Metropolitan Fashion Week, Seattle, May 5, 2018 at The Seattle Art Museum

This is the second Metropolitan Fashion Week event that I have been so lucky to see! In a spectacular setting, with fantastic music and unique clothing and accessories, you should put Saturday May 11, 2019 on your calendar, for the next one, to be held at The Museum of Flight, Seattle. Tickets now on sale at: metrofw19.shindigg.com.

The first Metropolitan Fashion Week, I attended celebrated the color purple and Prince's song, Purple Rain, was the closing number. See last year's post here. 

This show, hosted by Eduardo Khawam, Niveen Heaton of Adicora_Swimwear and Amy Yamada, was a stunning array of fashion in a 5 part evening. First up was "Adicorazon de Mexico" by Fashion Designer Diego Medel, and Costume Designer, Ricardo Saltero. Next came #GettyInspired Masterpieces by designers: Erick Bendana, Julie Danforth, Rita Mezrahi, Giovanni Testi, Douglas Tapia, Kicka Custom Designs, Inoe Vargas, part 3 was ADICORA by Niveen Heaton, jewellery by Cintli by Beto Yarce, Part 4 was truly runway art by Port Townsend Wearable Art. So much color and magic! Part 5 was by Designer, Erick Bendana. Loved how the finale included each designer and models, in a true celebration of Art and Design! Kudos to Martini Music and Nari Weaver.  The vintage vinyl was new to me and set the tone for the Cinco de Mayo of the beautiful introduction to the evening. It was a sold out event and so many more cameras, this time. Word has gotten out that this is not to be missed. There are always surprises, too. Tonight, there was a marriage proposal! The inclusion of Wearable Arts was a very pleasant surprise, adding to the festival, gala theme. Because of the huge crowd and so many dancing feet, in the front rows, it was difficult to get the best photos. but here are some of my favourites. Thanks Eduardo, Niveen and Amy for outstanding hosting, presentation and organization. See you next May!

Each Dress Has A Story! Eve's Garden Exhibition At Fashion Week, El Paseo

Fashion Week, El Paseo, not only features a variety of fashion events: runway shows, designer meet and greets, and trunk shows where you can try on and purchase the dresses of your dreams, it also offers onsite exhibits, this year's being Eve's Garden. This extraordinary display of 'narrative' dresses was open, at no charge, for three days, March 18 19, and 20 as well as during ticketed runway shows, from 6:30-8:00 nightly.

This was truly a garden with dresses suspended from branches, surrounded by butterflies, some with birds and flower patterns, others with historical postcards and letters and another, right at the entrance, a dark reminder of the "Me, Too" movement. These are eco creations, fashioned from found objects, recycled and upcycled remnants of our culture and history, a call out to social justice issues, a call to look up from technology to appreciate nature and a strong message for creativity, hope and peace. I met the four artists: Gigi Eckert, who designs jewellery, Melinda Forbes, Julie Frankel, and Meg Johnson. They did a magnificent job of introducing their work and telling us about the ideas behind it. They really set the stage for the many narratives our clothes can tell. And not only that, but the stories that are as reflective of the times and of the people who make and wear them. My fondest wish would be to see them all at ECO Fashion Week, this November, 2018, in Perth and Queensland, Australia, and that the dresses tell their story, worldwide. See more about the dresses here, and another great article here.

Julie Frankel gave a fabulous tour of all of the dresses! 

Carolina Herrera at Fashion Week El Paseo, March 23, 2018 and at Saks Fifth Avenue, El Paseo, March 24, 25

Not only are the runway shows, magnificent at Fashion Week, El Paseo, but there are also Trunk Shows, where you can try on the clothing, usually after a mini show or a meet and greet. What I really admire is that fashion week benefits programs and organizations in the community, in this case, Palm Valley School.

Here is a great article about Herrera's evening runwayshow.

Sharon and I attended the Trunk Show at Saks Fifth Avenue, El Paseo, on Saturday, March 25th. The store is beautifully lit and is decorated in neutral colors so that the stunning reds, greens, golds of Herrera's collection, popped at the top of the staircase. Even her whites are crisp and complex and never dull. Loved the whites and blacks, the flowers on black, the jewel green with white flowers, cocktail dresses to more casual, all unique standouts. Imagine that one impossible to find, white shirt classic with cuffs and a perfect fit? You know where to find it. Carolina Herrera makes it. This collection sings Spring, in all its radiance after the gray of Winter.

