Blanc Noir & Couture: Issue No.9
We end 2014 with the Bay Area’s only classically trained Paris couture designer, Colleen Quen as she continues to produce timeless pieces. In this issue, we highlight several designers that construct their unique masterpieces by hand from start to finish, high quality, and often distinctive fabric, sewn with extreme attention to detail from Sue Wong, Le Jolie, Dar Sara, Rachel Riot, Ronita Wheatfall & more! Read the five marketing strategies that every fashion tech company should use. Learn about the history of the world of couture design by Alexa Rae Palacios. Take a glimpse into the world of Dark Beauty with our interview with Topher Adam, artist extraordinaire and Editor-In-Chief of Dark Beauty Magazine. Become introduced to new ways to break into the world of becoming a Stylist San Francisco Fashion Award winning Stylist David Michael. Celebrate the life and glamorous design house of Oscar de la Renta. Runway images from the LA Fashion Week Spring 2015 Collections; Style Fashion Week, Project Ethos & Art Hearts Fashion.
We end 2014 with the Bay Area’s only classically trained Paris couture designer, Colleen Quen as she continues to produce timeless pieces. In this issue, we highlight several designers that construct their unique masterpieces by hand from start to finish, high quality, and often distinctive fabric, sewn with extreme attention to detail from Sue Wong, Le Jolie, Dar Sara, Rachel Riot, Ronita Wheatfall & more!
Read the five marketing strategies that every fashion tech company should use. Learn about the history of the world of couture design by Alexa Rae Palacios. Take a glimpse into the world of Dark Beauty with our interview with Topher Adam, artist extraordinaire and Editor-In-Chief of Dark Beauty Magazine. Become introduced to new ways to break into the world of becoming a Stylist San Francisco Fashion Award winning Stylist David Michael.
Celebrate the life and glamorous design house of Oscar de la Renta. Runway images from the LA Fashion Week Spring 2015 Collections; Style Fashion Week, Project Ethos & Art Hearts Fashion.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
FASHION XCHANGE<br />
ALL FASHON. ALL BUSINESS. NO GOSSSIP.<br />
WINTER 2014 · NO 9<br />
Timeless<br />
sculputred<br />
garments by<br />
Colleen Quen<br />
<strong>Couture</strong><br />
5Marketing<br />
Strategies<br />
Every Fashion<br />
Tech Company<br />
Should Use<br />
LAFW SS15<br />
Style Fashion Week<br />
Art Hearts Fashion<br />
Project Ethos<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong><br />
& <strong>Couture</strong><br />
<strong>Issue</strong><br />
Featured Designers<br />
Sue Wong<br />
Le Jolie<br />
Dar Sara<br />
Rachel Riot<br />
Ronita Wheatfall<br />
Mario De La Torre<br />
Erik Rosete<br />
Mister Triple X Himself<br />
Streetwear With Edge<br />
Topher Adam &<br />
the World of Dark Beauty<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 1
“All Fashion. All Business. No Gossip.”<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
Fashion / Managing Editor<br />
Photographers<br />
Head of Photography<br />
Advertising Director<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
Writers<br />
ROBERT SILVER<br />
IVANNA WOODS<br />
ROBERT SILVER<br />
DERRICK RODGERS<br />
MICHAEL MOORE<br />
DERRICK RODGERS (LA)<br />
MARGAUX VICKERS<br />
ROBERT SILVER<br />
IVANNA WOODS<br />
OLYA ROSTOV<br />
ALEXA RAE PALACIOS<br />
BRIA ANDERSON<br />
RICKIE LEE<br />
DAVID MICHAEL<br />
CAITY SHREVE<br />
RACHEL RIOT<br />
NATALIIA KARPENKO<br />
JESSICA WILLIAMS<br />
HANNAH BE<br />
Questions and feedback:<br />
1282 Mattox Rd., #42, Hayward, CA, 94541<br />
Phone: (510)363-8080<br />
Email: info@fashionxchangemag.com<br />
Online: www.fashionxchangemag.com<br />
For Advertising & Sales:<br />
Phone: (800) 690-9931<br />
Fax (800) 383- 2709<br />
Email: ads@fashionxchangemag.com<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine is a fashion industry trade magazine. As a resource for emerging & established<br />
professionals we advocate the brands, events & professionals that embodies the success of the fashion industry.<br />
Beyond mere product placement, with a goal of delivering informative content, we’re focused on giving in-depth<br />
reporting & analysis of the ever changing fashion industry trends. We enlighten our readers with the necessary<br />
tips & advice on how to create and maintain a sustainable career in the industry. Whether you’re a model, fashion<br />
designer, photographer, student or a fan of fashion, Fashion Xchange Magazine allows our readers to gain knowledge<br />
often only revealed behind closed doors.<br />
“All Fashion. All Business. No Gossip.”<br />
<br />
2 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
14<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong><br />
with GG Styling<br />
ft. styling by Rachel Garay<br />
ARTICLES<br />
08<br />
10<br />
12<br />
14<br />
24<br />
26<br />
32<br />
40<br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
The Spiritual and Artistic Inspiration<br />
of Colleen Quen<br />
SHOP657 Opens<br />
AAU School of Fashion opens a retail<br />
store in the Tenderloin<br />
Five Marketing Strategies<br />
that every fashion tech company<br />
should use<br />
Up Close & Personal<br />
with international designer<br />
Trixie Zarate<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> with GG Styling<br />
Ft. styling by Rachel Garay<br />
Slow Poison<br />
with model/actress Michelle Grey<br />
Viva <strong>Noir</strong> by Robert Silver<br />
Ft. model Shai’La Yvonne<br />
Le Belle Moi Designs<br />
Catering to the fit of the modern<br />
woman<br />
Topher Adam<br />
and the World of Dark Beauty<br />
Magazine<br />
FEATURES<br />
44<br />
56<br />
60<br />
The Spiritual and Artistic Inspiration<br />
of Colleen Quen<br />
Fairies & Sirens<br />
Sue Wong at Style Fashion Week<br />
Le Jolie<br />
A woman’s one stop shop<br />
44<br />
62<br />
64<br />
67<br />
74<br />
76<br />
78<br />
82<br />
86<br />
88<br />
EVENTS<br />
96<br />
98<br />
100<br />
102<br />
56<br />
Sue Wong<br />
Fairies & Sirens:<br />
Sue Wong at<br />
Style Fashion Week<br />
Erik Rosete<br />
Mister Triple X Himself: Streetwear with<br />
Edge<br />
Dar Sara<br />
The crowning glory of any wardrobe<br />
Mario De La Torre<br />
by Derick Rodgers<br />
Chronicle of <strong>Couture</strong><br />
A history of some of the world’s most<br />
divine artistry<br />
La Feuille de Route<br />
The roadmap of Oscar De La Renta<br />
Rap Sarmiento<br />
A stylist higlight<br />
Rules Of The Game: Beat The Odds<br />
by David Michael<br />
Fashionable <strong>Couture</strong> Art<br />
Oksana Tanasiv<br />
The Dark Elegance That Is Manic<br />
Designs<br />
2014 San Francisco Fashion Awards Year 7<br />
Style Fashion Week<br />
Art Hearts Fashion<br />
Project Ethos<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 3
LETTER<br />
FROM THE<br />
EDITOR<br />
Suit by<br />
ARTFUL GENTLEMAN<br />
Fashion Stylist<br />
LUCAS ALEXIO<br />
Makeup by<br />
BONICE HALVERSON<br />
ROBERT SILVER<br />
Editor<br />
4 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
HELLO READERS!<br />
After we’ve made our lists and checked it twice,<br />
worked extra hours to buy gifts and opened<br />
presents, this is the time of the year in which we<br />
tend to look back. This is a time of reflection; we<br />
think about our accomplishments, our mishaps,<br />
and what we’ve learned from it all in order to set goals for the<br />
future.<br />
I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by for us since<br />
the release of our first issue in January of 2014. I know it’s a<br />
bit cliche, but it’s true. As we prepared to close out the year<br />
with this issue, we learned that we’ve been nominated for<br />
Best Magazine for the 7th Annual San Francisco Fashion<br />
Awards 2014. What a gift! My first reaction was absolute<br />
shock as a huge sense of humility starting taking over. Only<br />
having published our first issue less than a year ago, to be<br />
even considered as Best Magazine by the SFFA was truly an<br />
honor. I am also humbled to say that I was also nominated<br />
for Best Photographer, and won, leaving me with a feeling<br />
of overwhelming gratitude and purpose. It goes to show<br />
with a great team, a solid mission and focused leadership,<br />
anything is possible.<br />
last issue of 2014 for free as a thank you to all our readers<br />
for their support. It is with pride that I say number 9 is our<br />
largest issue to date with over 100 pages of editorial content,<br />
great fashion images, articles and interviews.<br />
For anyone at the beginning of any journey, the advice I<br />
have for them is to look back only to find a lesson, look<br />
forward only to claim your future, but don’t forget the most<br />
important act of all is to be still in order to find peace. Don’t<br />
forget to remind yourself that success is never achieved<br />
alone and to honor those that assist you along the way so<br />
that they may share in the success as well.<br />
Thank you to all our supporters. To put it simply… I’m<br />
grateful.<br />
I have to say that the biggest factor that helped us make<br />
it through our first year was the undying support of our<br />
amazingly talented contributing writers. With them, part of<br />
our mission to deliver informative content about the fashion<br />
industry would have never happened. Secondly, to all<br />
the designers, industry professionals and event producers<br />
that have believed in our mission, collaborated with us and<br />
assisted us along the arduous road of fashion publishing.<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine has a lot of development in<br />
the making for us all to look forward to, as this is just the<br />
beginning. With 2015 knocking on our door, we offer the<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 5
Photographer: Jen Miyako McGowan,<br />
School of Photography, BFA<br />
Fringe Dress: Yuko Okudaira,<br />
School of Fashion – Design, BFA<br />
Shirt Dress: Gwen Shihyao Lai,<br />
School of Fashion – Design, MFA<br />
Shirt: Wei Bai,<br />
School of Fashion – Design, MFA<br />
School of Fashion Design / Journalism / Merchandising / Styling<br />
...and introducing our newest BFA & MFA Program<br />
Costume Design<br />
BFA Objective: Train the next generation of designers in a rigorous sewing program that features industry-specific design courses as<br />
well as opportunities to practice their craft in active production environments.<br />
MFA Objective: Provide students with advanced study in costume design and garment construction for film.<br />
Visit www.academyart.edu to learn more about<br />
total costs, median student loan debt, potential<br />
occupations and other information. Accredited<br />
member WASC, NASAD, CIDA, NAAB, CTC.<br />
Academy of Art University<br />
Founded in San Francisco 1929<br />
888.680.8691 // www.academyart.edu<br />
Yellow Ribbon Participant
articles<br />
Academy of Art University School<br />
of Fashion Opens SHOP657, a retailboutique<br />
in San Francisco’s historic<br />
Union Square<br />
Academy of Art University opened SHOP657, a<br />
permanent, not-for-profit retail space created and curated by<br />
Academy of Art University school of Fashion Merchandising<br />
students. SHOP657 will sell one-of-a-kind clothing, shoes,<br />
accessories and decorative lifestyle items designed by<br />
School of Fashion students and alumni.<br />
8 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
“With SHOP657 we are carrying on the momentum<br />
that the Academy of Art University School<br />
of Fashion experienced with our successful popup<br />
store, which made its debut at our spring<br />
show this past May,” said Keanan Duffty, Senior<br />
Director of Fashion Merchandising. “Creating and<br />
operating a dedicated fashion retail space is a<br />
unique opportunity and a logical progression for<br />
our Fashion Merchandising and Design students<br />
and alumni.”<br />
The 1,500-square-foot store is located at 657<br />
Sutter Street near the historic Union Square<br />
shopping district in downtown San Francisco.<br />
Academy of Art University merchandising students,<br />
who will also be operating the store, have<br />
transformed the space that formerly housed<br />
Marty’s Liquor & Gourmet. With items ranging<br />
from $50 to $800, the shop features products<br />
from alumni brands, including Mansoor Scott,<br />
San Francycle, VOIDTHEBRAND, Rinat Brodach,<br />
Freda Salvador, Mute by Joanne Lu, Apartment<br />
415, Golden Pony Workshop, Gazel, Konstantina<br />
Tzovolou and NINETWENTYFIVE.<br />
Additionally, the store provides hands-on<br />
merchandising experience for School of Fashion<br />
Merchandising students. As part of their<br />
semester coursework, BFA Merchandising Product<br />
Development students create a collection<br />
of gift items and accessories, from which BFA<br />
Merchandising Buying classes select products to<br />
be sold at the store. Merchandising Product Development<br />
and Merchandising Buying students<br />
then collaborate to set pricing and determine<br />
marketing strategies for these items. And beginning<br />
Spring 2015, merchandising students<br />
will have the opportunity to compete for-credit<br />
internships working at the retail space.<br />
Executive Director of the School of Fashion<br />
Simon Ungless believes that the retail space is a<br />
key opportunity for Academy of Art University<br />
students to apply their skills in the real world.<br />
“The School of Fashion is committed to providing<br />
industry experience for our students. For our<br />
Design students, that manifests in the opportunity<br />
to show in runway shows at New York Fashion<br />
Week, and for our Fashion Journalism and<br />
Styling students the opportunity to work on 180<br />
magazine lends them practical experience in<br />
the editorial world,” said Ungless. “Now, for our<br />
Fashion Merchandising students, the chance to<br />
work on SHOP657 gives them firsthand knowledge<br />
of working in a retail store environment.”<br />
SHOP657 is located at 657 Sutter Street in San<br />
Francisco, CA, and will be open Wednesday to<br />
Saturday from 4:00-7:00 pm. The store will close<br />
at the end of the fall semester on December 20th and will reopen for the<br />
spring semester in January 2015. All proceeds go to the Student Scholarship<br />
Fund.<br />
(from top to bottom) Tommy Pham of San Francycle, Mansoor Scott of Mansoor<br />
Scott Designs, Mona Li of Mute by Joanne Lu<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 9
MARKETING<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
5That Evey Fashion Tech Company Should Use<br />
by Nataliia Karpenko and Jessica Williams<br />
You’ve got this amazing product that you’ve been working on for a while. It’s awesome and will be sure to<br />
change lives, however, there is one problem. Not enough people know about it!<br />
Marketing is one of the most common problems that many businesses have. This is especially true for fashion tech<br />
companies. For most of them, it’s all a guessing game when it comes to successfully reaching their target market.<br />
When you haven’t reached your target market, it feels like you don’t exist.<br />
Trying random techniques here and there isn’t going to bring the exposure you need. The time has come to realize<br />
that you have to use the right methods if you want to draw the right kind of exposure. It’s not complicated, it just<br />
means picking the right outlets and using them well.<br />
1MAKE VIDEOS<br />
SOCIAL<br />
Producing videos is probably the most<br />
engaging marketing strategy for any fashion<br />
technology company and the options are<br />
pretty broad. You can shoot a basic video using<br />
your computer camera and upload it to<br />
video sites such as YouTube and/or Vimeo. If<br />
you want to step up the quality, try using an<br />
HD camera instead. Take things even further<br />
and produce an animated video using free<br />
programs like Moovly. Moovly allows you<br />
to create basic animation videos that will<br />
