NYFW in a NEW YORK MINUTE: The Tent

Between shows, the E!Online Fashion Police film their Style Network segments and it's nice to catch a glimpse of Joan Rivers. And once you do, you want to see all of them!

I also loved seeing ANTM Cycle 18 Winner Sophie Sumner, how adorable is she?

NYFW Brandon Sun FW 2013

Last year at Brandon Sun's Spring presentation, I fell in love with all of the soft furs and flowy chiffon in greys and white.

This season, I was unable to attend due to the weather, but thanks to Anjali and Rohina, the shows were covered for Hogger & Co.

Here's Rohina's take on Brandon Sun's FW 2013 Collection:

Just got back from an amazing short trip to NYC. The show started really early in the morning which was perfect since I am a morning person. Got ready and took a New York cab to the Lincoln center. It was really nice to see the Mercedes Benz Fashion week sign. Since it was my first fashion show, I was overly excited. Thanks to Hogger & Co. we were able to attend the Brandon Sun presentation. As we entered the room the models were standing like statues. It was breathtaking. It was like an art museum. The press was surrounding the artwork, snapping away. All the pieces were on the darker scale; shades of grays, dark blues, dark green and black with touches of white. Uses of fur and velvet, silks and leather. Such an amazing and beautiful presentation.

Thanks Rohina!

NYFW Herve Leger FW 2013

I was so excited to have been invited to shoot backstage and runway at Herve Leger this season, however I was prevented from going to NYC because of THIS, so Anjali was gracious enough to cover backstage and runway for me, last minute! Thanks girl :)

It looked like a GORGEOUS SHOW with many celeb sighted with designers Max Azria and Lubov Azria including Petra Nemcova, Coco Rocha, Miss USA and Russell Simmons!

Here's what Anjali thought of the show:

PeTA beware, fur is definitely back in 2013.  After seeing a few fashion shows for FW 2013, one trend I definitely see is bold leather and fur.  Herve Leger's futuristic FW collection seems what a retro collection in the year 2030 would look like.  Modern materials with intricate embroidery and different prints in body hugging cuts seem to reign supreme. The leather cutouts are layered on top of fine knits and add a textural appealing quality. Black caps are used as accessories to give some of the fine quality garments a harder edge. In this collection, the attention is definitely in the details.

Thanks again Anjali! :)

NYFW Candela FW 2013 RTW

Candela's FW 2013 RTW presentation took place recently, and Anjali who lives in NYC was there covering for me. We were both at the Spring presentation last year.

Here's what she said:

The themes for this collection seem to be a blend of country chic and the roaring twenties. The romantic feel of some of the designs transport me to the time of the Great Gatsby. The flapper like dresses with bugle beads and sequins are a definite hit as are the long silk gown in a perfect shade of peach with a low sequined back. The deer sweater with fur collar mixed with the finely knit cashmere lace skirt show that the two can be combined. There are juxtapositions of hard and soft mixed together as with the black leather motorcycle jackets and flowy lace sheer skirts. The presentation made me feel like I was walking through an artist's studio as models became the subject of paintings. In this case, the fashion was the muse not the models.

 

NYFW BCBG Max Azria FW 2013

I am so grateful that Anjali Patel covered some of FW for me this season as I couldn't make it to NYC this month, first because of my schedule, then because of Nemo!

I first met Anjali at Fashion Week last September (when we both asked each other for photographs with Vanessa Williams after the Carlos Miele show) and I knew she'd have fun covering backstage (Miss USA was there!) and runway for Hogger & Co.

Thanks Anjali!

Here's what she had to say about BCBG Max Azria Fall and Winter Collection:

Bon Chic, Bon Genre.  I think the word to define BCBG FW 2013 collection would be attitude, as in an edgy  attitude.  The only thing soft about this collection is the fur.  Lace mixed with knit sweaters and caps are draped with bold and bright animal print fur to create a luxury bohemian look.  I really like the heels with leather leggings and steel toes to create a sexy open toe boot look.  The leather has a masculine aesthetic but the cut and stitching combinations are very feminine.  For those that are looking for a non snow bunny look next Fall, BCBG has several choices for you.  The FW collection color palette ranges from pure white (even after Labor Day) to deep purple and blues.  I see this as a collection of contrasts: leather and lace, white and dark, fur and sheer silk.  Asymmetrical skirts show just enough skin but balance the outfit.

NYFW Candela SS2013 RTW

I'm such a huge fan of Candela...everything is bohemian and playful, demure and sweet.

Don't you want these beautiful head of braids and those SHOES?

It was nice to see Candela designer Gabriela Perezutti and Ken Downing, the Senior Vice President and Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus.

Here a look at SPRING, at the Candela RTW SS2013 Presentation...

NYFW Brandon Sun

Looking back today on Brandon Sun's immaculate SS2013 RTW presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Animal prints with beautiful, luscious fur. Sexy, flowy gowns mixed with pencil skirts and sculptured accents. Draped, yet structured and impecably tailored.

I want it all.

NYFW: SEEN: Rachel Zoe

Bananas! Remember this?

NYFW Bibhu Mohapatra SS2013

I am a huge fan of Bibhu's, from the first time meeting him to February's New York Fashion Week and to SS2013, he just keeps getting better! Love the cuts of the beautiful dresses and how flattering it appears for a woman's body.

