New York Fashion, neigh THE WORLD, lost a legend with the passing of André Leon Talley. I have admired Mr. Talley since I purchased my first Vogue magazine at 12 with my babysitting money.
As an African American girl raised in a predominately white, affluent area, I struggled understanding my race. However, when I saw an African American homosexual man that transcended race and gender was the Editor at Large in the pages of Vogue; I knew I had a virtual fashion mentor!
When it was announced that André would be joining the cast of my then favorite show America’s Next Top Model, I FREAKED OUT!! For André totally, but also because I was sick of Paulina Porizkova picking the worst winners of the long running series.
America’s Next Top Model jumped the shark when André left as seen from the lineup of judges after André:
Kelly Cutrone
Rob Evans
Rita Ora
Ashley Graham
Drew Elliott
Law Roach
NY Fashion Week A/W 2022 Was A Little Frustrating #2
NY Fashion Week A/W 2022 Was A Little Frustrating because my usual resource NY Fashion Week: The Shows had so many issues. Normally I write up my list of designers I am going to cover based on their schedule & set notifications to be ready to record the shows on my iPad.
This season “The Shows” site glitched & had designers on the schedule but when you logged in to the watch, the “LIVE” feed would disappear. Realizing so many people online was crashing the site I went back later to film. Unfortunately, some of the shows were not available in time to post my reviews.
The upside was I decided to save myself the hassle of filming every show each season & use the shows already uploaded to YouTube, if possible. This makes the process of creating my fashion blog much more efficient allowing me to post my reviews sooner than before.
** If you know my blogs then you know I love emoji’s but this post is too long to include them
Featured Designers
** in order by date presented ** click on designer’s name to get to their website
SIGNATURE: Anne Klein keeps it classic season after season; this short presentation was no exception
WHAT’S NEW: Very similar to A/W 2021
IN MY CART: Nothing from this presentation because their staples I already have; which is the beauty of Anne Klein. When it’s time to update your staple pieces AK IS THERE FOR YOU!!
SIGNATURE: Downtown quirky, artsy women with a modest, quiet sexy. Pieces for every facet of your day from board meetings & shopping to gallery openings & galas. Amazing coats & bags.
IN MY CART: I am obsessing on jumpsuits (trending) so the sleeveless dark cocoa is added to the cart & the dark rose pleather pants with chocolate cape LIVING
SIGNATURE: First time covering this designer that’s giving me 90s Super Model vibes
IN MY CART: In the words of Freddie Mercury, I WANT IT ALL! Completely my style: modern with a classic feel that will make these pieces last forever in your closet
SIGNATURE: Haunting & luxurious romance for A/W. Incredibly crafted pieces including lace overlay for day & evening. Master Shojhi is A LEGEND for the Asian sophistication he brings to his designs
WHAT’S NEW: For A/W 2022, Tadashi was inspired by the Latin culture for a few pieces in the collection
IN MY CART: Red lace handkerchief hem dress, black wool & sequin tuxedo suit with matching hat + white sequin gown
WHAT’S NEW: The A+O brand has always screamed WE HELP EMPOWER WOMEN. This season they had a beautiful woman reciting a poem to make sure their is no mistake WOMEN HAVE POWER & A+O want to dress us all!
IN MY CART: You know I’m going to say EVERYTHING because I say it every season, lol
SIGNATURE: Each season I say Christian knows his customer; vibrant HIGH-ART women going to luxury international events. Christian goes to Caan people, not the grocery store!
NY Fashion Week A/W 2022 Was A Little Frustrating #3
WHAT’S NEW: Was a little disappointed Christian didn’t show us denim like last season but, he always designs STUNNING, complicated styles
IN MY CART: Christian designs KILLER pants, tops & jackets/coats us normies can rock for many seasons
SIGNATURE: Ulla sticks to her signature vibe of urban chic with a North American western feel
WHAT’S NEW: It’s always fresh, trending & CLASSIC ULLA. She keeps it new by continuing to understand her customer & the way they want to dress!
IN MY CART: Can’t explain it but Ulla just speak to me. There’s an ease to her designs that makes me want to own them knowing I will be the best dressed in every situation.
SIGNATURE: All I can say is THE LEGEND Beverly Johnson is AGELESS! Appreciated the candy colored vibe Sergio gave us this season; looking forward to seeing this designer grow.
WHAT’S NEW: First time covering so not sure what’s new
IN MY CART: Pastel colored safari uber mini-skirt suits
SIGNATURE: What can you say about Joseph Altuzarra, he DOES IT year after year! When you see Anna in the front row you know your collection is THE SHIT!
WHAT’S NEW: Joseph wants to dress every woman so his “new” is giving us revamped staples so your closet stays fresh & modern. I mean, really, how many knit sweaters do you have? BET you will consign (#recyclefashion) all of them to buy every sweater in this collection. That’s the power of Joseph Altuzzarra!
IN MY CART:LIVING for every whipstitch pleated skirt with the chain belt… ADD TO CART!!
SIGNATURE: Love that the designers showed both their high-end & streetwear (Adeam Ichi) collections in 1 presentation. Both men & womenswear COVERED; a brand I am looking forward to reviewing in the future
WHAT’S NEW: First time covering this designer
IN MY CART: Camel mini skirt with bit closure detail & the olive silk dress with the same bit detail
SIGNATURE: There is no New York without Carolina Herrera, she’s A LEGEND for a reason
WHAT’S NEW: Carolina made up for her NYFW absence by presenting a full runway show packed with incredible evening looks. She channeled luxury life in Italy with floor length full skirts over cigarette pants (as Lucille Ball is trending)
IN MY CART: Tropical floral print collared sleeveless jumpsuit DYING!!