grab anyone’s attention. You can also upload<br />
your animation to YouTube for free. If you<br />
want more features, you have the choice of<br />
upgrading to paid accounts.<br />
2 MEDIA<br />
As a 21st century person in fashion, you<br />
absolutely must be using some form of social<br />
media for marketing. If you aren’t, then<br />
you are missing out big time! Social media<br />
platforms such as Instagram allow you to<br />
build a following almost instantly. You can<br />
even keep an eye on your colleagues and<br />
competitors.<br />
Trying random techniques here<br />
and there isn’t going to bring the<br />
exposure you need.<br />
10 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
3BLOGGING<br />
Blogging is a tried and true method for marketing that works! Creating a blog is simple<br />
and smart. Using WordPress, Tumblr, or Blogger are all great choices to select from. Use it<br />
to share industry tips as well as to connect with other fashion bloggers, business partners<br />
and potential customers.<br />
4 NETWORKING EVENTS<br />
It’s easy to get caught up behind the computer all day marketing, but at some point you<br />
need to interact with people face to face. That is why attending networking events is a<br />
savvy marketing practice that will win you much needed connections. Join your local<br />
MeetUp groups and attend conferences. A good rule of thumb is to pencil in at least two<br />
events on your calendar every month.<br />
5CROWDFUNDING<br />
Creating a crowdfunding project is a 4-in-1 marketing strategy and is one of the most effective ways of spreading the<br />
word. With crowdfunding, you are able to set up pre orders that allow you to find customers while also getting feedback<br />
before the project is ready. It helps to increase your exposure beyond just your circle of contacts and allows you to gain a<br />
global clientele. There is a possibility to be featured in large media publications as well. Common popular crowd funders<br />
include, Kickstarter and Indiegogo. You can provide incentives to those who donate a certain amount. Ideas include a<br />
free trial use of some sort.<br />
Getting into the fashion tech industry<br />
may be competitive, but with an<br />
amazing product and well-thought<br />
out marketing strategy, you will be<br />
well on your way to growing your clientele<br />
and increasing brand awareness<br />
Nataliia Karpenko, writer<br />
Jessica Williams, writer<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 11
UP CLOSE & AND<br />
With<br />
International<br />
Designer<br />
Trixie Zarate<br />
Coming from an international<br />
background,<br />
designer Trixie Zarate<br />
has a unique point of<br />
view on what it takes to<br />
grow your fashion business<br />
and brand. In this<br />
interview, she shares<br />
her perspective on the<br />
many opportunities<br />
that fashion designers<br />
have as well as the factors<br />
that will have to be<br />
in place to catapult the<br />
San Francisco fashion<br />
scene to a higher level.<br />
PERSONAL<br />
by Nataliia Karpenko & Jessica Williams<br />
Photos by Robert Silver<br />
12 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Jessica and Nataliia: You were the keynote speaker at the FIDM<br />
event. Share with us some of the key points of your speech.<br />
Trixie: I spoke and represented as an FIDM Alumni. I mainly<br />
talked about my experiences as a student, how I utilized the<br />
concepts I learned in school and how I apply it in my company<br />
ZARATE Enterprises, LLC. I spoke about how following<br />
your passion will take you to places. School is just a launching<br />
pad for your career. It is up to the student to utilize what<br />
they learned and how they apply what they know makes a<br />
difference. I told them in order to be successful in design; one<br />
must be ready and prepared. It doesn’t matter if you do not<br />
know how to sew prior to school, or it doesn’t matter if you<br />
have a talent for drawing or what not. Because when I came<br />
to school, I didn’t have the sewing skills or the drawing skills<br />
needed. As you go further in your career as a design student,<br />
you will learn everything as you go. For instance, I cried at my<br />
first day of my sewing class because the teacher scolded me<br />
for not cutting the fabric in the right direction. Today, I am an<br />
excellent pattern maker and a draper so those skills are built<br />
as you go further in your portfolio classes.<br />
Another important note is to do volunteer work and internships<br />
in order to validate your goals. It is extremely important<br />
to know if design is a good fit for you because design is not<br />
only about aesthetics, it is a matter of hard work itself.<br />
J&N: When did you begin as a designer and what motivated<br />
you<br />
Trixie: I have always been fascinated by arts, film, dance, and<br />
performing arts since I was in grade school. I was an activist<br />
trying different avenues in order to better improve myself as a<br />
student. I was never the straight A student in math or science,<br />
but I extremely excelled in arts and design. I danced my way<br />
into fashion. I joined numerous dance/ice skating competitions<br />
and I saw the beautiful lines of a dancer combined with<br />
the strength and beauty of an athlete. A routine takes about<br />
1 year to master for a competition and takes 1-2 minutes to<br />
show what you have prepared. The process is the most intriguing,<br />
most thought provoking experience I have ever felt.<br />
Everyone sees the tip of the iceberg. I see the beauty of the<br />
clothes. It enables a woman to evoke certain emotions that<br />
can be associated with an article of clothing.<br />
J&N: What ingredients do you think are missing in the San<br />
Francisco fashion ecosystem that would make it as successful<br />
as other places such as New York<br />
Trixie: SF fashion needs key players in the industry in order to<br />
covet and attract creative individuals, buyers, international<br />
models and designers etc. Maybe incorporating technology<br />
with design would make SF different from NY since we have<br />
so much talent in technology, design, arts etc.<br />
J&N: Being an international designer, do you think you have<br />
had it more difficult when establishing yourself in the US or<br />
was it an advantage<br />
Trixie: It was hard because I came to US last 2010 by myself<br />
with no friends, family or contacts. I felt like a baby with no<br />
knowledge about law, culture and everything else. After my<br />
business program was the time I vehemently learned about<br />
the US more. Being an international designer, you are able to<br />
appreciate different aesthetics, be more open in regards with<br />
R and D, demographics and conducting a different way to do<br />
business. The terrible “twos” (first 2 years) as a start-up designer<br />
is extremely challenging especially building a brand, with<br />
no connections from the ground up.<br />
J&N: What is your opinion about the future of fashion technology<br />
with wearable devices<br />
Trixie: I am extremely up for it. I would design and collaborate<br />
with engineers to create the next innovative textile or design<br />
that is both functional and wearable!<br />
J&N: What are your goals as a business woman in fashion<br />
Trixie: My primary goal next year is to enter the B2B market,<br />
go into wholesale and licensing deals. I will be joining shows<br />
and trade shows next year and hopefully be carried by small<br />
boutique department stores around the world. Another opportunity<br />
for Zarate is diversification as well as by expanding<br />
my brand awareness across Asia, Europe and America.<br />
J&N: What starting advice can you offer to emerging San Francisco<br />
designers<br />
Trixie: Follow your heart, network, keep your feet on the<br />
ground, and be true to yourself and your design aesthetic. SF<br />
is filled with talent and having a background in business will<br />
also help you see things differently from both a design and<br />
business perspective.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 13
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong><br />
by Robert Silver<br />
What is it<br />
to you<br />
Photography by Robert Silver<br />
Fashion Stylist: GG Styling<br />
Wardrobe: Glamherup Boutique<br />
and Le Belle Moi<br />
Models: Nicole Bonifacio, Marialuisa<br />
Marquez, Morgan Ashley,<br />
Hair & Makeup: Rachel Garay<br />
14 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
the dramatic colors that<br />
emphasize cynical<br />
attitudes, confidence,<br />
ambitions and desires.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 15
The hue of<br />
dreams and<br />
reality.<br />
16 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 17
18 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
naturally unapologic.
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 19
20 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Low-key visual<br />
motivation.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 21
Unrelenting.<br />
22 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
We represent<br />
the brands<br />
that embody<br />
advertise now<br />
success!<br />
gain exposure<br />
15% off<br />
Offer only for first-time buyers<br />
510-904-7899<br />
ads@fashionxchangemag.com<br />
www.fashionxchangemag.com<br />
FReeWeb & Digital<br />
with Print Ad orders<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine is a fashion industry trade magazine. As a resource for emerging & established professionals we advocate the brands, events<br />
& professionals that embody the success of the fashion industry. Beyond mere product placement, with a goal of delivering informative content, we’re<br />
focused on giving in-depth reporting & analysis of the ever changing fashion industry. We enlighten our readers with the necessary tips & advice on how<br />
to create and maintain a sustainable career in the industry. Whether you’re a model, fashion designer, photographer, student or a fan of fashion, Fashion<br />
Xchange Magazine allows our readers to gain knowledge often only revealed behind closed doors.<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine<br />
All Fashion. All Business. No Gossip.
Slow Poison<br />
24 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
PHOTOGRAPHER: RAJ KUMAR ~ RAJ K PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
WARDROBE STYLIST/HAIR: CAITY SHREVE ~ MOI CONTRE LA VIE<br />
MODEL/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: MICHELLE GREY<br />
~ AGENCY BOOM MODELS & TALENT<br />
MAKEUP ARTIST: HEYDI SUYEN<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 25
26 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
VIVA<br />
NOIR<br />
w/ Shai'La Yvonne<br />
by Robert Silver<br />
Photography: Robert Silver<br />
Model: Shai’La Yvonne<br />
Styling: Alysha Lyster<br />
Hair/MUA: Noel Williams<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 27
28 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 29
30 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 31
Le Belle Moi<br />
Designer Ronita Wheatfall of Le Belle Moi<br />
loves everything about fashion. “The<br />
colors, the shapes, the attitude, the walks,<br />
the make-up, the people, the rush!”<br />
by Bria Anderson | photos by Robert Silver<br />
he simply loves it all! Growing up, Ronita hated the way<br />
her mother dressed her and made her outfits match.<br />
During high school, she began to really concentrate<br />
on how different she always wanted to look, which she<br />
reasons as, “the need to be different.” Ronita Wheatfall is<br />
from Oakland California, by way of Berkeley. Ronita says, “Berkeley<br />
stands on it’s own. Eclectic, original, and smart; I love the<br />
individuality that this city promotes. It helped mold me into the<br />
woman I am.”<br />
Later in life, Ronita started Le Belle Moi. The meaning behind Le<br />
Belle Moi is, “The beautiful me.” Ronita creates clothing for real<br />
women. She shared, “If you see my show, I have models from size<br />
00 to 26. Short and tall; everyone is beautiful in their own skin.<br />
Just because you are 5’4” does not mean you cannot rock the runway.<br />
In fact my model Ijeoma (the runway diva) being a size 22,<br />
can out walk anyone! I also wanted clothes that fit me. My waist<br />
is a size 7 and bottom is a size 12; no one makes clothes like that!”<br />
Ronita describes herself as “a fashion junky!” She enjoys touching<br />
the fabrics, listening to textures, sketching the looks, discovering<br />
the shapes, sewing, and dressing the models. She loves to mix<br />
and match prints and colors that are not normally matched.<br />
Jewelry provided by CanDid<br />
Art Accessoires by Candice Cox;<br />
Location, The Studio Too;<br />
Makeup by Naudja Bynum for<br />
Naomi Azure Project;<br />
Hair by Rachel Garay<br />
Lalena Hughes<br />
Le Belle Moi cropped<br />
hooded vest $65<br />
FauxLeather trimmed shorts $45<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
32 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Kenisha Bogans<br />
Le Belle Moi bronze and<br />
black leather crop jacket<br />
$185 with a black and<br />
bronze leather trimmed<br />
chiffon mulit short $95<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 33
Nicole Bonifacio<br />
Le Belle Moi chained backless vest<br />
matched $45 with. Two toned drawstring<br />
pant $65<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
When talking about inspiration for<br />
her designs, Ronita says, “It’s weird;<br />
the fabric talks to me. I sit in my<br />
sewing room and look at my fabrics,<br />
start to sketch, and designs just<br />
pop up. I also get inspired by the<br />
people I dress. I make clothes that<br />
fit ones personality and body type.”<br />
Ronita created a black and white ¾<br />
length coat with a body of white,<br />
high neck, black and white pattern<br />
on the sleeves with a different black<br />
and white pattern belt. This piece<br />
was her greatest accomplishment as<br />
far as design, however; she is starting<br />
to be recognized for her jumpers.<br />
Ronita shared that she would<br />
love to have her merchandise sold<br />
on rodeo drive in LA and Atlanta.<br />
In the future we should look out for<br />
Le Belle Moi as they are preparing<br />
to hold an official launch party featuring<br />
the J. Cain collection inspired<br />
by the actress, Jonez Cain, the full<br />
spring line, a peek into the children’s<br />
line, and more. Ronita shared that<br />
this event will be filled with fashion<br />
surprises! As we wait for this event<br />
to take place, Ronita Wheatfall encourages<br />
us to, “always follow your<br />
gut, stick to your voice, and work<br />
hard.”<br />
34 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
La Shay Marie<br />
Le Belle Moi army fatigue and gold<br />
suede jacket $255. Bronze and black<br />
leather short romper $ 195.<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 35
Harveen Veenu Gil<br />
Le Belle Moi high waisted hand<br />
dyed print pant $95<br />
Where to buy<br />
36 | Fashion www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 37
38 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Lindsey Peck<br />
Le Belle Moi butterfly print<br />
lenninwide leg jumper.<br />
$145<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com
Jalesa Anderson<br />
Le Belle Moi faux fur trimmed<br />
jean hooded vest $75 and leather<br />
trimmed linen elephant pant $125<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.Lebellemoi.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 39
HELL COLLECTION<br />
Photography, Editing and Wardrobe by Topher Adam<br />
Models: Amy Lefevre, Anthony Vacanti, Besjana Dakake, Jenn Autry<br />
Makeup by Got Hair Deana, Makeup: Ferelene, Gabriella Rose Lamboy<br />
40 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Topher Adam<br />
and The World Of Dark Beauty<br />
By Rachel Riot<br />
It’s no secret that the fashion industry is an extremely competitive and cut throat<br />
business.<br />
Images of<br />
enraged<br />
