CURIOUSER NEW YORK

Last year during February and September 2011 fashion weeks , Nedret Tacuriglu 's designs blew me away. I've been always a fan of the Turkish designers - [as much as I've been a fan of Turkish culture since the very first time I've actually met and befriended an exchange student from Istanbul back in 1998 while still in college - we were both part of a scholarship, sponsored by the International Cultural Service Program (ICSP) ]. This girl taught me a lot about her homeland, and she taught me all the right things - so I learned earlier about the real country through the eyes of a beholder, not through some stereotypes... What I've noticed about the Turkish designers right away is they are like the Italian designers - they know the color, how to work with it and how to mix-and-match it! They are also very attentive to the details of the designs. The handwork requires some serious close-ups, which you cannot really see from the photos, unless you look very, very c...

Yes, I do - do like British designers. I'm a bit subjective towards them. I think whoever came from UK - be it Kate Winslet, Agatha Christie, Anthony Hopkins, Charles Dickens, Alexander McQueen or John Lennon - they've rocked (and some still do) our world. That's one of the reasons I was looking forward to seeing Romero Bryan's collection. This innovative London-based designer Romero Bryan made his first appearance at Couture Fashion Week in New York City this year, even though in his native United Kingdom, he's a rather known and popular designer.

Designer Luis Machicao was the only designer in the Couture Fashion Week New York who brought 'rock-n-roll' to the fashion week. His latest collection was a true joy to watch, because it was so damn colorful and fun - I absolutely loved his Fall 2012 Collection!

During the intermissions I took my camera on a short spin around the hallways of Waldorf-Astoria to shoot what regular people wore to the couture fashion shows. Here's a mini report behind the scenes of the Couture Fashion Week Fall 2012 - a rather diverse crowd of people. What I've noticed from a bit of shooting that I did was that the red color was the predominant color and was present in almost each one of these people's outfits. Is the IT RED color coming back? You tell me...

This latest metal couture creations from a New York-based designer Laurel DeWitt for her LaureLuxe label were truly a piece of art. I could tell that DeWitt had something to do with New York City as I watched her runway show, because the black color is a predominant color in her Fall 2012 Collection. Turned out to be that - she is, as a matter of fact, a native New Yorker - [black color, as I've mentioned it many times before in my blog, is very much liked among the New Yorkers; It's an 'ultimate' do-it-all color, if you know what I mean...] DeWitt's collection can be described as fantastically bold. To her, metal knows no limits, and as you will see from the photos - she really pushes the boundaries of where and how the metal can be applied to an outfit, from top to toe...

This is the second time I see a luxury and couture knitted collection by Janina Stankiene for her Janerations label. Last September she wowed me with her knits from her Spring 2012 Collection. While personally I find knits a rather difficult material to work with - [seriously, how much of a knit variation one can come up, right?] - it seems as if every time I see a collection by Stankiene, she pulls the creativity out of pretty much nothing, meaning - out of almost nothing, she makes something. And this something is pretty incredible. Her knitted collection, actually, makes me wanting winter...

This is the Fall 2012 Collection by a New York City-based designer ALICAT Avril Lemieux. I found the collection very 'French', if I must say so. Very noir . I don't know if Avril Lemieux meant it to be this way, but aside from the chains - a rather interesting take on a classic ala Marlene Dietrich look - her designs reminded me of the Parisian 60s - [only if I could do a soundtrack for this blog post, I'd do this one ...]

This is the Fall 2012 Collection by Edwing D'Angelo , which took my breath away.  Lace, leather, eye masks, smooth long ponytails, high heels, tight waist both  feminine  and sexual skirts and dresses, corsets... So S&M - the sensual way.  So femme fatale. So something I'd definitely wear, sans the facial mask.  

This is the latest collection by Yuliana Candra under her BlacMéra label. BlacMéra is a couture brand founded by Yuliana Candra, with a vision to bring the femininity and the romanticism of the old world to modern, strong, and powerful women. To attain an effortless elegance with international appeal, the designer draws her inspiration from the heritage of world cultures and transforms the rich nuances into contemporary high fashion through detailed craftsmanship and the finest textiles. 

This is Fall 2012 Collection by Washington, DC-based designer Laura Williams. Entitled “Dreams”, the latest collection by Laura Williams features simple yet elegant designs with a wide appeal to women of discriminating tastes. Williams' creations are characterized by an original sense of style and exceptional craftsmanship, and are known for their versatility and wearability. Accessories at the upcoming fashion show will be provided by the creative and talented Melody Burns of Kiini Ibura Jewelry, Brooklyn, NY.

Still perplexed how some of the fashion bloggers can turn over the material - [photos and videos] - they've shot at a fashion show on the same day of the show - how, how, how is it possible? It took me two days to just go over, select, edit and post the photos from Day One of the Couture Fashion Week, and it's not even all of it... I actually - [to my own sadness] - had to select just a few out of very many that I've shot. Here's a collection by a Spanish designer  Isabel Zapardiez  - the Couture Bridal Designs. Obviously, it was the whitest as it can get of the runway shows! And, of course, it was romantic too... I'm sure it was a rather pleasurable show for all the women in the audience who are either already planning a wedding and/or they are dreaming about it. As for me, it was just an enjoyment to see the handwork of the white dresses - gowns. At some moment a thought on getting married didn't seem like a bad idea at all...

Yesterday was the first day of the Couture Fashion Week New York.  I was running late and had to, unfortunately, miss two shows. I was also worried that knowing how fierce the battle for the 'sunny spot' on a photo press panel can get, I was not looking towards facing the many male photographers on the scene. There were about 50 men in the press/photo to a few of the gals. But I've learned from the trade - [that is - having worked as a journalist] that you don't have to be nasty, as a matter of fact, if you are strategically nice to your fellow press members, they'd be willing to open up and be nice as well. And here it goes...

Sometimes it's the general public at a fashion show that has most interesting looks - not even the show's models... At Irina Shabayeva's Fall 2012 Collection fashion show I really liked the men's styles.These men pulled off a very urban "New York" fashion style very well, very easy. Cargo pants, army boots, clean cut bright color jacket and a fedora...and a scarf

It's time to bring out and about my new camera. It's time to shoot some serious fashion...   I finally got the perfect occasion to do so - the New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Couture Fashion Week Fall 2012 that are starting next week - [ running February 9-16, 2012  and February 17-19, 2012 ] - with the pre-parties and pre-castings in the city happening already. [As a matter of fact, I'm starting to notice some very skinny tall young girls more and more on the streets of NYC, perhaps they are coming from other parts of the world just in time for castings, try-ons and walking the runaways, if chosen.] And I've got my pass...