a slightly more organic feel as if there was a vein of gold running throughout the entire silhouette.


There was also a play on texture as plush fur was combined with delicate chiffon for a peekaboo effect. The play with texture and opacity continued with fur skirts paired with sheer knits, chiffon paired with crepes for a very sexy and striking look.

My personal favorite pieces were those sassy asymmetric dresses that were so thoughtfully executed.

Lucky Magazine x ESQ Movado Party

Lucky Magazine and ESQ Movado teamed up to kick off fashion week with an arm party. Bloggers and editors from the glossy gathered downtown at Super Linda for Caipirinha drinks, Mexican soda and light bites while checking out the new ESQ Origin styles of watches. These boyfriend style watches are borrowed from him but designed for her in a tone on tone oversized design that comes in n brushed/polished solid, yellow gold-toned or rose gold-toned stainless steel. I was invited to pick one out to keep (full disclosure: I was gifted a watch and some bracelets) and I couldn't resist the allure of rose gold and the clean lines. There was as bow tie adorned gentleman on hand who was resizing watches with a tiny hammer right at the party.

The fun wasn't over because as soon as I had my new watch on my wrist I got to run through the build-your-own arm candy bracelet bar, curated by Lucky Magazine's Accessories Editor Melissa Lum. I had a hard time deciding which bracelets would best compliment my new watch but narrowed down my choices to a rose bead bracelet, a rhinestone and rose gold swirling bracelet, gold and rhinestone bracelet and rose gold multi-strand bracelet. It was amazing fun sorting through the baubles and I had a hard time resisting the neon friendship bracelets but I wanted to create a tonal and classy look.


I have to admit that I was pretty pleased with the finished result. If a new watch and baubles weren't enough to send me over the moon, I got my fill of sugar at a candy bar that featured Mexican candies I'd never seen before! Hello spicy mango lollipop!

Special thanks to the folks at Lucky Magazine and ESQ Movado for treating a girl to sugar, sparkle and everything nice :)

Sample Sales NYC: Feb 25-March 3, 2013

Who: Diptyque Sample Sale

What: Discounts on candles, perfumes, and more.

When: Feb 27-Mar 1, 2013. Wed 10am-5pm, Thurs 11am-8pm, Fri 9am-3pm

Where: 225 5th Ave (b/n 26th & 27th St)

Who: Frock Vintage

What: Select items are priced from $50-$100 from YSL, Thierry Mugler and more.  CASH ONLY

When: Feb 26-Mar 2, 2013. 12pm-7pm.

Where: 170 Elizabeth St (b/n Bowery and Spring St)

Who: Patrik Ervell Sample Sale

What: 50%-80% off menswear and womenswear

When: Mar 1-3, 2013. 12pm-6pm

Where: 35 Howard St - #4 (b/n Broadway and Lafayette St). 646-912-9083

Who: Baggu, Mociun and No.6 Sale

What: Discounts on boots, bags and jewelry

When: Mar 2-3, 2013. 11am-6pm

Where: 242 Wythe Ave (at N 3rd St) - Williamburg, Brooklyn

Ongoing Sales:

Who: What Goes Around Comes Around
What: Up to 90% off vintage and the WGACA collection with prices starting as low as $5, and thousands of vintage items under $30.
When: Feb 15-March 7, 2013. Mon—Thurs 10am—7pm, Fri—Sat 10am—8pm, Sun 11am—7pm. 
Where: 440 Lafayette St (at Astor Place) 646-370-6391.

Who: Morgan Le Fay Sample Sale

What: 70%-80% off

When: Feb 21-25, 2013.  11am-7pm

Where: 83 Wooster St (b/n Spring and Broome St)

Who: Earnest Sewn Sample Sale

What: Everything is priced under $100.  

When: Now through Feb 26, 2013. Mon-Tues 11am-7pm. 

Where: 821 Washington St (b/n W12th and Gansevoort St)

A Couple More Sales to Shop

Who: H.W. Carter & Sons
What: Stop by the sample sale this weekend in Williamsburg. The H.W. Carter & Sons brand will be available at prices of $50-$100, along with additional brands carried at the H.W. Carter & Sons store, like Gitman Bros., Our Legacy, Gloverall, Stone Island, Monitaly, Red Wing Heritage, Yuketen, Engineered Garments, and Mark McNairy New Amsterdam all available between $50-$350.
When: Feb 22-24, 2013. Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Where: 109 S. 5th St., Suite 501, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Who: Nicole Miller Online Sample Sale
What: Fab pieces priced to go at just $10-100 including pieces from the Indego Africa Collection
When: Online now
Where: Click here to shop the sale.

NYFW Fall 2013: Bellavance

Milk Studios was a buzz the other week as the most crowded of all presentations caught my attention. What was the buzz about? Why were people milling into such a small, hot room? Turns out that Bellavance who were winners of the MADE For Peroni Young Designer Awards, Ava Hama and Nolan Bellavance were showing their inaugural collection at Milk Studios. The award, which was open exclusively to select Parsons SoF graduates and alumni, meant $25,000 in funding, as well as production support and personal mentoring from London-based designer Antonio Beradi in the lead up to the presentation.


Guests sipped Peroni and snacked on tuna tartar and other treats while the clothes were presented. Silhouettes were simple - easy to wear tunics, dresses that skimmed the body but were nipped at the waist for shape, a-line skirts that hit below the knee and soft rounded shoulders. Fabrications ranged from silk satin, to nubby tweed, to denim, to pliable lambskin leather and fur (racoon, white mink, fox). Colors were muted and black and white were predominant save for a soft blue and red that made an appearance in addition to a caramel toned Finn racoon. The most architectural of  the pieces was the red dress with seams that highlighted the body in a way that mentor Berardi was sure to approve of.

The overall look was downtown cool girl visits a thrift shop and discovering some rather glam pieces. Wearable, chic in a not trying to hard way. Since these young designers had such a strong reception I can't wait to see what will happen as they grow.

NYFW Fall 2013: Alexandre Herchcovitch

I had the chance to return to Milk Studios for Alexander Herchcovitch's runway show on Saturday night to a full house. The room was packed as the lights dimmed. The looks sort of floated into the room as all eyes were fixated on the stage and a hush came over the bustling crowd. Sculptural skirts that had a surprisingly light quality to them in spite of being created in satins. There was a sense of romance yet modernity but simultaneously there was an underlying eerie quality to the designs as well.

The inspiration came from flowers but not in the way that one would typically think. Sure there were have done it. The models themselves became the flowers and you could see the flowers going through all the stages from young bud to the shedding of petals. The shedding was most interesting to me upon closer examination I realized that the shedding is actually not assymetry but how the garments have been designed to be deconstructed. She's come undone and is revealing some sexy lingerie inspired pieces.

My favorite creations were those that had the play of stripes and a strong use of assymetry that was unexpected but well balanced. Peplums, elbow length sleeves, soft hips, hemlines that hit just below the knee, tailored bodices sloped shoulders are some of the key elements of this collection.

Herchcovitch's strength comes from his signature pattern-cutting experiments combined with sophisticated fabrics and shapes for a striking collection that transforms women into blooms from an exotic garden. Delicate but simultaneously powerful.