designers and<br />
supermodels<br />
throwing<br />
lattes and cell<br />
phones at each<br />
other quickly come<br />
to mind, and in<br />
our modern world<br />
of “fast fashion”,<br />
carefully tailored<br />
pieces that convey<br />
a unique aesthetic<br />
are often forgotten<br />
and underappreciated.<br />
Thankfully,<br />
there is a community<br />
of people that fight against that mentality, and at the<br />
front line of the battle, you’ll meet incredible artists like Topher<br />
Adam. He is the “creative weirdo” (his words, not mine!)<br />
behind the legendary and powerful Dark Beauty Magazine,<br />
and a ruler in the world of underground art and design.<br />
Topher created Dark Beauty Magazine in response to being<br />
criticized by the judges of Project Runway during his audition<br />
in 2010, and the overall misunderstanding of edgier art and<br />
fashion that depicts a different perspective. After struggling<br />
with the many limitations of the mainstream fashion industry,<br />
he shifted his energy toward creating a platform where<br />
unconventional artists and designers could showcase their<br />
work to viewers that would embrace and support it. He<br />
compiled and released the first issue of Dark Beauty Magazine<br />
in August of 2010, and it immediately sold 200 copies.<br />
Since then, Dark Beauty has flourished and gathered a huge<br />
following. Topher describes the magazine as “the ultimate<br />
look book” and a doorway into his creative soul that shows<br />
the public how he perceives the world. To him, Dark Beauty<br />
is the moment that triggers the ‘Ah-ha!’ when an artist or designer<br />
realizes that what they think, feel, and consider to be<br />
fashion, becomes<br />
a reality through<br />
their creations, and<br />
ultimately shows<br />
who they are and<br />
what they stand for<br />
so that the world<br />
will understand<br />
their work.<br />
As an independent<br />
artist and entrepreneur,<br />
Topher knows<br />
the struggles of<br />
releasing your<br />
work to the world,<br />
but his philosophy<br />
to reaching success<br />
all boils down to believing in yourself, having confidence in<br />
your work, and telling your unique story through your artistry.<br />
We discussed the misconception that some artists have<br />
about pursuing their career and starting their own business,<br />
like thinking it will be easy, and that everything will be handed<br />
to them on a silver platter. As Topher explained why that<br />
is absolutely not how things work, he quoted an inspirational<br />
piece of advice he received years ago:<br />
“Someone once said to me, Topher, you can either become<br />
successful tomorrow, and it may last for a few months, or a<br />
year, or a few years, or you can slowly grow in to your success<br />
and blossom, and exist for a lifetime.”<br />
Those guiding words opened his eyes to see how important<br />
it is for an artist to never sell themselves short, and that the<br />
focus of your work should be driven by passion, rather than<br />
money. Topher is very adamant in expressing that Dark Beauty<br />
supports the passion in fashion, not the commercialism.<br />
He emphasized that knowing your value is crucial to your<br />
success, but that value is not always measured in money. An<br />
artist needs to know the difference between working for free<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 41
“Someone once said to me,<br />
Topher, you can either become<br />
successful tomorrow, and it<br />
may last for a few months, or a<br />
year, or a few years, or you can<br />
slowly grow in to your success<br />
and blossom, and exist for a<br />
lifetime.”<br />
42 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
and being taken advantage of, opposed to collaborating with<br />
other artists to create a support system and grow into success<br />
together.<br />
Being the rebel that he is, Topher also finds it essential to never<br />
let others control your designs or make you feel that you need<br />
to fit into a “mold”. He believes that your art should always<br />
stem from who you are, your past experiences, and what you<br />
stand for. He reiterated the importance of an artist understanding<br />
their potential and staying true to themselves to establish<br />
a unique style and discover an appreciative and supportive audience.<br />
He explained that as long as an artist stays focused on<br />
those key elements, it will show in their work no matter what<br />
type of art they are creating. Topher does everything under the<br />
“art sun”- he’s a photographer and film maker, he paints, draws,<br />
designs clothing and accessories, composes music- the list<br />
goes on and will go on forever! However, he creates everything<br />
with a specific aesthetic and a focus on telling a story through<br />
his work, and that is what has shaped his own unique and<br />
recognizable style.<br />
“There’s nothing wrong with saying I am and believing in your<br />
success. If you live in a world where you believe what you want<br />
to do is possible, it will happen…if you cannot believe in yourself,<br />
you cannot be an artist.”<br />
Topher Adam is the epitome of inspiration, and a blessing to<br />
the world of underground art. His success story and artwork<br />
nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit, and encourages perseverance<br />
in the face of cliché trends and doubtful critics. His world<br />
of Dark Beauty has become a sanctuary for misunderstood<br />
artists and designers, and has opened a path for them to find a<br />
light in their struggle, and use it to empower their work so that<br />
their message will finally be heard.<br />
To see more of Topher’s beautiful work and Dark Beauty Magazine,<br />
visit:<br />
www.topheradam.com<br />
www.facebook.com/TopherAdamArt<br />
www.darkbeautymag.com<br />
www.facebook.com/darkbeautymag<br />
He added that it is also imperative for an artist to understand<br />
where they’re coming from, so that their audience will understand<br />
as well. “If you can’t identify with the artist that you are,<br />
how can you call yourself an artist” he asked. He continued to<br />
explain that the key to success lies within knowing your value<br />
and having confidence in yourself.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 43
Features<br />
the<br />
spiritual<br />
and artistic<br />
Inspirationof<br />
Colleen Quen<br />
by Ivanna Woods | Photos by Robert Silver<br />
Inspired by the brilliance of<br />
nature’s motifs, influenced by the<br />
vivid colors in Matisse's oil<br />
paintings and intricacy of Chinese<br />
calligraphy, San Francisco<br />
Couturiere Colleen Quen continues<br />
to create contemporary fashion,<br />
thirty years in the making.<br />
Creative Director: Ivanna Woods<br />
Models: Victoria Jasper, Rumiko McCarthy, Adeline<br />
Chichi, Khloe Andrea Elkins<br />
Makeup by Tamiko Carrillo & Gracie Ziegler<br />
Hair by Tony Elizondo<br />
Quen is proud to be a fourth generation Chinese<br />
American, a pride that is emulated in her artistry. Born<br />
in Alameda, California, this Bay Area native is a naturally<br />
talented artist that took her gift to the next level<br />
through exemplary education. She graduated from the<br />
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 1986<br />
with an Associates of Arts in Fashion Design and upon<br />
completion, she fashioned an impassioned career on a<br />
ten year foundation for Wilkes Sport for Wilkes Bashford,<br />
Eileen West, Gap, Jane Tise / Karen Alexander and<br />
Joan Walters.<br />
Upon realizing how transformative obtaining the<br />
highest level of education would be for her career,<br />
Quen then applied to study at Simmone Sethna School<br />
of French <strong>Couture</strong> and graduated with a certificate in<br />
French <strong>Couture</strong> in 1996. She went on to solidify her<br />
business savvy by opening her own couture design<br />
company, Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong>, Inc. in 2000.<br />
Colleen Quen has known she wanted to be a designer<br />
for virtually the entirety of her life. “I realized I wanted<br />
to be a designer when my mom took me to my<br />
favorite fabric store to choose the dress I wanted her to<br />
create for a party when I was five years old. My mom’s<br />
fabric cabinet was like a treasure box of crayons for<br />
me. From 5 to 52 years old presently - over 47 years of<br />
inspiration” she shares. When asked about the style her<br />
line exemplifies, ‘strength, elegance and inner natural<br />
beauty’ are the descriptive terms Quen chose. Colleen<br />
Quen <strong>Couture</strong>, Inc. falls under ‘fashion as wearable art’<br />
she says. She creates evening wear, cocktail, bridal,<br />
travel, and artwear disciplines through commissions<br />
only. ‘I am an artist creating work through instillations,<br />
equaling harmony in design.’<br />
Quen’s sculptured garments showcase all that she is<br />
inspired by (nature, color, calligraphy, French culture),<br />
married with luminous volumes of textiles that<br />
fulfills her artistic expression. “I am an Asian American<br />
designer - which gives inspiration through my ancient<br />
Chinese culture and also with my San Francisco<br />
/ Northwest American values as well as the essence<br />
of design and refinement that is French culture. I feel<br />
I am a melting pot of diverse perspectives - from this<br />
mastery of wisdom I can create infinite style that is well<br />
received internationally.”<br />
Her aforementioned design inspirations do not cease<br />
there. Quen goes on to say that she is ‘particularly<br />
inspired by nature and how it can be formed on the<br />
human body - how my design can transform the inner<br />
spirit when a human wears my work. External + internal<br />
design. Form + formless. Fluid + Femme + Architectural<br />
+ Masculine. ’ This is how the ethereally dynamic<br />
design powerhouse continues to design year after<br />
year. She applies an artistic practice of layering colorful<br />
44 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
White Empress Coat - Silk Gazar<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 45
movement of fabrics and textures,<br />
creating a strong visual expression<br />
of beauty and art combined which<br />
keeps private clients and museums<br />
desiring her work. Colleen<br />
Quen defines her own interpretation<br />
of fashion - and it’s brilliant.<br />
Fashion created by Colleen Quen<br />
is nothing less than magic. “My<br />
fashion represents my soul, my<br />
language, my poetry, my style and<br />
my passion. My goals are to keep<br />
speaking through my art globally,<br />
whether its through fashion<br />
design or painting. My next goal<br />
is to incorporate clay, sculpture<br />
and ceramics into my medium for<br />
creation” the couturiere extraordinaire<br />
declares. When asked what<br />
she’s currently working on, we<br />
learn she is further embodying<br />
her painting into her artistry. “I<br />
am working on an exhibition and<br />
installation of work embodying<br />
my painting and emergence of<br />
fashion as sculpture. I hope to<br />
exhibit this next year on 2015. I am<br />
deciding on locations but most<br />
likely I will exhibit outside of San<br />
Francisco. I want my art to reach<br />
a global scale” Quen states. “The<br />
poetic feeling to my designs is<br />
connecting with nature and humanity.<br />
My creations reflect lightness<br />
and illumination through my<br />
fabrics and colors, as well as the<br />
balance of structure and defined<br />
organic shapes.” Quen always plays<br />
with the mixture of masculine and<br />
feminine design lines in her work<br />
and places a lot of focus on the<br />
movement her creations make. For<br />
her, it’s all about the intellectual<br />
cut of the design which makes it<br />
unique and representative of what<br />
her aesthetic is all about.<br />
With over thirty years of experience<br />
in the fashion and artistic<br />
industry, Colleen Quen’s opinion<br />
of the fashion industry at large is<br />
highly respected. We at Fashion<br />
Xchange Magazine simply had to<br />
46 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Colleen Queen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
White Dandelion Dress - Silk Gazar<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Manhattan Dress - denim stretch<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 47
ask what her perspective of the<br />
state of the fashion industry today.<br />
Quen genuinely feels that there<br />
is ‘too much abundance’ and not<br />
enough awareness of wastefulness<br />
in the industry. “Awareness of our<br />
planet - preserving and bringing<br />
quality and meaning to fashion in<br />
a purposeful way to benefit our<br />
Earth, our community and our future<br />
is what is important.” Her advice<br />
for emerging designers spins<br />
off of her belief in sustainability.<br />
She advises that emerging designers<br />
‘create purposeful designs to<br />
help be a positive aspect to our<br />
earth and to our lifestyle.’ There<br />
is much beauty, purpose and inspiration<br />
behind art of all forms, and<br />
Colleen Quen is an inspiration and<br />
is inspired by the world.<br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Chicago Dress - denim stretch<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
48 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
To learn more about Colleen Quen<br />
the designer and her designs, you<br />
may find her at:<br />
www.ColleenQuen<strong>Couture</strong>.com<br />
www.ColleenQuenArt.com<br />
Facebook: Collen Quen<br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Instagram: Colleen Quen<br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Madame Butterfly - Silk Chiffon<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> Where <strong>Noir</strong> & to <strong>Couture</strong> buy | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 49<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Nude blouse & Culotte pants<br />
- silk nude organza (blouse) &<br />
grey wool<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
Aliquam varius adipiscing tempor.<br />
Vivamus id ipsum sit amet<br />
massa consectetur porta. Class<br />
aptent taciti sociosqu ad;<br />
50 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
White Water Gown - Silk Chiffon<br />
Where to buy<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
& <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 51
52 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Black Owl - Black linen<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Maxi Coat - grey wool<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 53
54 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Colleen Quen <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Black Matrix - Silk French Moire<br />
Where to buy<br />
www.colleenquencouture.com
We represent<br />
the brands<br />
that embody<br />
advertise now<br />
success!<br />
gain exposure<br />
15% off<br />
Offer only for first-time buyers<br />
510-904-7899<br />
ads@fashionxchangemag.com<br />
www.fashionxchangemag.com<br />
FReeWeb & Digital<br />
with Print Ad orders<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine is a fashion industry trade magazine. As a resource for emerging & established professionals we advocate the brands, events<br />
& professionals that embodies the success of the fashion industry. Beyond mere product placement, with a goal of delivering informative content, we’re<br />
focused on giving in-depth reporting & analysis of the ever changing fashion industry trends. We enlighten our readers with the necessary tips & advice<br />
on how to create and maintain a sustainable career in the industry. Whether you’re a model, fashion designer, photographer, student or a fan of fashion,<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine allows our readers to gain knowledge often only revealed behind closed doors.<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine<br />
All Fashion. All Business. No Gossip.
