Ever wonder What Presentation Shows are Like? Sneak Peak Inside ORGANIC's Spring 2011 Line

A previous post, highlighting some of life's more attainable pleasures, reminded me of footage that I shot in NYC for Spring 2011.

My favorite socially conscious designer John Patrick of Organic described the inspiration for his collection as "the water that connects us." John Patrick explained that water is free flowing and is that unifying thing that all of us need and are entitled to. He emphasized that he didn't create the line for money, but rather, he was doing it for the love of design and the need for people to hear his greater message.

Although many of John's travels are to Third World countries, parts of the south remain hidden behind the "cotton curtain" and experience the same kind of life as those in opposite hemispheres. Therefore his global based presentation had a suitable all-American relevance as it mirrored the romantic and unpretentious nature of a beloved Country Time Lemonade commercial...Ahhh refreshing, graceful, chic.  Models sat on crates leisurely mingling about the set in their pale colored, patent leather, wing-tipped shoes. An enormous woven hat and over sized lightly tailored linen took me back to childhood memories south of the Mason-Dixon where folks talked of drinking sweet water (which was nothing more than well water with locally grown sugar cane stirred in).  I can imagine that sweet water provides a universal refreshment across the globe.

This brings me to my final point in this post which is: that I love a presentation style fashion show. I could never have seen the level of detail sitting front row in a runway show as I got mingling the crowd of a presentation. Watch the video above you'll feel like you were right there talking to the designer elbow to elbow with major magazine editors, having the models flirt with YOUR camera. From now on I'm going to every presentation I can, because I know that I'll certainly get my camera's worth.

Halloween Portrait of Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge by Douglas Levere

This weekend Torn Space Theatre Company hosted a Halloween fundraising gala to support the production of avant-garde stage drama here in Buffalo, New York.  That's me on the right dressed as Josephine Baker with the incomparable Dorothy Dandridge (left).  In addition to her clutch "Dorothy" is also clasping a bottle of vodka and a bottle of pills.  Dangerous? Not anymore.  Necessary? Absolutely.  I'm holding a stogie, 'cause every vamp needs one.

Not Just a Gathering of Gobblins...

Guests were asked to come dressed as famous people who had passed to "the other side" in addition to the look we were expected to come in character and tell their stories.  I don't like to brag but I think that we had the most interesting costumes there and we spent not a cent on them... that's what I call making good with what you got.

The super cool photography portraits were done by Mr. Douglas Levere  you can view his other wcostumesork by visiting his site at:  http://www.douglaslevere.com/

Autumn's Simple Things

With all of the glitz and glamour of the past few weeks I decided to bring it down a few notches and post a more attainable autumn treasure. 
In a recent Facebook post someone snapped a picture to poke fun at, and challenge the design aesthetic of, this community when they used antique bed posts in lieu of a more traditional fence to encircle the vegetable beds.  However I, on the other hand, beg to differ. Not only was this a good way for some really decorative pieces to avoid the nearest landfill, it also lent some serious charm and stand out quality to what would otherwise be just another urban garden.  Oh yeah...If there was a person in this picture I'd award them the October Style Watch winner just to show those garden bullies what's what!

That was Then, This is Now --From the tents at Bryant Park to the courtyard at Lincoln Center

It's October which marks the close of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week shows across the globe and makes this the perfect opportunity to reminice a bit about Bryant Park and gush over the new digs at Lincoln Center. Although I'm relatively new to the whole MBFW madness I found that in chatting with some of the regular bloggers and media types that we all agree Lincoln Center is the superior venue to host this biannual event. The Mabelline Lounge served as my living room for the time I spent in NYC giving me a stelth vantage point from which to capture everthing from celebrity entrances to the all-important Free Giveways. It also provided a quiet nook to talk to any and everyone looking to get the scoop on what's what.

In a conversation with a smartly dressed construction crew member I was told that the square footage of the general area was the exact same as that of the Bryant Park location...what a difference set up makes.