Ladies Who Lunch: Falguni & Shane Peacock Spring 2014!

If you are looking for a style that is futuristic, has a rock and roll attitude and above all is super sexy, then look no further than Falguni & Shane Peacock.  With collections so hot that a call to the fire department just might be necessary, this husband and wife team knows how to rock the red carpet.

I have covered their collections for several seasons now and each show leaves me a bigger fan.  Innovative fabrics, construction and embellishment give Falguni & Shane Peacock an edge that is distinctive and all their own.

Already a hit with Celebs across the globe, Falguni & Shane Peacock created a Spring 2014 Collection that still had their WOW factor, but translated it in a way that would be more accessible by real women in real life!

While the Falguni & Shane Peacock Spring 2014 will have a broader appeal, any woman that wears this dynamic collection will feel and look like a superstar!  Bring on the paparazzi!

Video Photography by Nicole Camillucci

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Ladies Who Lunch: Joanna Mastroianni Spring 2014!

I personally became involved with fashion out of a love for the beauty that you could create with the artistry of the craft.  And, designer Joanna Mastroianni creates collections that speak to that love.

A true couturiere in every sense of the word, Joanna Mastroianni’s collections are artistic expressions and her use of the craft is impeccable.  Whether she draws her inspiration from pop-culture, fine arts, other design fields or the daily world that surrounds her, each collection is infused with her  passion for the art of fashion.

The Spring 2014 Joanna Mastroianni Collection not only dazzles on the runway, but also proves once again that she is a true master of her craft!

Video Photography by Cassandra Past

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Ladies Who Lunch: Joseph Charles Fall 2013!

Budding young designer Joseph Mazzola began his career in Costume Design before being drawn into the fashion world and the start of his own Joseph Charles Collection.

That background is evident in the Joseph Charles Collection which takes its inspiration from the fashion of the 1950’s and early 1960‘s.  The line is infused   with a sophisticated and sexy quality reminiscent of the glamour girls of the silver screen.

Presenting his first collection at New York Fashion Week for Fall 2013, Joseph Charles captures the glamour of his Hollywood muses in a way that is both timeless and modern.

Video Photography: Cassandra Past

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Ladies Who Lunch: LITKE Fall 2013!

A BFA from New York University, an internship at Vogue magazine and working with fashion industry stylists and editors led Catherine Litke to found her self-named LITKE line in 2012.

For LITKE Fall 2013, Catherine Litke drew her inspiration from 1960’s futurism films, quilting patterns and the Amish culture.  Taking these seemingly disparate inspirations and merging them together, Catherine has created a look that is as interesting as it is original.

Combining classic minimalism with eccentric tailoring, Catherine Litke’s LITKE Fall 2013 Collection manages to be both innovative and timeless.

Video Photography by Cassandra Past

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Ladies Who Lunch: WHIT Fall 2013!

Before founding the fashion line WHIT, designer Whitney Pozgay began her career in costume design.  Working in the theater evolved into an interest in creating clothing for real women in their every day lives, so Whitney Pozgay left costume design to pursue a career in fashion.

Whitney moved to New York and worked for Kate Spade while she further developed her skills at Parsons and at the The Fashion Institute of Technology.  After a successful career at Kate Spade, Whitney became lead women’s wear designer at Steven Alan where she also worked on his collaborations with major retailers.

In 2009 Whitney Pozgay went out on her own and launched WHIT with a Fall 2010 collection. Since then, she has continued to develop and expand WHIT into a sophisticated and chic women’s wear line that is a testimonial to her passion for design!

Video Photography by David TW Leung

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Ladies Who Lunch: Shades of Gray Scarves by Sheila Gray!

Multi-tasking is nothing new to Sheila Gray, the Design Assistant, Public Relations Manager, Stylist, etc. for Byron Lars Beauty Mark.  So for a woman that wears so many hats, it is only fitting that she have scarves to go with them!

Sheila Gray has created her Shades of Gray scarf collection out of a passionate love for textiles and a burning desire to create couture items that were wearable on the street and accessible to everyone!

Each scarf is one of a kind and handmade with love out of the most luxurious European fabrics.  Sheila creates the scarves using a range of fabrics including cozy sweater knits, the finest brocade and plush faux fur.  Often times, she will combine multiple fabrics within the same scarf! Creating a tactile landscape with a sumptuous terrain all their own, each scarf bares a kind of other worldliness unto itself!