F irieS<br />
&<br />
Sirens<br />
Sue Wong at Style<br />
Fashion Week<br />
BY CAITY SHREVE // PHOTOGRAPHY: DEREK RODGERS<br />
56 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
I STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST SUE<br />
WONG DRESS THAT I EVER SAW<br />
AS A TEENAGER – IT WAS DAN-<br />
GLING FROM A VELVET HANGER IN<br />
A NORDSTROM DRESSING ROOM. A<br />
STRAPLESS COCKTAIL FROCK THE<br />
LIKES OF WHICH I’D NEVER SEEN<br />
BEFORE.<br />
Embellished with sequins and a white feathered hemline,<br />
I couldn’t help but reach out to touch the beautiful fabric<br />
that hung before me. Years later Sue Wong’s feminine,<br />
dramatic designs still have the power to stop me in my tracks.<br />
The LA-based designer has been a fixture on the fashion scene<br />
since the launch of her eponymous label in 1984. From Prom<br />
to Hollywood red carpet step-and-repeats, her glamorous<br />
frocks are favored by women of all ages and are available on<br />
websites and in stores all around the world.<br />
Staying close to home, Sue Wong recently conquered Los<br />
Angeles fashion week – Opening the Style Fashion Week with<br />
a Fairies & Sirens-themed collection of dazzling and striking<br />
dresses. After her resounding triumph, Fashion Xchange was<br />
able to get some precious time with the jet-setting designer to<br />
chat about her sartorial inspiration and endless love of fashion.<br />
FX: Seeing your designs at the Style Fashion Week event<br />
was such a highlight – What made you decide to join that<br />
particular event during LA Fashion Week<br />
SW: I have been hosting my own fashion shows for years. I<br />
constantly reinvent myself and the chosen platform on which<br />
I unveil my Collections. I wanted to open up Los Angeles Style<br />
Fashion Week with something spectacular and operatic. My<br />
designs are transformative and healing. They connect every<br />
woman who wears a SUE WONG with the Feminine Divine.<br />
When a woman wears a SUE WONG gown, she experiences the<br />
living mantra that I embed in all my gowns: BEAUTY ~ MAGIC<br />
~ TRANSFORMATION.<br />
Unveiling my Collection and opening SFW afforded me the<br />
opportunity to present this message to a larger and more<br />
diversified demographic. I am all about seductive, poetic,<br />
lush, romantic textures and contours – all of which contribute<br />
towards the anthem of elevating a woman’s body and mind<br />
to levels she never knew possible. I wanted to bring Beauty,<br />
Magic and Transformation to SFW.<br />
FX: What was the highlight of SFW for you this season<br />
SW: It’s quite a daunting task opening up a formidable, much<br />
anticipated fashion event such as SFW. The expectation was<br />
challenging, but I gladly rose to the occasion. I welcome<br />
challenges, they very much present opportunities for me to<br />
live my quantum potential. My Spring 2015 Collection runway<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 57
show “FAIRIES & SIRENS” received (and almost a month later<br />
continues to receive) resounding accolades that are synonymous<br />
with my superior standards of excellence. To be invited to<br />
open up SFW was a great honor, but the immeasurable highlight<br />
was to deliver on the high expectations successfully.<br />
One works so very hard on such a much-anticipated event;<br />
then to see it physically unfold in real-time was a surreal experience…a<br />
powerful dream sequence within which my gorgeous<br />
models transformed into inter-dimensional archetypal Goddesses<br />
on the SUE WONG runway! The 900 capacity venue was<br />
oversold and it was extra special to have esteemed domestic<br />
and international dignitaries, a sea of press and media, celebrities<br />
as well as my close friends and collaborators witness the<br />
rock opera unfold. What moved me incredibly was that I could<br />
literally hear resounding gasps from the audience over the<br />
powerful music and sound levels as my Runway Goddesses<br />
presented each SUE WONG look.<br />
Experience my inter-dimensional, archetypal Goddesses majestically<br />
ruling the runway at www.vimeo.com/109288112.<br />
FX: The Sue Wong brand is all about glamour and making a<br />
statement – women put on your designs and feel like Cinderella.<br />
Do you have a particular woman in mind when you<br />
create a new collection<br />
SW: I have created a very unique, one of a kind SUE WONG<br />
look, inspired by the old Hollywood Golden era. I don’t merely<br />
design clothes; I create and design transformative gowns of<br />
empowerment for all types of women. My gowns allow women<br />
to get in touch with their feminine Divine/inner Goddess. I<br />
therefore never design for a particular woman in mind. To<br />
awaken the inner Feminine Divine Goddess that resides in each<br />
and every woman is to design for all women. Every woman’s<br />
transformation can be equated to that of Cinderella, which incidentally<br />
is a fairytale of transformation. Coincidentally, I’m very<br />
honored and excited to have collaborated with Disney Studios<br />
in creating my Cinderella Line which is a tie-in with the much<br />
anticipated, up-coming film being released in 2015. While<br />
I design to liberate the Goddess in all women, you certainly<br />
don’t need to give the kingdom away in purchasing one of my<br />
transformative gowns. I create couture gowns with impeccable<br />
workmanship available at Prêt-à-Porter prices, for all women. I<br />
consider myself to be the Every Woman’s couturier.<br />
For greater insight into my brand, please view my brand reel<br />
www.vimeo.com/100371207.<br />
FX: We love the story of your early introduction to fashion<br />
and sewing dresses for yourself for school dances while<br />
you were growing up in Los Angeles. Do you have a favorite<br />
fashion memory or a favorite piece that you made when<br />
you were younger that you still remember today<br />
name is anything but that very superior, high standard that I<br />
have fought for and maintained throughout my entire career. I<br />
never get stuck in the moment. I am highly appreciative of every<br />
moment of success, but to live in the moment and then let<br />
it go so you can forever evolve is crucial to your success walking<br />
that fine line between Art and Commerce. While I am unwavering<br />
on the artistic integrity of all my pieces, I am obligated<br />
to make the cash registers ring, otherwise there would be no<br />
Art/Vision. I am therefore always forward-thinking and never<br />
allow any moment, no matter how profoundly-affecting on my<br />
career freeze, because that would simply stifle my reinvention<br />
and continual growth as a successful designer. Ever since I can<br />
remember, I was making my own clothing--beads were in my<br />
destiny because I made my own prom dress, and I hand-beaded<br />
the bodice!!<br />
FX: Your story is one of persistence and determination –<br />
Creating a successful fashion franchise is clearly not for the<br />
faint of heart. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations<br />
for businesswomen and designers who look to you<br />
as an example and a mentor<br />
SW: Do not compromise on your vision. Do not allow others to<br />
derail, nor undermine your commitment and clarity and the<br />
clarity of your Vision and goal. Be true to your essence; to the<br />
essence of the overall design and to yourself…especially since<br />
the one reflects the other and we are what we eat; we become<br />
what we adorn our bodies with.<br />
Never take no for an answer. Never allow other people to limit<br />
your possibilities by accepting the projections of their very own<br />
limitations onto yourself. Never feel simply satisfied at any given<br />
moment in your journey. Remember that you are a work in<br />
progress. In wanting to help others, you first need to make sure<br />
you have helped your very own healing/awakening process;<br />
then you can share this life lesson through your art with others<br />
that chose to enter the dance of Life with you, through experiencing<br />
your creativity.<br />
I strongly believe the following 3 personal traits help one become<br />
a successful entrepreneur:<br />
· Having a vision!<br />
· Holding that vision!<br />
· Being true to that vision!<br />
Always redefine yourself (as I do creatively every single season)<br />
constantly…expand and grow as an artist. That’s what I was<br />
born to do and that’s my quest in my life…to be as self-realized<br />
as I possibly can both as an accomplished artist and as a human<br />
being: to grow spiritually and acquire wisdom along the way;<br />
and to fulfill my ultimate destiny by ever evolving into my<br />
Higher Self.<br />
SW: I am a maximalist and perfectionist. Each and every piece<br />
I design, I invest with my utmost integrity and fierce passion.<br />
Nothing that leaves my studio and that carries the SUE WONG<br />
58 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 59
Le Jolie<br />
It’s a wonderful thing when you discover<br />
a shop that has everything that you’re<br />
looking for in one place. That store you<br />
just can’t walk past without stopping to<br />
peruse the new merchandise or ooh and<br />
ahh over their striking window display.<br />
by Caity Shreve | Photos by Derrick Rodgers<br />
While co-sponsoring Los<br />
Angeles Fashion Week this<br />
past month, Le Jolie Boutique<br />
participated in Style Fashion<br />
Week by sending looks from<br />
their personal collection<br />
down the runway.<br />
Le Jolie Boutique is<br />
one of those rarified<br />
stores. Their<br />
perfectly curated<br />
collection of<br />
goods includes<br />
clothing and<br />
accessories for<br />
men, women, and<br />
children, as well as<br />
a fashionable home<br />
décor selection.<br />
Their mission to help<br />
you find just what you’re<br />
looking for means that they<br />
carry a wide variety of brands and<br />
designers. From high end designer goods to fabulous<br />
pieces from new up-and-coming designers that you<br />
need to know to killer vintage finds that will quickly<br />
become the highlight of your closet.<br />
In addition to offering all of this on a lovely,<br />
easy-to-navigate website with speedy delivery options<br />
so that you can have your prize in your hands in no<br />
time, they also offer something wholly unique. Flexible<br />
payments. Yes, you read that right. Le Jolie Boutique<br />
is now offering a unique approach to shopping that<br />
allows you to set up a monthly payment plan that suits<br />
your personal budget.<br />
What I love most about this concept is that it makes<br />
high-end fashion and designers whom a consumer<br />
might feel are out of their reach, readily available. It<br />
makes high fashion accessible and levels the playing<br />
field. If you’ve always wanted a certain monogrammed<br />
bag or have been in love with a vintage Chanel pearl<br />
necklace for as long as you can remember, Le Jolie<br />
Boutique is here to make that dream come true.<br />
In addition to making online clients blissfully happy<br />
with their online shopping experiences, Le Jolie Boutique<br />
has made the decision to branch out this season<br />
and indulge their love of fashion in a physical setting.<br />
While co-sponsoring Los Angeles Fashion Week this<br />
past month, La Jolie Boutique participated in Style<br />
Fashion Week by sending looks from their personal<br />
collection down the runway.<br />
And I can assure you that this wasn’t just some typical<br />
fashion show. No, this was a bold black and white extravaganza<br />
that left spectators entertained and ready<br />
for more. First out on the runway were graceful ballet<br />
dancers in Black Swan costumes, only to be followed<br />
by a fun, high-energy show featuring black and white<br />
looks for men and women. Down the runway danced<br />
everything from glamorous beaded cocktail dresses<br />
and sleek suits to accessories, separates, outerwear,<br />
casual weekend wear, and even children’s clothing.<br />
60 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
FX: Presenting Style Fashion Week is quite an honor – How did you get<br />
involved with SFW this season Does Le Jolie have a history with Los<br />
Angeles Fashion Week<br />
SW: We met with the owners and it evolved from there. It was our first experience<br />
with Los Angeles Fashion Week but we definitely plan on doing more<br />
runway shows in the future.<br />
FX: What was the highlight of SFW for Le Jolie Were there any particularly<br />
memorable moments this season that you’d like to share with our<br />
readers<br />
SW: The crowd’s reaction to our show and all the positive reviews and feedback<br />
we’ve received.<br />
FX: The Le Jolie boutique has a wide range of really lovely pieces, from<br />
cocktail attire to swimwear to gowns. How did you narrow down the<br />
selection for the SFW presentation<br />
SW: Le Jolie is a lifestyle brand, so the fashion show displayed outfits that<br />
can be worn daily and transition from day to night.<br />
We selected very wearable pieces that can be mixed and matched and that<br />
anyone can pull off!<br />
FX: The Le Jolie business model is unique and really fills a great need for<br />
fashion lovers. How was this great concept created Was there a personal<br />
experience that helped lead to the launch of the website<br />
SW: Yes there was, COO Adie Meiri actually came up with the idea of Flexible<br />
Payments while at a grocery store in Israel. They have a similar payment plan<br />
for food, so why can’t we do the same with clothing<br />
FX: Can you tell the readers of Fashion Xchange how Le Jolie curates its<br />
exclusive collection of pieces for the website How do you determine<br />
just what deserves to be included<br />
SW: Since many of our designer pieces are dated by a season or two, we<br />
closely follow what’s currently trending in the fashion world and only choose<br />
those items to sell on the website.<br />
FX: Is there anything exciting on the horizon for Le Jolie that we should<br />
keep an eye out for Any big plans for 2015 that Fashion Xchange can<br />
look forward to hearing more about in the future<br />
SW: More billboards across the country, fashion shows at the upcoming<br />
fashion weeks around the world, and even daytime television features! With<br />
Le Jolie, the sky's the limit.<br />
Clearly, Le Jolie Boutique is ready to take the fashion world by storm – So be<br />
sure to check out their website and keep an eye out for their next show!<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 61
Mister Triple X<br />
Erik Rosete<br />
Los Angeles native Erik Rosete is a natural when it comes to being a<br />
‘triple threat’ in the fashion industry. Approximately five years ago, he<br />
started managing models in NYC and then returned to Los Angeles to<br />
work in entertainment but ‘got sucked back into fashion.’<br />
by Ivanna Woods | Photos by Derrick Rodgers<br />
62 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Rosete’s world spreads across several different facets of the<br />
industry. From designing, management and producing,<br />
Mister Rosete is virtually a one stop shop when it comes<br />
to handling business in this whirlwind of an industry that<br />
is fashion. Founder of RMG Talent, Art Hearts Fashion and<br />
Mister Triple X, his responsibilities range vastly - from<br />
development to retention and strategic planning for all<br />
his clients on a global scale, to overseeing and managing<br />
Rosete Management, it’s easy to say this is a man with his<br />
calendar chocked full of business and events. How this<br />
successful array of specialties came together Let me allow<br />
him to explain. “I was friends with beautiful people whose<br />
careers were in need of change. I decided to manage their<br />
careers and shifted my work from LA to NYC. After a year of<br />
being in NYC, I decided to return to Los Angeles and focus<br />
on entertainment. I started working with a film director<br />
and a few actors, one day an old friend of mine approached<br />
me about attending his fashion show in Los Angeles and I<br />
attended. He had heard of my work in NYC and asked me to<br />
manage him. From there, fashion was once again my forte<br />
and we worked well together. Through my work with these<br />
amazing artists I launched an event to feature all of them<br />
under one roof. That is where “Art Hearts Fashion” was born.<br />
I was able to feature designers, models, musicians, artists,<br />
and photographers all under one roof.”<br />
Finding out the inspiration behind what our featured artists<br />
do is important to us at Fashion Xchange Magazine, and<br />
Erik’s is very interesting. “I have always been inspired by<br />
helping others and figured out a way to create a platform<br />
that benefits great causes and great people. Through that<br />
I created my own fashion line “Mister Triple X” to also tell<br />
my own story through fashion. I remain inspired because<br />
I think that fashion is a great way to tell one’s story, and
I am blessed with having the opportunity to not only tell my<br />
own story, but to help others in telling theirs as well.” The RMG<br />
brand and his event “Art Hearts Fashion” has been held coast to<br />
coast in benefit of numerous charities such as = Women’s Cancer<br />
Research, AIDS Project Los Angeles, The Hurricane Sandy Relief<br />
Kitchen and AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Celebrities highly<br />
support Art Hearts Fashion events and thus it has become an<br />
