BFW 2012: Avni

Avni's SS2013 collection was inspired by purity and spirtuality and the philosophies behind designer Hussein Chalayan's work. The show started with a dramatic drum performance, which may have been intended to take place during the runway show, had the tent been bigger. Avni showcased lots of neutral, layered pieces in silks, cottons and satins with styling by Christina K. Pierce adding an element of the designer's Indian roots, with forehead jewelry pieces and bindis. Once again, we see braids, this time long and over the shoulder.

BFW 2012: Grace Kim, gKIM Studio

Grace Kim showed prowess in her gKIM Studio RTW collection of clean and contemporary silhouettes. The runway show, complete with 1930s inspired blonde wigs, showcased lightweight frocks and swing coats; all classic looks with modern finesses that could be worn by a current day Ginger Rogers. To that, I say, well done Grace Kim!

Here, some of my favorites.

In Memory: My Dad, the Style Icon

25 years ago, today, my Father passed away.

To celebrate his life, I want to share some of his magnificent style. I've shown you some of his tailoring before, but what you may not know is that he was an architect, an interior designer and a photographer. He loved tailoring his own clothes and keeping on trend with menswear as well as hair styles.

Here are some memories of him, but let's not forget my gorgeous Mom who's not to shabby herself! The cutie at the end is my sister (aww!)

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: Firas Yousif

Thanks to Amy, who's been covering some of Boston Fashion Week for Hogger & Co., we get up close and personal with Firas Yousif and his cocktail frocks to asian-inspired dresses to bridal gowns! Happy to see the gorgeous Jane Conway Caspe make an appearance on the runway, looking glamorous as ever, just like she did at the Zac Posen appearance at Neimans last year.

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.!

Boston: Neiman Marcus, CUSP Launch

Neiman Marcus recently launched CUSP, at Copley Place. All of Neiman Marcus' contemporary departments have been revamped into modern, young and hip sections within each store. Carrying designers such as Alice + Olivia, DVF, Rag & Bone, A. L. C., Theory and Alexander Wang, to name a few, the concept is to provide a boutique feel that's fresh and updated.

Last week's launch was hosted by three of Boston's fashionable bloggers, Lissy (A Girl in Boston), Lani (Mon Petite Chou Chou) and Erika (Radiant Republic). Each of them styled a model in three different looks but it was at time easy to pick out who styled who. I was pleased to capture the festivities!

Hair styling by Jeffrey Lyle Salon // Catering by Broadway Gourmet // Models: Marie Wu, Jessica Clements, Olivia Guiny, Sarah Hodge, Kara Benghanem // DJ - Liz Ladoux

In keeping with the fresh new concept, it was recently announced that NM is looking for A Blogger on the CUSP, are you the one?

BFW: Christina K. Pierce Shows

Last night in Boston Christina K. Pierce put on an amazing evening of runway shows, featuring a presentation by Shape of Birds and runway shows by Launch by Susan Young (who we met earlier at New York Fashion week), Ruch Designs and Lily and Migs.

It was a hugely successful event and more can be seen on my Instagram feed here (@hoggerandco)!

Thank you for the invitation Christina and congrats to everyone involved, for starting Boston Fashion week off with a bang!

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!

Boston: Neiman Marcus, Gemma Kahng

I was thrilled to photograph Gemma Kahng's appearance at Neiman Marcus in Boston last night. What a fabulous lady she is! It's the second coming for this incredible designer, and I am so happy for her!

Join me for an evening of glitz and glamour as only Neiman Marcus can do...

 

Maggie Inc. Models Jade + Shaina

Catering by Broadway Gourmet

NYFW Joy Cioci, Emerson, Carlos Miele, Badgley Mischka

Here's a round up of some of my favorite looks from Joy Cioci, Emerson, Carlos Miele and Badgley Mischka.

Joy Cioci's ode to a 20s summer had pearl-encrusted swim caps, sea-salted nails and beautiful blues making me look forward to Spring.

We saw a lot of braids at the shows this season...and Emerson had some of the best, lying low on the forehead, and created by Zahir Ziani. Jackie Fraser-Swan's inspiration was 70s horror films, with the black and white ensembles balanced out with softer floral pieces and touches of red like the finale's burst of red confetti, Carrie-stylez. Dancing With The Stars' Maksim Chmerkovskiy was there, as were other recognizable celebs: Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf) and Johnny Wujek (ANTM creative director).

You know how much I love a good print, and Carlos Miele delivered. Paula Abdul, Vanessa Williams and Daisy Fuentes are fans. (It was also fun to see Joy Adaeze in front of me) always with cool headgear and go backstage after the show.

I may have been slightly more excited to spot Bryanboy (and Kelly Bensimon, who I photographed backstage at Alice + Olivia, Ivana Trump, Lauren Conrad, Kevin Jonas) in front row than to pay attention to the beauty of Badgley Mischka. That's until the show started, and then their romantic “Midsummer Night’s Dream” inspired collection had a lot of beautiful pieces that took my breath away, namely the final coral layered organza number....what a dream. Remember when this happened?

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!

FNO Boston at Neiman Marcus!

On September 6 in Boston, Fashion's Night Out at Neiman Marcus celebrated the Art of Fashion!

Showcasing fall trends in Center Court, a "Go Baroque or Go Home" Styling bar by our favorite Style Advisor Dave Chen, intricate henna tattoos by Nomad Heart, and black and white (with a touch of colour) photographs, by yours truly, FNO Boston was just getting warmed up. Throw in some familiar faces like Amy, Kate + Jack, Jeff Lahens, Sarah and Jaime in the mix and you've got one hellava good night!

Where were you for FNO?

 

Ivivva Athletica as worn on Block Island!

Ivivva Athletica contacted me to review their cross-functional athletic apparel for girls ages 6-14. While I'm not in that age range (but SO SO close!), my 12 year old niece is, and made a good candidate to test out the product.

Ivivva comes to us from the well-known lululemon brand who've positively mastered the yoga pant. The one pair I own is truly my go-to, for working out. I'll admit, I refused to believe in lululemon for a few years, but then I tried it. Now who better to test that same theory out on, than on the tweens who tell it like it is?

So, on Labor Day Weekend and before "back to school" we went out to Block Island, Rhode Island, a location that served as the ideal backdrop for my niece and her BFF to model and test out Ivivva's brightly colored athletic clothing, proving that Ivivva is comfortable, functional and pretty, too!

Ivivva is opening a showroom in Boston at 38 North Street, Suite B in Hingham, MA 02403. Definitely worth a look for the active girl in your family.

Tell me, what do you wear to work out?