The hair just tied everything together (braids, again!) and LOVED the little green marks at the base of the neck!

Here are my favorites from his show and a little backstage visit afterwards (with my new friends Anjali - who really needs to start a blog - and Marlene, the Fashionable Dentist).

BFW 2012: Sam Mendoza

Last night in Boston, the first set of runway shows at the tent at the Mandarin Hotel in Boston took place and I was happy to have Amy Connolly from Creative Soul Spectrum cover the shows for me. (We recently met Amy in a Style Profile, here).

Mendoza's show sporting casual yet chic neutrals with flouncy skirts and heads piled high in braids (which we saw a lot of at NYFW) took to the stage. Visit CSSpectrum for more Boston Fashion Week coverage of Mendoza's show and thank you Amy for shooting for Hogger & Co.!

NYFW Made in NY: Launch By Susan Young

Rooftop fashion show? Where do I sign up? Thanks to Christina K. Pierce, I had the opportunity to check out the fabulous Launch by Susan Young after this happened. Christina is a stylist extraordinaire and the mastermind behind Christina K. Pierce a Boutique Fashion Agency on Newbury in Boston.

Come join us for an evening of splendor atop the beautiful Empire Hotel Rooftop in NYC, with high profile guests including Boston's own Marilyn Riseman whom we've met before and former Real Housewives of New York City stars Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen.

Models: Tia, Kyra, Michaela, Laura, Fiona, Elena, Emily, Jaylee, Alexandra Elena B. // Jewelry by Mira Sadi of Ottomon Chic // Handbags by Jacki Easlick // Alice Alan Shoes

Tonight for Boston Fashion Week Christina K. Pierce is presenting an evening of runway shows featuring Launch by Susan Young, Lily & Migs, Ruch Designs, and Shape of Birds!

NYFW David Tlale

I was honored to be capture David Tlale's presentation at NYFW, as he's a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and I grew up in Botswana, living there for 10 years, so my support for anything African comes from a solid place in my childhood heart.

Major props go out to his collection, which was a remarkable vision of a modern Africa.

David Tlale says of his work:

"We showcased a very urban Africa. The collection exuded elegance and sophistication. I called it “Transcendence,” because I wanted to show a migration from the “perceived” Africa to a more modern and transcendental work that goes through and beyond cultural nuances and the delivery of that work to the global consumer.”

I briefly met Dr. Precious Motsepe who is a well known figure in South Africa and the US, as director of African Fashion International and the head of Motseppe Foundation; and she was enamoured with the the collection, as was everyone else I overheard at the presentation...

NYFW Bill Cunningham

Everyone always gasps and picks up their cameras when they see the iconic blue jacket with Bill Cunningham in it, at fashion week.

I, was no different. Remember last time?

NYFW Alice + Olivia SS 2013 Backstage + Presentation

I was thrilled to be invited to shoot Alice + Olivia backstage and presentation at NYFW.

I have never fallen so in love with color as I did at this presentation. Everything was just gorgeous, from the skillfully applied makeup (I am a huge fan of this Stila product) to the sleek low pony-tails and of course, the colorful, perfectly fitting, 50's inspired collection. The energy backstage was contagious, not to mention how fun it was to see Kelly Bensimon give interviews and snapping photos with her iPhone.

Another highlight for me was meeting Jamie Beck (From Me To You) who I've admired for a long time. She was really sweet and I literally died when THIS was taken.

I also had a chance to meet Kelly (The Glamourai), Rebecca (Rebecca Prus) and Kim (J'Adore Couture) all of whom were as lovely as one could imagine. Then my new fashion week friend Chris (TheTinyTieRant) and I hightailed it outta there for more shows!

So here, in a bit of gritty photojournalistic style...I hope you enjoy.

NYFW Norisol Ferrari RTW SS 2013

This was one of my favorite shows I went to at NYFW. Sitting in front row might have had something to do with it. Possibly. But truly, Norisol Ferrari's SS 2013 collection. inspired by iconic film actresses like Munroe, Hayworth, Fontaine, Kelly and Garbo, was an ode to feminine curves and ageless grace.

Speaking of which, Ferrari had a wonderful group of seasoned models walk down the runway: Carmen Dell 'Orefice, 81, Carol Alt, 51, Alva Chinn, 57 and Karen Bjornson, 58, all of whom worked those perfectly tailored dresses like there was no tomorrow.

And in my mind, I saw the whole thing in silhouettes and shadows.

NYFW Erickson Beamon SS2013

Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon showed their SS 2013 collection in a spectator style presentation, with an "audience" seated on bleachers decked out in bold Erickson Beamon jewelry. Female models clad in lingerie-esque gowns and woven sweaters wore brilliant geometric necklaces and were carted along by well-coiffed-Converse-wearing male models.

NYFW: SEEN: George Kotsiopoulos at Tracy Reese

There wasn't a fuller house than at Tracy Reese's show.

I literally got there (from Boston) as the show was starting and was rushed in by security, so there was zero room in the press pit (where I was invited to shoot), and my resulting vantage point was less than ideal.

Still, it gave me a chance to actually enjoy the show: spectacular tribal-ly green prints, side-parted hair and chem-lab glasses, and afterward, a spotting of George Kotsiopoulos!