incredible platform for designers and artists to showcase their<br />
work. Erik was inspired to create his fashion line ‘Mister Triple X’<br />
through his charity work and zeal for fashion. His line has headlined<br />
major fashion weeks throughout the country, including<br />
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York and Style Fashion Week<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
Upcoming events for Rosete Management will focus on the<br />
expansion of his event “Art Hearts Fashion”. It is his goal that<br />
through Art Hearts, he will help dozens of designers and artists<br />
tell their stories and showcase their collections at the top<br />
platforms in the world. “Not only will I help designers and artists,<br />
but also showcase hundreds of models that have a certain “it”<br />
factor. This past season I had the honor to showcase a group of<br />
very special models in my Mister Triple X show. War Veteran Alex<br />
Minsky lost his leg while serving our country and has managed<br />
to turn his tragedy into success. I had the honor of customizing<br />
his prosthetic leg this last season for him to walk my runway.<br />
I also featured Nadia Mejia who’s show Suave Says debuts on<br />
VH1 December 3rd, Jourdan Miller winner of Americas Next Top<br />
Model, Dale Moss from the NFL, Cody Saintgnue from Teen Wolf,<br />
and Carlo Mendez, actor and brother of Eva Mendez. Not only<br />
did these great stars come out to walk my show but I also had<br />
Colleen Shannon, the ‘worlds sexiest DJ’ open for my show, and a<br />
performance by British chart topper Katy Tiz.”<br />
What is your opinion of the state of the fashion industry and<br />
your advice for emerging designers/ management / models<br />
trying to break into the industry, I asked Mister Rosete: “Fashion<br />
is at a turning point where people are starting to realize<br />
that beauty does not just belong to the stick figures we have<br />
been accustomed to seeing on the runway. For example this<br />
past season my event featured an amputee, an albino, and<br />
a few plus size models as well as great celebrity personalities<br />
and amazingly talented artistic designers. My advice for<br />
emerging designers and Models: Contact me if you're good<br />
and let me work my magic! Management: Find a personal<br />
manager that believes in you to fight for you and make that<br />
personal push. Big agencies are amazing, but when you are<br />
just starting out you can tend to get lost if you end up with<br />
a bigger agency. Once you are developed your manager can<br />
place you in a larger agency. My advice is to never give up<br />
and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. I<br />
did not find my path until I was 33 and I see so many teenagers<br />
stressing about the rest of their lives. Never give up, but<br />
be realistic about your expectations as well. I am 5’11 and tell<br />
boys if you are shorter than me you are not walking on my<br />
runway, but maybe you will do well in print or commercials. I<br />
tell girls if you do not fit into my sample size, find a designer<br />
that caters to your size range or focus on the commercial side<br />
of the biz. There is just as much money if not more in commercials<br />
than there is in fashion, and personality and character<br />
play a much bigger role for people wanting to model in<br />
that part of the industry.”<br />
Next year will be huge for Mister Rosete. His event will once<br />
again headline Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week NYC in February,<br />
and will expand to a week long fashion events in Los Angeles,<br />
making them the premiere fashion week platform for Los Angeles!<br />
Our Mister Triple X website is under construction and<br />
will feature customizable clothing for 2015. Mister Triple X<br />
has become the premiere Bespoke streetwear brand catering<br />
to rockstars and fashionistas alike. If you like anything from<br />
our runway contact us at Info@MisterTripleX.com and let us<br />
customize the item to your size and specifications.<br />
For Fashion Xchange Magazine readers that wish to follow<br />
Mister Triple X on his incredible journey in the fashion and<br />
mangement world:<br />
Learn more about Art Hearts Fashion visit www.ArtHearts-<br />
Fashion.com<br />
Instagram #Art Hearts Fashion<br />
Facebook.com/ArtHeartsFashion<br />
Twitter @ArtHeartsFashion<br />
To Learn more about me<br />
Instagram #ErikRosete<br />
Facebook /ErikRosete<br />
Twitter @ErikRoseteMGMT<br />
To Learn more about Mister Triple X visit www.MisterTripleX.<br />
com<br />
Instagram #Mister Triple X<br />
Facebook.com/MisterTripleX.Clothing<br />
Twitter @MisterTripleX<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 63
DAR SARA<br />
THE CROWNING GLORY<br />
OF ANY WARDROBE<br />
Atelier Dar Sara was launched in 2000 and since the company’s<br />
inception, the designer and her team have worked tirelessly to produce<br />
dramatic, eye-catching garments for the glamorous modern<br />
woman who want to make a sartorial statement.<br />
by Caity Shreve | Photos by Amy Graves<br />
64 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Images from Style Fashion Week || LA Fashion Week SS15<br />
The Lebanese founder, Joumana Al<br />
Hayek, has an expert eye for details<br />
and initially put her considerable<br />
talents into creating an exclusive<br />
bridal collection featuring luxurious<br />
materials brought in from France and<br />
Italy. Classic silhouettes and one-of-akind<br />
detailing helped these creations<br />
make a splash in a market oversaturated<br />
with cookie-cutter wedding dresses.<br />
Following the success of the Dar Sara<br />
bridal gowns, the brand expanded<br />
their female demographic by launching<br />
both Ready-To-Wear and eveningwear<br />
collections. In recent years they’ve also<br />
created a children’s line which includes<br />
some really beautiful formalwear<br />
pieces for children that are perfect for<br />
events.<br />
To date, Dar Sara’s sumptuous pieces<br />
have been featured in runway shows<br />
from Dubai to the United Kingdom.<br />
Luckily for us, the brand recently<br />
brought their skills to the United States<br />
for their second showing at Los Angeles<br />
Fashion Week.<br />
Fashion Xchange was front and center<br />
when Dar Sara closed Style Fashion<br />
Week. The frocks that were sent down<br />
the runway ranged from intricate gold<br />
cocktail dresses with feathered headwear<br />
to sleek, somber-hued evening<br />
gowns.<br />
After the show, Fashion Xchange was<br />
able to catch up with the brand to chat<br />
about their experience at Style Fashion<br />
Week in Los Angeles and their plans for<br />
the future of Dar Sara.<br />
FX: Closing the SFW show is quite the<br />
honor – How did you get involved<br />
with Los Angeles Fashion Week and<br />
decide that SFW would be a good fit<br />
for your brand<br />
SW: One of our projects previously was<br />
to participate in SFW show, its one of<br />
our achievements that our brand was<br />
highlighted twice in LA in year 2012<br />
and in year 2014.<br />
I thank each person who has tried<br />
to make this happen and our brand<br />
collection for this year fits the fashion<br />
show as it shows different cuts and<br />
materials that would suit many famous<br />
celebrities, and as we all know LA is the<br />
city were all celebrities care to buy and<br />
pick customs suitable for their shows.<br />
FX: What was the inspiration behind<br />
the Spring/Summer 2015 collection<br />
that was shown at SFW<br />
SW: It’s a fusion between elements of<br />
the past and the wardrobe of today.<br />
Their creative team members under<br />
the direction of Ms. Joumana Al Hayek<br />
created designs that have modern<br />
edginess but still possess Egyptian<br />
influence. Considering the thin border<br />
between fashion and costume. That<br />
explains the presence of accessories:<br />
From neck pieces, cuffs, wigs, and even<br />
shoulder harness abound throughout<br />
the collection. Without these add-ons,<br />
the garments are still stand alone and<br />
wearable pieces.<br />
The team forte being on embellishment,<br />
whipped some heavily embroidered<br />
pieces that are surely show stopping<br />
and attention worthy. Majority of<br />
the pieces are made from light weight<br />
silk, chiffon, tulle, and, leather. Unconventional<br />
materials such as rice sack,<br />
curtain fringe, suede strips, and PVC<br />
plastic sheets were utilized to come up<br />
with extra ordinary pieces.<br />
Finally, edgy and non-conventional yet<br />
still fashion-savvy are Dar Sara's design<br />
DNA. Being a forefront of Middle- East<br />
Fashion. Joumana Al Hayek says: "Dar<br />
Sara's unique approach to fashion has<br />
carved a niche in this tiny but complex<br />
world of fashion".<br />
FX: Dar Sara pieces always feature<br />
intricate, eye-catching details. What<br />
kind of woman do you have in mind<br />
when you’re starting a new collection<br />
SW: The imagination has many<br />
elements but all I can say is that to the<br />
woman I have in mind, I always aim to<br />
showcase her in a very classical and<br />
differentiated look that all woman aim<br />
to have and would dream to wear.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 65
FX: Dar Sara branched out to include a fun, wearable<br />
children’s collection – What was the thought process<br />
behind expanding the brand to reach such a different<br />
demographic than the bridal and couture pieces that you<br />
were previously designing<br />
SW: I always care to serve not only women and young ladies,<br />
but my aim and target is to serve all who comes with the<br />
bride and this segment will make us achieve better as it’s a<br />
direct marketing for our brand when in a wedding most of<br />
the ladies even the children would be wearing from us this<br />
makes us be a unique brand in the occasion itself.<br />
FX: Since the launch of Dar Sara in 2000, the brand has shown<br />
everything from beautiful evening wear to couture gowns to<br />
bridal collections. What can we expect next from the brand<br />
SW: We always have different projects to work on, and soon<br />
we will be showcasing our new collection of Bridal in Moscow<br />
Bridal Fashion Week 2015.<br />
It’s our main target to achieve for our brand and this target is<br />
to make it known worldwide.<br />
Fashion Xchange is looking forward to keeping an eye on this<br />
innovative brand and seeing what’s in store for them next.<br />
66 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Mario<br />
De La Torre<br />
Hair by Kenney Bohorquez<br />
Makeup by Margie Cruz Kimbrough<br />
Models Ieva Kibare, Andrea A. Myles,<br />
Hannah Gossack, Breana Hughes<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 67
68 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Designs by Mario De La Torre
Designs by Mario De La Torre<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 69
70 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Designs by Mario De La Torre
Designs by Mario De La Torre
Designs by Mario De La Torre<br />
72 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Designs by Mario De La Torre<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 73
Chronicles of <strong>Couture</strong><br />
An in depth analysis of the history of some of the world’s most divine<br />
artistry and its place in society’s current apparel marketplace.<br />
by Alexa Rae Palacios<br />
T<br />
he ways, doctrines and adaptations of<br />
the worlds’ past continually becomes<br />
revamped and revitalized to fit into<br />
current culture with each generation. Fashion,<br />
which is arguably the most important factor<br />
when studying these past worlds, is no different<br />
and is seemingly subject to change more<br />
often that not, especially in the landscape of<br />
today’s marketplace, which is based on “fast<br />
fashion.”<br />
Haute <strong>Couture</strong> is also a part of the consistent<br />
generational structure change and is a far<br />
fetch away from the creations of the founding<br />
father, Charles Fredrick Worth and his<br />
larger than life couture dresses that stormed<br />
the Parisian fashion scope and scene in the<br />
ninteenth century.<br />
In the reigning days of Napoleon III in Paris,<br />
Worth came to fame during a time where the<br />
empire insisted on Paris becoming the elaborate<br />
realm of luxury that we associate it with<br />
today. The desire for this luxurious fashion in<br />
Napoleon’s empire reached points it previously<br />
never had and in this time, Worth built what<br />
would soon become his own empire in the<br />
world of fashion. Designing for royalty and<br />
the wealthy from varied parts of the world,<br />
Worth began a niche in the marketplace filled<br />
with almost fantastical exuberance and also<br />
began the surge of haute couture.<br />
Soon after, the world Worth had created<br />
through Haute <strong>Couture</strong>, Le Chambre Syndicale<br />
de la Haute <strong>Couture</strong> was founded to<br />
create guard rails around high fashion and<br />
couture. Only those designers who were<br />
deemed as worthy could label themselves as<br />
couture designers.<br />
Following this reign of kingdoms and luxury,<br />
the Great Depression hit in America, France’s<br />
economy was heavily impacted and war<br />
stricken and such changes began in financial<br />
stability and in fashion. Daywear, work-wear,<br />
74 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
OVER TWENTY YEARS LATER IN 1947 WHEN FRANCE’S ECONOMY AND APPAREL INDUSTRY<br />
RESURGED FOLLOWING THE WAR, “THE NEW LOOK” CAME ALONG Á LA CHRISTIAN DIOR AND<br />
THIS NEW LOOK INDEED KEPT THE LUXURY AND ARTISTRY CHARLES FREDRICK WORTH BE-<br />
GAN, YET TOOK A MORE MODERN, SLEEK AND ELEGANT TAKE WITH CINCHED WAISTS AND<br />
FULL MIDI SKIRTS.<br />
and womenswear changed dramatically<br />
and the severe departure from<br />
the once elaborate dressing transformed<br />
into functionality for so many,<br />
although haute couture continued to<br />
maintain a presence in the industry.<br />
Over twenty years later in 1947 when<br />
France’s economy and apparel industry<br />
resurged following the war, “The<br />
New Look” came along á la Christian<br />
Dior and this new look indeed kept<br />
the luxury and artistry Charles Fredrick<br />
Worth began, yet took a more<br />
modern, sleek and elegant take with<br />
cinched waists and full midi skirts.<br />
This new look laid the foundation<br />
for the new wave of couture designers<br />
including Yves Saint Laurent,<br />
who opened the first free-standing<br />
couture boutique in 1966 and was<br />
followed by designers royalty such as<br />
Emanuel Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Andre<br />
Courreges and Ted Lapidus.<br />
in 1970 from 106 in 1946 to just 19<br />
for many cultural and economical<br />
reasons that continually plague the<br />
realm of couture today. Only twelve<br />
haute couture designers currently<br />
show today during Paris Fashion<br />
Week including powerhouses Chanel,<br />
Balmain and of course, in a new adaptation<br />
of the “new look,” Dior.<br />
The re-interpretations and revivals of<br />
the haute couture industry continually<br />
alter and advance as generations<br />
pass, but the spirit of luxe and the<br />
level of creativity that began with the<br />
first couture design seem to remain<br />
stable through these changes. It will<br />
be interesting to see the development<br />
of the genre in this wave of<br />
technology and the fusion of it and<br />
fashion, as there is a wealth of opportunity<br />
for the fusion of the tech and<br />
couture worlds.<br />
Although this new look was a new adaptation<br />
of Haute <strong>Couture</strong>, the number<br />
of actual couture houses dropped<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 75
La FeuillE<br />
De<br />
Route<br />
The Roadmap of<br />
Oscar de la Renta<br />
by Rickie Lee<br />
"Things never<br />
happen on<br />
accident, they<br />
happen because<br />
you have vision,<br />
you have<br />
committed<br />
and you have a<br />
dream!" - Oscar<br />
De La Renta"<br />
76 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican republic July 22nd, 1932 to a loving middle class<br />
family. Oscar’s love for the arts started at a young age and he quickly developed a love for<br />
painting. His parents cultivated and encouraged Oscars’ talents, so when he decided he wanted<br />
to move to Spain at the age of 18, his parents could not be more elated for their son. Oscar<br />
moved to Spain and found a job as a fashion illustrator for a local magazine. This would allow<br />
him to make steady paycheck as well as continue his passion for drawing and painting.<br />
While working as a fashion illustrator for the magazine, Oscar began to sketch his own designs<br />
just for fun in his spare time. Oscar became obsessed with sketching and designing gowns so<br />
much it caught the eye of a friend who showed his sketches to the acclaimed Cristóbal Balenciaga.<br />
Balenciaga absolutely loved Oscars’ sketches and immediately offered him a position in<br />
his fashion house in Spain.<br />
Oscar quit his job at the magazine and began training at the exclusive House of Balenciaga. His<br />
training included cutting fabric, assisting with fittings and pinning. This kind of training was<br />
customary for someone just starting out but Oscar wanted to do more - he wanted to design!<br />
Oscar contacted Balenciaga and asked if he could go work in the Paris House but much to his