“We all need to wear a scarf in the winter, but we don’t need to look like one another while doing so...or go broke in the process of distinguishing ourselves from the crowd”, says Sheila Gray, creator of Shades of Gray.

A Shades of Gray scarf transcends the confines of any cold weather and ushers its way into a realm of sheer artistic expression!

And NOW you can get your unique Shades of Gray scarves on Etsy!  Follow this link for Shades of Gray to get yourself a special scarf!   And with the Holiday Season almost upon us, they also make awesome presents for your all of your loved ones!

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Ladies Who Lunch: Fall 2013 Russian Fashion Industry Presentation!

Fall is finally really here!  That crisp chill is in the air and my mind is turning to cold weather fashion and cold weather foods!  I just made my first pot of borscht this week and am ready for more of Fall festivities!

Of course, cold weather and Russian food bring me to Russian fashion as well!  At the kick-off of New York Fashion Week’s Fall 2013 Presentations, DEPESHA the Russian Lifestyle Magazine and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation teamed up to promote the Russian Fashion Industry.

The presentation, held during a cocktail reception at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, showcased six of Russia’s leading fashion designers amdist the opulence of the Upper East Side Consulate.

Stephan Rabimov, the Editor-in-Chief of DEPESHA Magazine, spoke to us about the event and why this is the moment for Russian designers to take the stage in the world market!

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Ladies Who Lunch: Malan Breton Spring 2014 Sneak Peek!

While I am finishing up the last of Fall 2013, just thought I would give you a little sumpin-sumpin as a preview to Spring 2014! 

Malan Breton is quickly becoming one of my favorite designers for men!  Not to discount his absolutely gorgeous women’s wear, but I have an obvious stake in the men’s collection!  As the Los Angeles Times just stated, "Sharply tailored, slim men's suiting is Breton's forte and a testament to his training at heritage British menswear brand Turnbull & Asser.”

With two showings in New York and a show just this week at Style Fashion Week LA, Malan Breton’s impeccable collection is getting attention from coast to coast!  I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of his style popping up on the Hollywood Red Carpet!

We were lucky enough to go to the Malan Breton Spring 2014 Presentation at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and interviewed Malan himself.  So while this is just a teaser, look forward to the full video of this awesome collection soon!

Photos by Katy Winn

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Ladies Who Lunch: Fab South African Design Pop-Up Shop!

This last Wednesday, October 9th, I went to the South African Consulate in New York for the unveiling of an incredible collection of South African Design.  The collection features all aspects of the South African Design world, including hats, jewelry, bags, textiles, furniture, kitchenware, home décor and other unique designs!

Fab, one of the fastest growing e-commerce sites will be launching a South African Design Pop-Up Shop to bring all of these designs to you. All of the items will be available to purchase beginning October 21, 2013 through January 1, 2014 when Cape Town will begin its year long designation as the World’s Design Capital.

While on a trip to South Africa to make a commercial, Bradford Shellhammer, founder of Fab, discovered the diverse and delightful designs that were being produced in the country.  Shellhammer decided to showcase some of these emerging designers on Fab and went to work curating the best of the best for your perusal!

Fab has partnered with several designers whose work supports the efforts of local causes, using a percentage of their sales to give back to the community.  Some examples would include Africa!Ignite, an organization that supports arts and craft employment opportunities for marginalized youth and women and Wola Nani, the organization that assists HIV-positive craftswomen in using their skills to successfully generate income.

With the Holiday Season quickly approaching, these affordable and unique designs will be available 21 October!  The items curated for sale on Fab make perfect gifts for all those special people on your gift giving lists.  I am positive that you will also find a little something-something for yourself that will make your day as well as contribute to a greater cause.  Which is after all the whole spirit of the season!

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Ladies Who Lunch: Sergio Davila Fall 2013!

Showing for the 5th time at New York Fashion Week, designer Sergio Davila presented a sleek and modern Fall 2013 Collection for men and women.

Yet as modern as his collections are, Sergio Davila still manages to weave his Peruvian heritage into the collection as well.  Whether it’s the Baroque Architecture of Lima that inspires him or fabrics like alpaca, Davila merges them with a New York sensibility.

Sergio Davila has three retail stores in Peru and plans to open one in New York in the near future.  As the only internationally known Peruvian designer, Sergio Davila has a passion for raising the profile of his native Lima, Peru as a fashion destination and also as an influence on fashion trends on the world stage.

Video Photography Mariana Leung

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