Ladies Who Lunch: MADISONPARK COLLECTIVE Fall 2012!

Admittedly I am a fashion snob, which means that it isn’t very often that a collection grabs my attention.  Wearable menswear tends to be fairly safe and conservative, evoking the adage “a rose is a rose”.

However, for Fall 2012, I discovered MADSIONPARK COLLECTIVE, a line of pants that has captured my attention and has stuck in my mind.  In particular, I have been lusting after a pair of the Fireman pants and look forward to purchasing them.

Beginning his career in the original cast of the Broadway Show “Blast”, MADISONPARK COLLECTIVE’S designer Trey Alligood fell into the fashion industry after a back injury sent him to Los Angeles for physical therapy.  Having fallen in love with fashion, Trey opened a wholesale showroom with his partner Michelle Peschel where they represent several different designers.

It was a natural progression for them to launch their own collection as well and MADSIONPARK COLLECTIVE was born.  Besides being an extremely cool line of pants designs, MADSIONPARK COLLECTIVE is made in the USA, made of reclaimed and recycled cottons and utilizes eco-friendly wash process’s.  And if all that isn’t enough reason to fall in love with this line, MADSIONPARK COLLECTIVE has made partnerships with charities in order to give back and “make the world a better place”

I for one am sold!  You can find MADSIONPARK COLLECTIVE at Ron Herman, Atrium NYC, Bloomingdales, Saks, Nordstrom, and several other stores across the U.S.

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Ladies Who Lunch: Stop Staring! Fall 2012!

I have been a fan of the LA based Stop Staring! line for years and every season the collection just gets better and better.  We sat down with founder and designer of Stop Staring! Alicia Estrada to talk about the gorgeous collection she presented for Fall 2012!

Long a favorite of ingenues and starlets for their sexy figure flattering dresses, Los Angeles based Stop Staring! showed a collection for Fall 2012 that built on their signature look and added more separates and jackets to create a full lifestyle collection!

Taking her inspiration from Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema, Alicia Estrada created a collection that captured the glamour  of the ladies of those films, evoking the memories of stars like Dolores del Rio and Lupe Velez.  Fabrics for the collection included laces, plaids, houndstooths and tweeds for a mix we have not seen before in the Stop Staring! line.

The Stop Staring! Fall 2012 Collection proves that the line not only has staying power, but that designer Alicia Estrada keeps growing and evolving as a designer.  Which of course means that we will continue to keep an eye on what she will come up with next!

Video Photography by Omri Escalante

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Ladies Who Lunch: Lila Horn Fall 2012!

Former Yale roommates Lillian Barry and Helen Milson merged their love of travel with their love of fashion, creating the Lila Horn Collection.  They were especially influenced by their travels in India and the rich colors and intricate prints found in the textiles there.

Spurred on by a lack of garments in the market that met their New York lifestyle needs, the two women set out to marry their modern western aesthetic with the rich textile history and techniques of India.  Focusing on the Indian technique of custom hand block printed fabric, the Lila Horn designers  work each season with a master Indian artisan and create the original prints used in their collections.

For Lila Horn Fall 2012, the designers concentrated on sleek modern silhouettes with playful accents like contrast peter pan collars, pockets and sleeves.  A very colorful collection, the line ranged from raspberry, orchid purple and neon blue to basic black and white with abstract prints inspired by Indian temples. Primarily utilizing Indian silks, the duo also introduced some jersey into the collection for a collection that is both fun and wearable.

Designer Lillian Barry of Lila Horn

While the two woman team will continue to draw inspiration from India and its textiles, they are also interested in expanding to collaborate with local artisans from other parts of the world.  Lila Horn is a company that definitely accomplishes its goal of bridging the East to the West!

Video Photography by Nicholas Waickman

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Ladies Who Lunch: NEGARIN Fall 2012!

Born in Iran, educated in New York and working in Europe, NEGARIN’s Creative Director and founder is a trained sculptor and painter and she uses clothing as her artistic medium.

Negarin Sadr channels her artistic vision into an adaptable, visually striking yet affordable collection of investment dressing.  Creating the line with luxe fabrics and a sophisticated color palette, NEGARIN is the answer to the busy modern woman’s needs.

We spoke to the designer at her NEGARIN Fall 2012 presentation to learn more about this fascinating line.

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Ladies Who Lunch: Rebecca Moses: Curiosities of the Fashionable Kind!

In the middle of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, we took a break from the runway shows and headed out for something a little different.  Renowned designer Rebecca Moses was having an opening night reception for an exhibition of her illustrations, entitled Curiosities of the Fashionable Kind.  I am a big fan of Rebecca Moses’ work as a designer and I also love her illustrations, keeping her last book of illustrations on my night stand at home.

Rebecca Moses succeeded Gianni Versace as the designer and creative director of the Italian fashion house Genny, proving herself as a brilliant designer and later launching her  own luxury lifestyle brand as well.  Her design career had her based mostly in Italy, but now luckily for us, she divides her time between Italy and New York.

Rebecca Moses’ talents don’t lie only in design. She has also made her mark with her illustrations, creating a whimsical world of enchanted creatures with their own unique sense of fashion.  The exhibit is a true delight and demonstrates that Ms. Moses is an artist in all aspects of her work.

The exhibit opening was attended by New York notables and design industry friends and admirers in what turned out to be an evening of socializing amidst the captivating work of Rebecca Moses!

You can visit the unique and enchanting exhibit Curiosities of the Fashionable Kind at the Traffic Art Space on 136 East 74th Street in New York.  The exhibit opened on September 11 and runs through October 27th.

Video Photography by Cassandra Past

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Ladies Who Lunch: Sachika Fall 2012!

The twin sister team of To-Tam and To-Nya Sachika exploded onto the scene in 2010 and have been creating sensational collections ever since.  Their sexy body conscious line has become a favorite in the entertainment industry with prominent stars and public figures sporting them in day to day life and on the red carpet.

Crafting the collections from their rich imaginations, Fall 2012 was based on the imaginary character of Ivanka, a Russian secret agent full of mystery and seduction.  The Sachika twins started their runway show with a film about Ivanka which set the tone for a sexy sophisticated collection was also just plain fun!

Sachika proved once again that they are a design team that knows how to deliver on style!

Video Photography Cassandra Past

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Ladies Who Lunch: EMERSON Fall 2012!

Designer Jackie Fraser-Swan’s Emerson Collection is all about strong women from all walks of life and giving those women the options they need to make it through the day while also making a style statement.

Showing at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for the second time, the Emerson Fall 2012 Collection mixed feminine and masculine elements to create a collection that is edgy, sexy and above all very wearable.

We went backstage after the show and spoke with the designer to find out more about her beautiful Emerson Fall 2012 collection.

Video Photography by Anna Marie Nguyen

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