One day while painting in the streets of Paris, a Frenchman<br />
inquired about his work and went on to tell him<br />
that he had a friend by the name of Castillo Lavin and<br />
he just happened to be looking for an assistant designer.<br />
At that time Castillo, along with Pierre Balmain, Cristobal<br />
Balenciaga and Christian Dior were considered<br />
some of the most promising of the new generation of<br />
Parisian designers to emerge after World War One. Once<br />
again Oscar shined during his meeting with Lavin and<br />
of course was offered the assistant designer position for<br />
the House. This is where Oscar honed his craft and solidified<br />
himself as a designer and accredits his aesthetic<br />
for his gowns.<br />
As time passed, fashion was changing and what women<br />
wanted was also changing. New York had now become<br />
the mecca for fashion . In 1963 Oscar moved to New<br />
York and began working for Elizabeth Arden who at the<br />
time was a huge name in fashion. Even though Arden<br />
wasn't a fashion designer, she was well respected in<br />
the industry and Oscar knew if anyone could get out of<br />
the shadows of other designers and bring him and his<br />
designs to the forefront it would be Elizabeth Arden.<br />
The two worked well together and created a very lucrative<br />
ready to wear line. After only two years of working<br />
with Arden in New York, a number of internships with<br />
some of the best in the industry, de la Renta stepped<br />
out and created his own line...and the rest is history..<br />
With a true sense of what the market wanted, Oscar became<br />
a global brand, going on to design for some of the<br />
most influential women of our time. de le Renta became<br />
a staple amongst the first ladies dressing Jaquelin Kennedy,<br />
Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Michlle Obama.<br />
surprise Cristóbol was totally against the idea and want Oscar to<br />
develop more training before he went to Paris.<br />
Oscar knew if he wanted to make a name for himself in fashion<br />
he had to get to Paris. "If you want to establish an international<br />
presence you need the consecration of Paris"<br />
In 1959, against Balenciaga's wishes, Oscar moved to Paris with<br />
the financial support of sisters. Immediately upon arriving in Paris,<br />
Oscar started at the top by taking his sketches to Christian Dior<br />
in hopes of getting a job as an assistant designer. Dior was blown<br />
away by Oscar's sketches and after much conversation offered<br />
him a job at the House of Dior with a $150.00 salary. Although he<br />
didn't get the assistant designer position he was thrilled to have<br />
landed a job within days after arriving in Paris.<br />
Oscar fell in love with the city, the culture, the women, the clothes.<br />
Oscar de la Renta has been one of the most successful<br />
designers on the market for years now. This is largely<br />
because he has a keen understanding of what the<br />
market wants. Equally important, he had more business<br />
sense than a lot of his competitors. Oscar de la Renta<br />
on the other hand makes sure that the clothes that he<br />
designs are practical and something that women will<br />
actually wear. This has resulted in sales that are much<br />
higher than most of his competitors have and longevity<br />
in the business. Oscar did not limit his brand to just<br />
womens clothing he designed shoes, jewelry, handbags<br />
a men's line, socks, sheets, towels, house wear, and<br />
fragrance's. Oscar de la Renta was a designer who translated<br />
his love of vibrant colors forms and fabric into art<br />
that can be worn.<br />
"The most important beauty is not the beauty you're<br />
born with but the beauty you create for yourself" -Oscar<br />
De La Renta<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 77
SARMIENTORAP<br />
A Stylist Highlight<br />
78 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Interview by Alexa Rae Palacios
1) Please give the Fashion Xchange audience a<br />
background on yourself and career and explain<br />
your initial draw to the fashion industry<br />
My name is Rap and I fell in love with<br />
fashion at an early age. I was shy when I<br />
was young but I knew clothes helped me<br />
speak without saying a word. Like Bill<br />
Cunningham said, "Fashion is the armor<br />
to survive everyday life." In college, I studied<br />
Communication and Clothing Marketing.<br />
I knew in my heart that the fashion<br />
industry was the only industry I could<br />
really be myself. I grew up in the Bay Area<br />
in the 90s so that really influences my<br />
personal style and aesthetic.<br />
Creative Direction & Styling:<br />
Rap Sarmiento<br />
Photographer: Damian Wolfgram<br />
Model: Troy Hines<br />
MUA: Dominique Berry<br />
Barber: Sef the Barber<br />
2) Where did your career in fashion styling<br />
begin<br />
It began in college when a good friend of<br />
mine who is a musician would perform.<br />
We'd go shopping for outfits and looks<br />
for her performances. From there it grew<br />
from performances to photoshoots and<br />
then working with other artists. At the<br />
end of 2012, I began styling for 31RAX,<br />
a vintage store, and then most recently<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 79
I was the lead stylist for<br />
iCu the Network for a few<br />
months.<br />
3) Describe your personal style<br />
and aesthetic What types<br />
of styling work draws you in<br />
most<br />
Well since my name is Rap,<br />
my personal style can be<br />
very gaudy and loud but I<br />
style it down to be minimal<br />
and sleek at the same time.<br />
Some days I feel dapper,<br />
some days I feel grungy,<br />
some days I feel glamorous,<br />
and then there are days I<br />
roll it all together. Sometimes<br />
I look in the mirror<br />
and think to myself "Who<br />
do you think you are" then<br />
I shrug my shoulders and<br />
walk out the door. I dress<br />
like I DGAF because rap is<br />
offensive, right<br />
I'm drawn to styling work<br />
that take risks and can tell<br />
that it was styled with intention.<br />
There's so much work<br />
“There’s so much work that looks the same,<br />
so it’s refreshing when an editorial tries to go<br />
against what is popular or trendy. It could be<br />
super hot or it might not hit, but the fact that<br />
the stylist tried something different, I can<br />
respect.”<br />
80 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
that looks the same, so it's refreshing when an editorial<br />
tries to go against what is popular or trendy. It could be<br />
super hot or it might not hit, but the fact that the stylist<br />
tried something different, I can respect.<br />
4) What is your take on the brand extensions that noted fashion<br />
stylist's like Rachel Zoe are engaging in today (ie, apparel/<br />
accessory/footwear design, brand collaboration/consultation)<br />
and where do you see the world of fashion styling evolving to<br />
in the next few years<br />
Rachel Zoe really knows her stuff and has cut her teeth<br />
in the fashion industry for a long time, so I think she<br />
has definitely earned her place to create her own lines.<br />
I've consulted with some local brands and companies<br />
so I get it. I hope to get to a place in my career where I'm<br />
consulting and producing for big names and houses. It's<br />
great that stylists have these opportunities to grow and<br />
expand their brands.<br />
I see fashion styling evolving to include wearable tech as<br />
it becomes more and more a part of our everyday lives.<br />
There's Fitbit, Nike FuelBand, Google Glass, and soon<br />
the Apple Watch. Some of these gadgets can look kind<br />
of geeky, so it's these opportunities that stylists have to<br />
consult with brands on design or work on styling a photo<br />
shoot on how to make these pieces look stylish.<br />
5) What is next for your career and where do you see your own<br />
personal brand extending to in the future<br />
Styling has definitely been a great platform for me to get<br />
my name out there. I see myself taking my career into<br />
photo and video shoot production because it combines<br />
my passion of styling and professional skills as a project<br />
manager. It's like putting together a puzzle only the<br />
pieces are people with different talents and the end<br />
result is an amazing piece of work.<br />
6) What advice, tips, or guidance would you give to budding<br />
fashion stylists<br />
Really ask yourself how bad do you want it. There's a<br />
million other people chasing the same dream so you really<br />
have to want it. There will be days when you're tired<br />
and you'll want to give up, but it's in those moments<br />
where you have to decide to power through. Find your<br />
voice and define your style. It's not bad to be trendy and<br />
to be on top of them, but it's important that you take<br />
trends and spin them your way so when people look at<br />
your work they know it's you. Network, collaborate, and<br />
surround yourself with like-minded people. If opportunities<br />
aren't coming your way, create them. Have faith in<br />
the work you do and work with intention. All in all, keep<br />
it pushin!<br />
Raphael Aquino Sarmiento<br />
(415) 509-9032 | rapsarmiento@gmail.com<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 81
Rules OF The Game:<br />
Beat The Odds<br />
by David Michael | Photography by Danielle Rueda<br />
In a sink or swim industry where one day you're in and the next you're out, the tables can<br />
turn in the blink of an eye. I learned this early in my styling career. Cards that are dealt aren't<br />
always you're best hand. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But at the end<br />
of the day, if your focus is in the right place you still have a chance to play the game.<br />
82 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
The odds are almost always against you.<br />
“<br />
The odds are<br />
almost always<br />
against you.<br />
“<br />
One of the most valuable lessons I learned stepping into the fashion industry is the art<br />
of networking. The Bay Area has been my home for most of my life where opportunity<br />
never sleeps. Growing up I was shy, timid, and soft spoken so I had to find a way to<br />
release the better me. I used art to express my emotions. I had a strong love for music,<br />
crafts, and sketching, pretty much anything that involved creating. As a young adult, the<br />
first thing I had to do was get myself out there. I had to make myself known in the San<br />
Francisco fashion world. I started out walking runways and modeling for local fashion<br />
photographers at age 17. I grew up playing sports and studied contemporary dance<br />
in college which helped me develop integrity and people skills. I was inspired to go<br />
behind the scenes when close relatives began to recognize my talent. One Christmas, I<br />
received a camera and a sewing machine as a gift to start my journey. Initially, I wanted<br />
to create my own clothing line entitled,“The David Michael Collection”. I was inspired by<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 83
designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander<br />
McQueen, Viktor& Rolf, and Donatella.<br />
I would stay up all night creating different<br />
silhouettes and mixing fabrics, but the<br />
world had not seen any of my work. I<br />
used websites like Facebook and Model<br />
Mayhem to post pictures of dresses I<br />
designed. A friend came across my page<br />
and extended the opportunity to me<br />
to design costumes for a music video. I<br />
didn’t have any training in the construction<br />
of apparel so I offered to style the<br />
wardrobe, so I did. After the video gig was<br />
over I then began marketing myself as a<br />
Wardrobe Stylist. While working at H&M<br />
in Downtown San Francisco I developed<br />
my clientele for personal shopping as a<br />
side job, but my passion for styling was in<br />
editorial. I knew then I needed to create<br />
a portfolio so I began directing photo<br />
shoots with friends who seemed to make<br />
reasonable models. I took my camera and<br />
pulled pieces from different shops and<br />
boutiques to create unique looks. Shortly<br />
after I built a pretty solid book, I began to<br />
collaborate with fashion photographers<br />
and agency signed models throughout<br />
the Bay Area. I learned techniques<br />
to editorial styling through projects at<br />
The Academy of Art University where I<br />
was lucky to gain publications in Italian<br />
Vogue and other local magazines. I grew<br />
close friendships with some of the most<br />
amazing people even though I was not<br />
a student . AAU photography students<br />
Mark Elzey Jr. and Carlos Moscat were<br />
amongst many talented people I’ve met<br />
in a short period of time who inspired me<br />
to continue on my path.<br />
Not many people know me, but many<br />
know David Michael and the work he<br />
produced.<br />
The most important thing I learned about<br />
networking is making friends. It’s good<br />
to have supporters who respect you as a<br />
person first, then as a stylist. Not everyone<br />
is going to like what you do, but I<br />
advise anyone interested in perusing a<br />
career in fashion to keep open ended relationships.<br />
Burning bridges with people<br />
84 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
is the worst thing any human being can do to their future. If<br />
you make it long enough, learning is something you never<br />
stop doing. I learned just simply by keeping an open mind<br />
and surrounding myself with like-minded people who inspire<br />
me.<br />
Often times, people ask me what my motivation is. It has<br />
forever been one concept, that is to maintain the ability to<br />
think and speak for myself. Fashion is the language I use to<br />
tell my story. Once I dedicated my life to pursuing a career<br />
in fashion, I got accepted into the Visual Communications<br />
program at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising<br />
San Francisco. In the peak of the recession, college tuition<br />
was too high and shortly after my college enrollment was<br />
canceled. My financial advisor told me that I would never<br />
reach my goals if I canceled my plans for school, boy was she<br />
wrong. My success has always been measured by what makes<br />
me happy based on the thing that I accomplish no matter<br />
how big or small. I knew that as long I never stopped trying, I<br />
have already won. At times I had no support in my decisions<br />
to pursue fashion and I began to feel a little discouraged. I<br />
saw my friends graduating with BA degrees in Fine Arts while<br />
I was getting an AA degree in Liberal Arts. Till this day I’m not<br />
sure exactly what that is. However, I used all of the knowledge<br />
I learned to take another route. I was self motivated. I<br />
taught myself trend forecasting, color theory, and the steps to<br />
starting a personal business. I kept searching for new ways to<br />
speak my mind through styling.<br />
My brother taught me to acknowledge my abilities and be<br />
proud of my special gift even if no one else was watching.<br />
When he was murdered, I stopped proving to everyone and<br />
started proving to myself to me. It seemed almost impossible<br />
to find motivation looking around at everyone telling you<br />
that you can’t. I had to beat beat the odds. Something in me<br />
told me to suck it up, stop making excuses, and do what I<br />
was born to do. I knew I had to be better. I had to be better<br />
than me. I look at myself in the mirror every morning saying<br />
to myself, “I am my only Competition.” Every day I look forward<br />
to amazing myself and accomplishing something that I didn’t<br />
think I could do yesterday. I ask God to guide me in the right<br />
path keeping me humble and blessed to speak to the world.<br />
There are many talented people floating around us, but if you<br />
do not develop the skills you need to survive in the business<br />
you may be hurting chances at great moments.<br />
I can only speak from experience, as each story has its own<br />
fate. Trusting in God to bring me one step closer to my<br />
dreams is all I can do. Everyday is a new challenge and it took<br />
for me to find my purpose through the obstacles at hand.<br />
The passion I have for the need to create comes from a dark<br />
place. That dark place was only in my own mind. I searched<br />
high and low for my big break only finding myself disappointed<br />
in my results rather than establishing myself in the process.<br />
I had to accept the fact that my passion will find me before<br />
I find it. My need to create is as powerful as the blood thirst<br />
of a vampire. Pioneering my way through adversity as young<br />
black male has taught me one lesson; Love yourself and love<br />
what you do. All that I have experienced is only the beginning<br />
of what is yet to come and I give all thanks to those who have<br />
inspired me to be a better me. Believe in yourself no matter<br />
what your art form is and inspire others to make the rules of<br />
their own game.<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 85
Fashionable<br />
<strong>Couture</strong> Art<br />
Oksana Tanasiv<br />
Not only was it an incredible surprise for Fashion Xchange Magazine<br />
to be invited to New York Fashion Week this Fall, but it was a pleasant<br />
experience to have met Ukrainian fine artist Oksana Tanasiv at one of the<br />