Michael Costello and Project Runway Alumni at Palm Springs El Paseo Fashion Week

The television show, Project Runway, continues to impress me mightily. I love the design process from initial sketch to runway finale. But is it real? Every year at Fashion Week El Paseo, Michael Costello, a Project Runway star in 2010, dresses actors for the red carpet and for the movies, and has, since then, brought teams of talent directly from the show to El Paseo, to meet and greet adoring fans, to present at a grand fashion show at night and to delight trunk show attendees with the opportunity to purchase one of a kind real pieces. Michael brought two collections, couture and leisure wear as well as introducing seven Project Runway Alumni: Candice Cuoco, Mah-Jing Wong, Laura Kathleen Baker, Kentaro Kameyama, Viktor Luna, Justin LeBlanc and Margarita Alvarez.

Introduced and interviewed by Susan Stein, Producer and Director of Fashion Week El Paseo and Fashion Editor at Palm Springs Life Magazine, all eight Designers Extraordinaire are dynamic and passionate about their work. In addition to designing, all teach, run businesses and mentor others. Each takes time to say hello, to answer questions from very young designers and to radiate energy and enthusiasm during all of their appearances during the week. Are they real? Very! And the designs? Unquestionably spectacular. My friend, Sharon, who was at the tents for the first time, bought the most gorgeous black top, with intricate tucks and a nod to kimono. This will be perfect for her many piano recitals. Kentaro Kameyama, Project Runway Winner, Season 15, and himself a composer and pianist, not only modelled his own creation but had Sharon try it on and then, with his magic needle and thread, made the tiniest of adjustments, right there. Where in the world does this happen? Only in El Paseo. I bought a little red hat with a sequinned peacock on it, for a little someone special in my life, and a flattering, very colorful tank top that exactly matched my coral skirt. These were designed by the effervescent Margarita Alvarez, whose love of tropical colors and nature, is just dazzling. When I wore the top, it spoke to people and they wanted one right away. I directed them back to the white tents, palm trees and to the best designers, ever!

On location

Susan Stein and Michael Costello

All cameras on Michael

Justin LeBlanc, Laura Kathleen Baker, 

Kentaro Kameyama, Viktor Luna

 Viktor, Neil and pup, Micky. 

Yes Micky has a wardrobe, too.

More color and pattern for the shows

Mah-Jing Wong - so excited to show his Spring Collection and to be here!

My orange skirt and landscape top for the trunk show

With Margarita Alvarez

Kentaro Kameyama custom fitting a look for Sharon West

Sharon West shopping Kentaro Kameyama

Eco Fashion Week Australia Upcycling Challenge by Marilyn Wilson

The first ever Eco Fashion Week Upcyling Challenge was launched last night at Australia's first Eco Fashion Week! The challenge, led by Marilyn Wilson, featured 21 unique, talented designers from 12 countries. Each accepted the challenge to create one runway look from used men's dress shirts that will showcase their personal point of view as designers. There were no limitations in terms of concept, but they were asked to use shirts as more than just fabric, by including at least one detail from the original garment(s).

We will share details and images from the show in the coming days! Stay tuned!

More about the Eco Fashion Week show and designers here
More about Marilyn Wilson here

Adventures in San Francisco!

It has been a whirlwind few weeks of travel, but most recently, I spent the Canadian May long weekend in San Francisco! I was lucky to have some fantastic weather and Mum to join from Vancouver! 

This was my first visit to San Francisco. I had heard great things and so was interested to see what all the excitement was about. We managed to see a good amount of the city, and while it was beautiful, it made me appreciate Toronto even more. That's the thing about travel, it gives you new perspective, and sometimes, makes you appreciate home that much more.

A summary of our adventures below!

Day 1 

Walk to the San Francisco bridge 

It started off with a great amount of fog, but luckily it burned off as the day went on

A quick stop at the Palace of the Arts along the way

Back to the bridge

Looking up the bridge

Mandatory tourist snap

Fog had cleared by the time I walked back!

Mum joins for dinner at El Techo on Mission Street
Jacket and Sunnies from My Sister's Closet

Day 2

Starting with a walk to Lombard Street
Snapped wearing Carolyn Bruce jewelry robot ring
and a snap floral crown


Snapped with R.M. Greenaway's latest book, Undertow


Steep hills and beautiful flowers


Wearing a Zara floral blazer and My Sister's Closet Top

Beautiful city views everywhere you look!

At Lombard Street




Lunch!


Fortunes

Time for a boat tour before our hop on, hop off tour

Once we got under the bridge, the wind and fog took over

After our hop on hop off, we stopped at Coit Tower! Up the 160 stairs we went!

The views made it worth it

Undertow at the top!

Back down the street to Chinatown and the fabulous R and G Lounge for dinner

Day 3

A walk around Union Square

Lunch at the magnificent Neiman Marcus restaurant

A walk to Japan town!

Day 4

Chinatown walks

Snaps at Top of the Mark!