SIGNATURE: It’s always a joy to film & review this brand because the presentations are captivating. When I think of Theo the words that come to mind are SUITS & COATS, which they do incredibly!
WHAT’S NEW: Burnout details
IN MY CART: If I were a man I would ROCK that maroon & blue burnout suit. DROOLING over the knitwear & of course the coats. YES crocodile printed long sleeve mock collar jumpsuit!!
SIGNATURE: When I worked for Coach in the 90s they were celebrating 70 years (actually have pieces that were only created for that anniversary). Coach is known for it’s luxurious leather bags & accessories. When I was manager of Coach in the boutique mall of Maryland, they were just dipping into the big boy fashion game. Amazing to see how far they’ve come!
WHAT’S NEW: It’s been many-many years since I reviewed a Coach runway show so to me everything felt new fresh & WORTHY of the Coach brand.
IN MY CART: Here we go again, I WANT IT ALL! It’s rare for me to review a designer I don’t like so saying I want it all just means the designer is hitting me in all the right ways.
SIGNATURE: My first luxury fashion purchase was a pair of Tory Burch jeans because I thought they said luxury but approachable. I believe that is THE EPITOME of the Tory Burch brand!
WHAT’S NEW: A few designers are pulling this white peter pan/peaked collar vibe (trending) & I’m all HERE FOR IT! It’s hard to be new when you’ve been pumping out collections as long as Tory but this season she choose to give us dramatic color blocking which has been done but LOVE how Tory did it for 2022!
IN MY CART: Easier to list the items I didn’t like: NONE! It ALL needs to be in my closet
WHAT’S NEW: Created a culottes style jumpsuit where one leg is skinny & the other boot cut. Surprisingly this full on purple sequin with 1 bubble sleeve is what I would ADD TO CART!
SIGNATURE: Marissa always brings a level of PRIDE in our culture that I love. She nods to our ancestors reminding everyone we dress for ourselves not for society!
WHAT’S NEW: First time I’ve reviewed a full runway collection from Marissa. For the past few seasons Marissa has given us short presentations of her AFRO FUNKY designs
IN MY CART:FEELING the tie dyed printed long sleeve dress with hot orange cowl neck sweater vest + jumpsuit look in the same print
SIGNATURE: Luxurious eveningwear & high-end day pieces. Stunning rhinestone shoes & large jeweled chandelier earrings
WHAT’S NEW: This season the gentleman gave us more black looks than they have for many seasons including the A/W 2022 full-on sequin suit. Normally their signature sequin suit is done in vibrant colors so it was nice to see it paired back this season.
IN MY CART: So many great pieces but I am DROOLING over the glitter tights paired with rhinestone stilettoes idea
SIGNATURE: Read my past fashion reviews to see how much I ADORE Anna Sui. She is one of the first designers I remember coveting in the 90s & am baffled how she keeps giving fresh looks after all these years. True to her brand Anna kept it HIPPIE ROCK CHIC for A/W 2022!!
WHAT’S NEW: Anna doesn’t do “NEW” she creates from her heart & it just so happens to be what’s trending. Like how many decades has Anna refreshed the 60s patent leather boots TRENDING everywhere?
IN MY CART: One of Anna’s signatures are her unique accessories and every season there are several I will own. For A/W 2022 I NEED the black & white sequin gloves + the SUI ring
Asia Fashion Collection
SIGNATURE: First time covering this collection & wish I had video of ALL the looks
IN MY CART: From what I saw it’s not for me, but I appreciate the art the designers created
Concept Korea
SIGNATURE: First time covering these designers: Nohant, Ul:kin and EENK
WHAT’S NEW: Definitely on my radar. Hope THE SHOWS continues to follow these incredibly talented Asian artists
SIGNATURE: You know Michael Kors is the only designer I LOVE as much as MY Alexander McQueen. When I was younger I dreamed of being a woman that shopped at Michael Kors. Now that I do, I love that he keeps to MK brand tradition of PUREAmerican luxury pieces!
WHAT’S NEW: Michael Kors IS LUXURY FASHION!! Those “viral” looks you see from these newbie designers, Michael invented & MASTERED decades ago!!
IN MY CART: You already know…ALL OF IT PLEASE! If I had to define the collection in one word it would be IMPECCABLE!
SIGNATURE:Yo, IT’S PRABAL; if you don’t know Prabal’s signatures then you don’t know fashion. Prabal gives you sexy Hamptons with an artistic hand
WHAT’S NEW: Prabal was one of the few designer that continued to treat us to full runway presentations during the pandemic but this season he scaled back to a 3 minute video
IN MY CART: The suits are NEXT LEVEL & MUST HAVE the camel embroidered coat
SIGNATURE: Pamela is another NY apple that DEFINES the fabric, literally, of the city
WHAT’S NEW: It has been quite a few seasons since I covered Pamela so I just enjoyed seeing what she created for A/W 2022
IN MY CART: You know that green sequin with beaded fringe jumpsuit is going RIGHT IN MY CART but also CRAVE the ombre blue sequin embroidered gown + the nude beaded gown with marabou feathers
SIGNATURE: Kevan Hall is one of the few African American designers that has been taken seriously by the fashion industry for many decades. Kevan dresses STRONG WOMEN that love to be noticed
WHAT’S NEW: Clearly influenced by the colors & textures of the Moroccan market this season