incredible shows we covered.<br />
by Ivanna Woods<br />
What immediately caught my eye about Oksana’s artistry is<br />
that she creates couture art. A lot of her fine art is dedicated<br />
to fashion, and develops within the forum of creating couture<br />
designs on canvas in 2-D, 3-D format, bringing the level of<br />
fashion illustration to a higher level - to the level of fine art.<br />
Interestingly enough, as talented as Oksana Tanasiv is, she<br />
spent her educational years obtaining a Bachelor degree in<br />
Business and Psychology. She is not educated in the techniques<br />
that either fashion or art require, but her work in<br />
immaculate. “After I immigrated to the United States in 2004,<br />
I dedicated more time to my artistic career. I clearly realized<br />
I want to be a professional artist, so I put a lot of time, effort,<br />
and energy to do my best in reaching this goal. It took me ten<br />
years to be transformed from non-English-speaking immigrant<br />
into an artist exhibiting on international level,” Tanasiv<br />
explains.<br />
86 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
She has been<br />
drawing women in<br />
beautiful dresses<br />
since kindergarten<br />
and slowly began to<br />
transfer her illustration<br />
ideas from<br />
paper to canvas. “I<br />
was curious how I<br />
could better draw<br />
the figures, faces,<br />
and dresses with<br />
using oil, acrylic, and<br />
many other different<br />
medias on a new<br />
surface - canvas, not<br />
just pencil and paper.<br />
I also discovered new techniques that helped me to create<br />
more incredible fashion designs on canvas such as using<br />
Swarovski® crystals, sequence, different kinds of fabric, tulle,<br />
veil, oil, stitching over fabric and canvas. All these techniques<br />
are artistically individual ways to bring fashion to the level of<br />
fine art.” Tanasiv designs using oil on canvas techniques, step<br />
instillations, watercolor on paper, beautiful couture fabric<br />
on canvas and brilliant Swarovski crystals to embellish the<br />
artists design.<br />
Oksana is inspired by many designers that ignite the fire of<br />
creativity underneath her to continue to create in the form<br />
and fashion she does. “I like so many designers who are<br />
incredible, I can’t chose only one! I adore the designs of Eli<br />
Saab. The way he works with fabric and crystals is fantastic.<br />
I’m also fascinated by the collections of Zuhair Murad. I even<br />
dedicated one of my art pieces from his couture collection<br />
and transferred his idea to canvas. I love the way he works<br />
with fabric, lace, crystals... I adore other designers such as Valentino,<br />
Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, but my favorite<br />
designer I feel is John Galliano. He is undoubtedly a genius<br />
of fashion, who uses historical, theatrical and artistic images<br />
in his collections. I love how talented he is in creating a new<br />
design based on these images”, she expresses.<br />
understand your goals and move towards reaching them no<br />
matter what! You have to believe in your success and work<br />
very hard every day; through practice, improving skills and<br />
developing your talent you can get what you want. Also, you<br />
should try your talent in the opposite direction everyone else<br />
is going. It means you have to discover totally new, different<br />
styles, ideas that nobody else before you created. It will give<br />
you as an amazing recognition,’ Tanasiv states.<br />
All of her future plans and goals are directed into improving<br />
her artistic skills, developing new techniques and innovations<br />
in fashion and fine art. She has many ideas that I would<br />
love to implement, turn many of my sketches into pieces of<br />
fine art, installations, sculptures. It takes time and energy. In<br />
the very near future i plan to start a couple new collection<br />
that will feature my new techniques, materials, media, and<br />
new subjects for my art creations.<br />
If you’re not located in Norwalk, Connecticut and wish to buy<br />
an art piece, you can do so online and she / her team will<br />
provide you with the best assistance. Potential buyers may<br />
also visit her art shows on Fashion Week in New York, International<br />
trade-show ArtExpo in NYC, or visit one of the galleries<br />
presenting my art. Information about the list of galleries as<br />
well as exhibition schedule is on her web-site www.oksanatanasiv.com<br />
Oksana Tsnasiv’s next art show, “Roads and Bridges” is January<br />
3rd - February 1st 2015 at Loft Artists Studios + Galleries<br />
at 575 Pacific Street, Stamford, CT 06902. The opening reception<br />
on January 3rd is from 4:30 - 6:30pm. Gallery hours are<br />
1-4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday.<br />
Our readers can find images of all her art collections, information<br />
about her life story, and interviews on her official<br />
web-site Also, you can follow her updates on Facebook<br />
https://www.facebook.com/OksanaTanasivArt, Twitter<br />
https://twitter.com/tanasiv, or her YouTube channel https://<br />
www.youtube.com/user/oksanatanasiv<br />
For all of our aspiring Fashion Illustrators or artists looking for<br />
a new creative medium, Tanasiv finds inspiration for her new<br />
creations in the works of other artists, in museums and art<br />
galleries. “I am inspired by the art of 20th century artists and<br />
illustrators such as Erte and Rene Gruau. I love to find new<br />
ideas in books, fashion magazines, interesting vintage art<br />
and photographs, even in the movies. I also find my inspiration<br />
in the fashion shows I visit and in new collections of<br />
fashion designers.” It seems much like most artists, inspiration<br />
is in the air, the water and everywhere this woman looks.<br />
“One of my latest collections ‘Odeur de Chanel’ is my tribute<br />
to the timeless style of Coco Chanel. And Coco’s style, talent,<br />
and elegance were the inspiration to create this collection.’<br />
Her wise words of guidance to other artists are that ‘the key<br />
components of success are very similar, no matter what<br />
industry you are working in. It is very important to know and<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 87
The Dark Elegance<br />
that is<br />
Manic Designs<br />
by Ivanna Woods<br />
I Photos by Robert Silver<br />
The story behind the inception of designer Rachel Riot’s<br />
interest in fashion, which subsequently lead to the birth of her<br />
clothing line Manic Designs, is virtually as interesting as the<br />
woman herself. Today at 25 years old, Riot is a young, vibrant<br />
and ambitious woman full of zest for life and for the career she<br />
spearheads alone; she’s a one person operation, making each<br />
of her uprecedented designs by hand.<br />
Creative Director: Ivanna Woods<br />
Hair & Makeup by Stephanie Chatfield from<br />
Bedlam Beauty & Barber in San Jose<br />
Makeup Artist: Gabriela Lopez from MAC Cosmetics<br />
Jewelry Designer: Raven Jade from Creations by Raven Jade<br />
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Tiffany Marie wearing<br />
The Sesilee Sweater - $180.00<br />
The Marlene Pencil Skirt - $95.00<br />
88 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Years ago as a schoolgirl, she awoke one<br />
morning not feeling well, so her mother<br />
allowed her to stay in her room occupied<br />
with a Vogue magazine and a box<br />
of tissues. Thus Rachel’s designer spirit<br />
was born. When her mother checked on<br />
her later, she was astonished to find a<br />
row of Barbies wearing detailed imitations<br />
of Christian Dior and Vera Wang<br />
gowns made from folded tissue paper.<br />
Ingenious!<br />
Sewing came very naturally to her - she<br />
fell in love at first stitch! “Growing up, I<br />
came to realize that sewing was a dying<br />
art. I remember watching older films<br />
with my mom and sister when I was little<br />
and soon enough, I developed a love<br />
for the classy vintage styles from the<br />
40’s through the 60’s. I decided the next<br />
step in my future career was to bring<br />
those timeless styles back.”<br />
She advanced in her tailoring and went<br />
on to study at The Fashion Institute of<br />
Design and Merchandising in San Francisco.<br />
After graduating with an Associate<br />
of Arts Degree in Fashion Design 2009,<br />
hit the ground running towards making<br />
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Tessa Spangler wearing<br />
The Yvonne Dress - $350.00<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 89
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Tessa Spangler wearing<br />
The Yvonne Dress - $350.00<br />
90 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Nicole Bonifacio wearing<br />
The Sienna Tee - $90.00<br />
The Christine Draped Skirt - $180.00<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 91
her lifelong dream a reality and established Manic Designs<br />
by Rachel Riot in 2010. “I have always loved metal music<br />
and fashion; ever since I watched Billy WIlder's’ Sabrina and<br />
listened to my first Slayer album. They had me at ‘La vie en<br />
rose’ and ‘Angel of Death - monarch to the kingdom of the<br />
dead! Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, that is at the base of the<br />
style that I want to bring back, easy to wear, classic pieces,<br />
timeless silhouettes. But I also want to bring heavy metal<br />
into it, to add that edgy, dark detail,” she says. “Later in life,<br />
I started listening to Metal and realized that not only is it a<br />
wildly misunderstood genre in society, but it’s also lost in an<br />
abundance of punk and goth imported clothing lines in the<br />
fashion world. As a designer, I have taken it upon myself to<br />
show the public how beautiful heavy metal really is by interpreting<br />
the complexity of the composition into intricate<br />
garment details that are fashion forward, yet wearable for<br />
the everyday woman,” she explains.<br />
Riot has put much thought into knowing exactly who the<br />
Manic Designs woman is that she designs for. “Whether she<br />
listens to heavy metal or not, she has a quiet intensity about<br />
her. It’s the ‘It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out<br />
for’ theory.” She’s very aware of those heavy metal cliches<br />
- pleated skirts, spikes, studs and the like and she’s simply<br />
not interested in those been there done that styles. While<br />
she uses basic colors such as black, dark and light grey and<br />
some neutral she decides to ‘focus a lot more on textures<br />
than prints or colors,’ she says. Riot is set on incorporating<br />
subtle touches to her garments such as a wrinkle here, a<br />
pin tuck or a cut out there to an otherwise basic yet classic<br />
look. This is what makes up the stylish mix of classic fashion<br />
and heavy metal menace that is Manic Designs.<br />
Rachel Riot is a young woman that knows how she defines<br />
herself, her brand and how she wants to develop it. She’s an<br />
avid lover of underground heavy metal music and perhaps<br />
surprisingly, vintage fashion. An unlikely marriage - perhaps...but<br />
not to the creative sage of Manic Designs! Riot<br />
has taken it upon herself to show the world how symbiotic<br />
heavy metal music and vintage fashion can be by interpreting<br />
the complexity of the compositions in metal music<br />
with intricate garment details that reveal classic silhouettes<br />
from vintage fashion. The juxtaposition of dark elegance<br />
breathes new life into her timeless styles in a way that’s<br />
fashion forward, yet wearable for the modern woman with<br />
a edge.<br />
She participates in vendor and trade shows as well as popup<br />
shops on a consistent basis. And you can consistently<br />
see her manic designs showcased on runways throughout<br />
the Bay Area as well. Rachel Riot is still a one woman army<br />
and makes each of her pieces by hand. Her future goals are<br />
to get her designs in boutiques throughout Santa Cruz and<br />
San Francisco. To shop Manic Designs or to follow Rachel<br />
Riot throughout her blossoming career, visit www.etsy.com/<br />
shop/manicdesigns or follow her on Facebook at https://<br />
www.facebook.com/manicdesignspnref=lhc and Instagram<br />
http://instagram.com/manicdesigns.<br />
92 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Tiffany Marie Hill wearing<br />
The Ophelia Sweater - $180.00<br />
The Hip Bone Skirt - $180.00<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 93
MANIC DESIGNS by<br />
Rachel Riot<br />
Model Tessa<br />
Spangler wearing<br />
The Ella Sheath<br />
Dress - $300.00<br />
MANIC DESIGNS by Rachel Riot<br />
Model Nicole Bonifacio wearing<br />
The Nikki Tank Top - $120.00<br />
The Gemma Maxi Skirt - $120.00<br />
94 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 95
EVENTS<br />
2014<br />
San Francisco<br />
Fashion Awards<br />
Year 7<br />
Photos by Michael Moore & Robert Silver<br />
Best Female Model<br />
Mellissa Gray<br />
San Francisco fashion and entertainment industry will came together, to pay<br />
tribute, and recognize the work of the individuals who exemplified, embodied,<br />
and contributed to the fashion industry by pushing it to the next level of<br />
creativity.<br />
Hosted by the new CARBON Lounge SF, San Francisco Fashion Awards TM honored<br />
the relevant talents that have contributed innovation and social change<br />
through the ongoing fashion evolution of San Francisco.<br />
The evening began with cocktails and spirits cash bar in a plush luxurious<br />
setting, followed by an award ceremony, runway fashion show and an exclusive<br />
fashion party to remember. Fashion Xchange was honred to have been<br />
nomiated Best Magazine.<br />
Best Male Model *<br />
Hazer Ozcan<br />
96 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Best Emerging Designer<br />
Maricella Olaque<br />
Best Make Up Artist<br />
Kenya Aissa aka Ruby Envee<br />
Best Marketing *<br />
Camelia Skikos SS14 @ https://www.youtube.com/watchv=raKFUnwOIe8<br />
Best Boutique or Store Front *<br />
The Red Square Boutique @ http://www.redsquareboutique.com<br />
Best POP UP / Trunk or FashionTruck *<br />
Urban Air Market @ http://www.urbanairmarket.com<br />
Best APP *<br />
Shopseen @ https://www.shopseen.com<br />
Best Start UP *<br />
CUYANA @ http://www.cuyana.com<br />
Best Blog/Blogger *<br />
'Colors of Chic' by Kimberly Leia @ www.colorsofchic.com<br />
Best Make Up Artist *<br />
Kenya Aissa aka Ruby Envee @ http://www.rubyenvybeauty.com<br />
Best Hair Stylist *<br />
James Anthony @ https://www.facebook.com/KaboomDesigns<br />
Best Stylist *<br />
David Michael https://www.facebook.com/DavidMichaelSFfref=ts<br />
Best Photographer *<br />
Robert Silver Photography @ http://www.robertsilverphotography.com<br />
Best Magazine *<br />
Dark Beauty Magazine / http://www.darkbeautymag.com<br />
Best Fashion Event *<br />
Pret-A-Porter SF 2014 @ http://pretaportersf.com/<br />
Best Producer *<br />
Owen Geronimo / SFFAMA @ http://sffamainc.org<br />
Best Creative Director *<br />
Richard Hallmarq @ https://www.facebook.com/RichardHallmarq<br />
Best New Faces *<br />
Ariele Jones @ FRISC Models@ FRISC MODELS / http://www.delgeronimo.us/<br />
frisc-models<br />
Best Male Model *<br />
Hazer Ozcan @ http://www.lookmodelagency.com<br />
Best Female Model *<br />
Mellissa Gray @ http://www.citymodel.com<br />
Best Accessory *<br />
Kate Knuvelder @ http://kaatjedesigns.com<br />
Best Emerging Designer *<br />
Maricella Olaque @ https://www.facebook.com/mgolague<br />
Best MEN’S WEAR Designer *<br />
BETABRAND @ http://www.betabrand.com<br />
Best Women's Designer *<br />
DEXTROSE BY DEXTER SIMMONS @ http://dextersimmons.com/fashionvideo<br />
HONORARY AWARD<br />
Candice Cuoco / CCUOCO @ http://ccuoco.com<br />
Best Photographer<br />
Robert Silver Photography<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 97
Style<br />
Fashion<br />
Week<br />
Spring/Summer ‘15 Collections<br />
Los Angeles 9th<br />
Season Showcases<br />
World Renowned<br />
Designers On Their<br />
Magnificent<br />
Runway<br />
October 25th, 2014, LA FASHION WEEK<br />
- STYLE FASHION WEEK shows began<br />
with a bang as California’s own Sue<br />
Wong graced the runway on Wednesday<br />
night, October 15th. Before the show,<br />
musician Dave Navarro and actor Vincent<br />
De Paul presented her with a Tiffany’s<br />
Lifetime Achievement Award. The notto-be-missed<br />
spectacle included over 75<br />
looks down the runway. Her “Fairies and<br />
Sirens” collection consisted of exquisitely<br />
embellished embroidered silks, lavish<br />
beadwork on organza dresses, and<br />
capes matched with beautifully crafted<br />
headpieces by Lisa Maranucci, Kicka Custom<br />
Designs, Miss G Designs and Fiori<br />
<strong>Couture</strong>. During the 30-minute show of<br />
absolute amazement, models made their<br />
way down the catwalk to music produced<br />
by Dave Navarro.<br />
Following Sue’s show Friday, international<br />
designer Badwin Cheung of Just<br />
For Tee, flew in from China to make his<br />
United States debut. Calibio Skincare<br />
sponsored Just For Tee and made this<br />
journey to the US possible. The beautifully<br />
orchestrated showcase opened with<br />
mini-and-mid length dresses and tunics<br />
over high-water pants on the ladies. The<br />
Gentlemen were in beautiful suits, some<br />
in reverse! The collection consisted of<br />
the subdued shades of black, white<br />
and grey with a pop of bright red. The<br />
acclaimed Asian fashion line completed<br />
the looks with flip-side pockets,<br />
cutouts and neatly placed flaps<br />
blowing down the catwalk. As the<br />
event made its way into the weekend,<br />
many more fashion collections took<br />
the stage showing what is in store for<br />
Spring/Summer ’15.<br />
Kicking off the shows Thursday<br />
evening was Dr. Dre’s son, Curtis<br />
Young. Young showcased his new<br />
collection Signature Young. The collection<br />
represented a sensible depiction of<br />
style and set new heights by creating an<br />
entirely rare element and mood through<br />
the entire tent. The models walked in<br />
bold designs emblazoned with strikingly<br />
exotic rhinestones that sharpened and<br />
reflected the contrasting cuts on the<br />
models. This special night called attention<br />
to and benefited charitable southern<br />
California cancer research hospital - City<br />
of Hope. After finishing previous shows<br />
in Dubai and New York, designers Control<br />
Sector and Judith and James showed for<br />
the 3rd time- to make STYLE FASHION<br />
WEEK LA their grand finale for the season!<br />
Closing the night out was one of fashion’s<br />
top-selling designers, Donna Mizani, who<br />
showcased her sexy/chic, body-hugging<br />
SS15 collection.<br />
Friday night began with back-to-back<br />
shows featuring the newest swimwear<br />
fashions from A’qua Swim, Dolcessa<br />
Swimwear, and Kinsman Swim. Kinsman<br />
took her design inspiration from the<br />
bedroom to the beach for her SS15 collection.<br />
From faux fur and leather bikinis,<br />
the runway was slamming with dropdead<br />
models scantily clad in an island/<br />
tribal fringe & feather motif. Next was<br />
fashion-forward apparel for the person<br />
on the go featuring XCVI, who showcased<br />
their new active-wear line and Club Wear<br />
followed with their golf inspired designs.<br />
Altaf Maaneshia presented a mystic garden<br />
inspired high-end fresh and contemporary<br />
collection, roused by structured<br />
lines and fashion forward cuts and had a<br />
special appearance by newest Bravo-lebrity<br />
- Asifa. Designers Pedram Walter<br />
Mendez and Andre Soriano each did an<br />
elegant eveningwear show to close out<br />
the Friday night lights.<br />
Rosario by Mario De La Torre opened-up<br />
the Saturday night show with beautifully<br />
draped fabrics in bold singlecolored<br />
pieces that looked classic, sophisticated,<br />
youthful and yet dignified at the same<br />
time. JM couture showed an incredible illuminati<br />
inspired selection, called Illuminarium.<br />
The inspiration embraced symbols<br />
of elements, planets, ancient Egypt<br />
and mythology. Intricately hand-beaded<br />
pieces in vivid colors on silks and leather<br />
proved to be the convergence of design,<br />
alchemy and fashion. Project Runway<br />
season 6 designer, Gordana, showcased<br />
an elegant display of eveningwear meets<br />
lingerie for her newest GOGA Collection.<br />
With party-style, bright lighting and<br />
music, Le Jolie sent their models down<br />
the runway in a select mix of their highend<br />
designer brands including Prada,<br />
Chanel, Missoni, Valentino, Versace, D&G,<br />
Tom Ford, Balenciaga and Miu Miu to<br />
close out the Saturday show. Adding to<br />
the energetic ambiance was Le Jolie’s full<br />
blast balloon drop, and a special guest<br />
appearance by fashion’s very own first<br />
supermodel, Janice Dickenson.<br />
The last day, Sunday the 19th, featured<br />
four designers. Alexis Monsanto returned<br />
to the runway to show –<br />
releasing models in a ‘Game of Thrones’<br />
inspired collection doing dramatic poses<br />
in striking colors and designs. Skintone<br />
clothing showcased their incredible<br />
resort wear line next. Designer, Karen<br />
Mcbride’s raw, hand-woven, eco-friendly,<br />
ready-to wear designs translate beautifully<br />
from runway to the closet. Quynh<br />
Paris’ east-meets-west esthetic in her<br />
newest collection is a mix of her exotic<br />
Vietnamese heritage with a futuristic<br />
and modern twist. Dar Sara closed out<br />
the week with ‘Ballerinas by way of<br />
Bollywood’ sending ballerinas down the<br />
runway followed by youthful silhouettes<br />
in jumpsuits, leotards and mini-dresses<br />
in elegant creams and golds. After the<br />
shows, attendees headed over to kick off<br />
the official STYLE Fashion week after-party<br />
at PROJECT in Hollywood.<br />
STYLE FASHION WEEK opened its doors<br />
to host their 9th season October 15-19,<br />
2014. Presented by luxury online-retailer<br />
Le Jolie, the event took place downtown<br />
98 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
at the STYLE FASHION WEEK Tent at The Reef, 1933 s<br />
Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90007. This time around<br />
STYLE FASHION WEEK has taken their past production<br />
accomplishments to the next level. They built their own<br />
tent in an open space in the cutting-edge, chic garment<br />
district, where LA fashion is created, shown, and sold to<br />
stores everywhere. The opening reception for the event<br />
was held on Tuesday night at the Association downtown<br />
and turned out to be an awesome evening of<br />
mingling and networking between industry insiders.<br />
Check out more runway pictures at http://www.fashionxchangemag.com/#!style-fashion-week-ss15/c8a9<br />
Fashion’s first supermodel,<br />
Janice Dickenson walking the Le Jolie show<br />
Sue Wong<br />
JM <strong>Couture</strong><br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 99
Art<br />
Hearts<br />
Fashion<br />
The New Era Has Arrived<br />
Mister Triple X<br />
Artistiix<br />
(Los Angeles) Wednesday, October 15th, 2014—This week,<br />
the impeccable 2-day event, Art Hearts Fashion, ushered in<br />
the new era for LAFW. Boasting the most impressive designer<br />
line-up in years, Art Hearts Fashion brought admiration and<br />
innovation back to the runway. Sparkling garden fountains<br />
and opulent chandeliers at the Taglyan created a fantastical<br />
environment, setting the tone for the incredible<br />
shows hitting the runway. Guests, celebrities and star athletes<br />
including Terrell Owens, Deandre Jordan, No Doubt’s Stephen<br />
Bradley, Courtney Stodden, Joe Simpson, Bobby Brown, star<br />
cast of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, MTV 90’s VJ Jesse Camp,<br />
Members of Cypress Hill, Anna Easteden, Candice Cayne, and<br />
playboy playmates, packed the venue, enjoying art and installations<br />
by Sham Ibrahim, Joseph Jasso, and Eugene Huffman<br />
before the evening’s shows.<br />
The star-studded shows were full of fantastic celebrity models<br />
including: NFL Player Dale Moss, Actor Carlo Mendez brother<br />
of Eva Mendez, Guess Girl and Winner of America's Next top<br />
model Jourdan Miller, ANTM superstars Kiara Belen and Reina<br />
Hein, Sam Sarpong, Skylar Diggins and Nadia Mejia Star of<br />
VH1's Suave Says, as well as Playboy Playmates Carly Lauren,<br />
Val Keil, and Stephanie Branton.<br />
Opening Day-Monday, October 13th<br />
A 6 designer showcase opened the evening. VIGGOFashion<br />
was first to the runway debuting their latest collection of<br />
unique designs combining both fashion and art. Next, the<br />
highly constructed futuristic designs of Dan Richters demonstrated<br />
a creative ingenuity that left guests in awe. The innovative<br />
and feminine collection of Noia took the runway, showcasing<br />
the lines thoughtful execution and unrivaled<br />
design aesthetic. Courtney Allegra brought to life a chic<br />
high-energy line of inspired swimwear. Kami Shade' presented<br />
vibrant plus size designs on the runway. Full of attitude and<br />
confidence, the models embodied the spirit of her designs. Designer<br />
Kenneth Chang debuted his latest collection of Consort<br />
62 edgy menswear as well as a daring collection of womenswear<br />
for Miss Consort. Closing the show, the<br />
lovely Crystal Hefner delighted guests with the debut of her<br />
fun and flirty swimsuits and separates.<br />
Pop-fashion icon Tumbler & Tipsy opened the second half of<br />
the show with their bold and adventurous 2015 collection.<br />
Raising Asia star, ASIA MONET RAY stole the show and the<br />
hearts of everyone watching with her spunk and sassy runway<br />
walk. Next on the runway was the impeccable collection of<br />
luxury designer Hallie Sara. With unrivaled craftsmanship and<br />
fine detailing, Hallie Sara had guests<br />
mesmerized and all eyes locked on the runway. Before the finale,<br />
a Tribute to <strong>Couture</strong> Dance Performance presented by the<br />
Academy of <strong>Couture</strong> Art Beverly Hills took center stage, combining<br />
dance, runway poses, and synchronized movements in<br />
a spectacular runway routine.<br />
The evening’s finale began with celebrity designer Maya<br />
Hansen, her inspired collection graced the runway, charming<br />
guests with the line's delicate detailing. Next, celebrated Filipino<br />
fashion designer Jun Escario took the runway. A master of<br />
sophistication, Jun Escario infused each design with elegance<br />
and femininity. Zhang JingJing closed the evening with a collection<br />
of handmade dresses featuring the<br />
designer's signature exquisite embellishment.<br />
Closing Day-Tuesday, October 15th<br />
Opening Tuesday’s event was a shared show featuring Nancy<br />
Vuu and Jaime Elyse. Nancy Vuu’s kidswear collection of oneof-a-kind<br />
custom-made couture wear and headpieces took off<br />
down the rose lined runway. Jaime Elyse put on a spectacular<br />
show with her collection of whimsical custom bridal gowns<br />
100 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
Noia Courtney Allegra MT Costello<br />
receiving a standing ovation.<br />
The 7PM show opened with Artistix Jeans. Created by Greg<br />
Polisseni, the unisex designs are the expression of a true artist.<br />
The Launch of Blindado followed on the runway to cheers from<br />
the guests. Next, Twala Intimates showcased their line of intimate<br />
apparel, featuring delicate and creative designs to put a<br />
giggle in your mind and a smile on your partner’s face. Sachika<br />
took centerstage with their<br />
“Enchanted” collection, showcasing feminine silhouettes,<br />
bringing a mystical presence on the runway. balance between<br />
effortlessly wearable and statement-making, a balance<br />
SACHIKA is known for. M The Movement closed the show with<br />
special guest model Bobby Brown. The eco-friendly designer<br />
streetwear line for men and women is one of the hottest in the<br />
nation.<br />
Before the finale show guests enjoyed a special DJ set by Playboy<br />
Magazine's 50th Anniversary Playmate Colleen Shannon.<br />
Opening the finale show for Mister Triple X was special guest<br />
Alex Minsky, U.S. Veteran Marine amputee who rocked the<br />
runway in the edgy streetwear line. Mister Triple X is designed<br />
by Art Hearts Fashion creator Erik Rosete and is a staple in the<br />
fashion world coast to coast. Next on the runway, chic ready-towear<br />
brand R. Michel’le showcased the line’s sophisticated twist<br />
on young contemporary<br />
womenswear. With timeless elegance and subdued color palate,<br />
R. Michel’le’s designs define the new style for the modern<br />
woman.<br />
Guests were treated to a stunning 2 song performance by the<br />
beautiful and charismatic British pop singer Katy Tiz.<br />
runway featuring the collection’s unapologetic aesthetic that<br />
redefines luxury. Sexy dark and edgy silhouettes sauntered<br />
down the runway filling the room with a palpable energy and<br />
excitement. Famed designer Michael Costello closed Art Hearts<br />
Fashion with his most brilliant and iconic collection to date. The<br />
devastating beauty of the designer’s custom gowns entranced<br />
everyone watching, eliciting cheers with every piece.<br />
Kicka Custom Design presented a live costume installation in<br />
the garden courtyard. The dramatic and intricate designs evoke<br />
a fantastical and timeless sense of extravagance.<br />
DJ Boombox Bri created the musical environment enjoyed by<br />
guests throughout the mega 2-day event. Guests enjoyed specialty<br />
cocktails by tea-based liqueur TATRATEA, while The Wine<br />
Caterers provided a delicious tasting of some of their fine wines<br />
and Moreno Champagne poured delicious welcome glasses.<br />
Throughout the event, Fannie Lash presented their luxury line<br />
of fine false lashes. My Angel City Boutique charmed guests<br />
with their brand’s fun and flirty chic accessories.<br />
Founded in 2011 by designer Erik Rosete, Art Hearts Fashion<br />
provides designers a platform to showcase heir work in a<br />
unique art-fashion inspired environment while still maintaining<br />
the integrity and elegance of a traditional fashion week runway<br />
show. The Art Hearts Fashion Art Gallery boasts a lineup of influential<br />
artists from around the world showcasing their pieces<br />
throughout the garden courtyard of the Taglyan.<br />
Art Hearts Fashion is proud to partner with the AIDS Healthcare<br />
Foundation and support their important work.<br />
The lights dimmed before MT Costello (Stephanie Costello’s<br />
line in collaboration with brother Michael Costello) took the<br />
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 101
project<br />
Ethos<br />
Over 1,500 guests attended to support emerging art while<br />
Standing Up To Cancer during LA Fashion Week<br />
With over 1,500 attendees, Project Ethos supported Stand<br />
Up To Cancer during their annual LA Fashion Week event<br />
Tuesday night, October 14th at Avalon Hollywood presented<br />
by Glendale Infiniti. The night of fashion, music and art,<br />
powered by International luxury nightlife brand French<br />
Tuesdays with additional partners Midori, Java Monster,<br />
Jin&Quinn, Always Awake, official stylists TNT Agency, Shop<br />
Ethos, LA Weekly and CA Apparel News was hosted by Katie<br />
Cazorla, star of TV Guide’s Nail Files. The evening raised over<br />
$5,000 for Stand Up To Cancer, a program of the Entertainment<br />
Industry Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization,<br />
and is still fundraising through an online donation page<br />
until the end of the week.<br />
A special midnight presentation by headlining designer<br />
Nicole Miller along side DJ sets fromHelena was a crowd<br />
favorite, keeping attendees around until the early hours of<br />
Wednesday morning.<br />
Spring/Summer ’15 emerging designer fashion shows<br />
took place at 8pm and 9pm with DJ sets byVal Fleury and<br />
Digital. Designers featured include a luxurious twist on<br />
Indian-American wear byChynni, laser cut leather by Liberty<br />
Garden whose line supports Doctors without Borders, feminine<br />
silhouettes by San Diego designer, Isabel Vianey and<br />
black and white hues from The Ashley Michaelsen Collection<br />
with shoes by Charles David. In conjunction with the<br />
Fashion Merchandising and Design program at California<br />
State University Long Beach, Project Ethoslaunched the first<br />
annual Fashion Designer Scholarship for graduating seniors.<br />
Winner Jennifer Luong premiered her boho-chic collection,<br />
Tandy Stone featuring easy-to-wear separates followed by<br />
hard-core chic clothing by MS Scandal, eco-friendly suits by<br />
Amour Swimwear and playful prints by Oober Swank.<br />
Bardot hosted a live art gallery presented by Midori featuring<br />
10 local artists battling with their brushes on wood,<br />
canvas and live models to win a $1,000 grand prize, which<br />
went to Eddy Leefor his ethereal female painting.<br />
Vendors at the event included the debut of luxury skin care<br />
brand, Gilded Cells, a nail decal station by The Painted Nail, a<br />
pink themed dessert bar by Platinum Event Decor as well as<br />
Speckfeaturing Candywirez.<br />
Notable attendees included Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy),<br />
Kelly McCreary (Emily Owens, M.D.) and the cast of East Los<br />
High (Hulu).<br />
102 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong>
<strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong> | Fashion Xchange Magazine | 103
We represent<br />
the brands<br />
that embody<br />
advertise now<br />
success!<br />
gain exposure<br />
15% off<br />
Offer only for first-time buyers<br />
510-904-7899<br />
ads@fashionxchangemag.com<br />
www.fashionxchangemag.com<br />
FReeWeb & Digital<br />
with Print Ad orders<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine is a fashion industry trade magazine. As a resource for emerging & established professionals we advocate the brands, events<br />
& professionals that embodies the success of the fashion industry. Beyond mere product placement, with a goal of delivering informative content, we’re<br />
focused on giving in-depth reporting & analysis of the ever changing fashion industry trends. We enlighten our readers with the necessary tips & advice<br />
on how to create and maintain a sustainable career in the industry. Whether you’re a model, fashion designer, photographer, student or a fan of fashion,<br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine allows our readers to gain knowledge often only revealed behind closed doors.<br />
104 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | <strong>Blanc</strong> <strong>Noir</strong> & <strong>Couture</strong><br />
Fashion Xchange Magazine<br />
All Fashion. All Business. No Gossip.