Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com
Luca Luca Fall 2011
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com
Category Archives: Fashion
Fashion
Richard Chai Love Fall 2011
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com
BCBG Max Azria Fall 2011
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com
Hip to Be Fresh
Left to right: Rebecca Santilli and Sesheta Holder
Pop quiz FAMERS…what is the most important component of an ensemble? The correct answer would be accessories. In Steel Magnolias, Olympia Dukakis wittingly delivers one of the best zingers of the movie when she tells Darryl Hannah, “The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” And she was right. Prêt-à–porter does not provide women with the exclusivity of couture, but with accessories every woman can take the same piece of clothing and create an innovative, fashion forward look that evokes her own personality.
With a commitment to style, creativity and sustainability, Sesheta Holder and Rebecca Santilli give ladies another reason to whip out their credit card with Maven Fresh LTD. – an accessory line that is a mélange of Mother Nature, color, sparkle and simplicity that is hand made and 100% New York City inspired. Cute mutli-hue crochet hats, shawls and headbands and Swarovski crystals, beads and appliqués add a natural feel to a vintage collection with a modern twist.
I recently had a chance to speak to the “premiere fashion mavens” to learn more about Maven Fresh and find out what they think should be in every woman’s closet.
Tell us about your backgrounds?
Sesheta: Though I’ve always been creative with my hands, I didn’t get into designing jewelry until about 12 years ago, after taking classes on Holistic health. I learned so much about it that it inspired me to want to design things that reflected that knowledge. That’s when I self-taught myself how to bead and weave as well as crochet.
Rebecca: I’ve always followed my instincts when it comes to my own sense of color and style. Different forms of artistic expression run in my family. When I inherited what seems like an endless collection of vintage buttons, beads, and yarn from both of my “fashionista” grandmothers, I knew I wanted to start designing. Learning to crochet came after I met Sesheta and now I wish I started sooner!
How did you meet?
Sesheta: We met while working at the Long Island Children’s Museum. Rebecca was hired to fill my previous position after I changed departments. It was all part of the master plan because we bonded right away on diet (I’m mostly vegan and she was raised vegetarian) as well as on color and fashion.
Rebecca: Lots of days we would find ourselves coming to work dressed in the same color palette. It was not pre-planned…we are just totally on the same wavelength!
When did you first form MavenFresh Ltd?
Sesheta: It was back in late ’08 – MF was born from our conversations about how color excited both of us and about our common love of fashion, accessories and especially styling. We decided one day that we should start a line together.
What is the story behind the name MavenFresh?
Sesheta: MavenFresh is the combination of who we are as individuals as well as all the things that we believe that we want to share with the world. The name means that we are experts and connoisseurs in Fresh-ness – fresh style, organic living, healthy eating and more.
Describe the MavenFresh woman.
Sesheta: We believe the MF woman is ageless because we have found that MavenFresh has something for women of all ages – someone who is connected to what makes her happy and who isn’t afraid to be bold, and make a statement by standing out and pushing fashion norms.
All your jewelry and accessories are handmade. How long does it take for you to construct a piece?
Sesheta: Honestly, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three weeks, depending on the style and construction. We collaborate on design and sometimes creation. We know you can’t rush fabulousness so our customer has to know that many of our pieces will last a lifetime so what’s a three week wait! (This wait time really applies to our custom orders).
How do you fuse your vegan/vegetarian lifestyles into the jewelry and accessories you manufacture?
Sesheta: Our designs literally reflect who we are – people who are interested in the preservation of culture and repurposing of what is old and mixing that with new pieces/modern style. Our lifestyles encourage freshness literally – the food we eat is fresher and I think it helps inspire designs. We also are really focused on using natural components when we create.
What five essential pieces do you believe should be in every woman’s closet?
Sesheta: Skinny studded belt, day to night statement earrings, great transitional leather jacket for either casual or dressy, fabulous pair of clog or wooden heel boots [and] a MavenFresh jersey mobius. We definitely believe that it should all be accessories since you can dress up or dress down just about anything based on your accessorizing.
Accessorizing can be tricky for some women. What is one rule of thumb a women should remember when accessorizing an ensemble?
Rebecca: Don’t be afraid! So many women tell us that they could never wear something, but it is all about inner confidence.
Sesheta: Make sure that your pieces don’t compete for attention. Think of yourself like a portrait – where would you want the viewer’s eye to go first? If you start with a statement pair of earrings or a necklace, then build everything else around that so that they all work together to complete the picture.
What do you love most about New York City fashion/style?
Sesheta: I love the edge. New Yorkers are so diverse and I love that fashion can be as diverse as the people. I also love how everyone mixes vintage styles with new trends. It’s fabulous.
Rebecca: Anything goes here- and I love that! You can be inspired to reinvent your style by just a glimpse of the unique fashion combinations that surround you daily…and New York City fashion has totally confirmed my belief that it is ok to be a bit overdressed rather than underdressed.
To learn more about Maven Fresh, click http://www.etsy.com/people/MavenFresh#.
Photos courtesy of Sesheta Holder and Rebecca Santilli
Top New Fashion Brand for 2010
American Apothecary
I simply love, love, love how American Apothecary’s fuses American pharmaceutical iconography to create a visual statement about the choices we make. I also love, love, love the quality of their merchandise. Besides creating an eco-friendly line of T-shirts that are a guaranteed conversation piece, they also give 10% of their profits to drug outreach programs. Someone call Dr. Drew Pinsky and VH1, because I’m addicted. To view more of F.A.M.E NYC’s article about this bold new brand, check out https://famenycmagazine.com/2010/12/09/american-apothecary-adds-a-new-voice-to-fashion/.
To take a closer look at American Apothecary, visit http://a-apothecary.com/.
Photo: Courtesy of American Apothecary
Top Designer for 2010
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is not only a fashion deity; he is also a New York treasure. This Bronx native has created legions of devoted customers and provided a staple brand that represents the best of American fashion. For Fall 2010, Ralph Lauren provided Edwardian-inspired romance mixed in with a little boho chic. For Spring 2011, he went back to the range and sent Bonanza sexy down the runway at New York Fashion Week. The west is a familiar place for Ralph Lauren and no one interprets American style better than him. To view Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 shows, check out the following F.A.M.E NYC links, https://famenycmagazine.com/2010/02/20/ralph-lauren-fall-2010/
https://famenycmagazine.com/2010/09/19/ralph-lauren-spring-2011/.
Photos: Getty Images, IMAXtree.com and Matteo Volta
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
If a picture is worth 1000 words, then the right shot can create a media frenzy. Calvin Klein proved this with provocative photos of Kate Moss, Brooke Shields and Scott King. The photographers who shot those photos created magic and now American Apothecary has provided a group of shutterbugs the opportunity to capture lightning with their lens.
On December 14, the avant-garde T-shirt brand held the first part of the American Apothecary Photographer Challenge. Four photographers stepped up to the plate to showcase what they could do with a little bit of heroin and cocaine. The photographers shot their muses in various locations inside and outside the Levi’s Photo Workspace, located on 18 Wooster Street. PR Director John Thompson II stated he chose the location “because the artistic energy in the space was contagious, and inspiring.” The photographers certainly seemed to be affected by the creative force flowing throughout this wonderful public space producing shot after shot of the T-shirt line. The photographers also conducted a freestyle shoot to further showcase their originality and artistic vision.
The winner will be announced and displayed at American Apothecary’s “Got Snow?” charity event on December 22. Their work will also appear on American Apothecary’s website and January 2011 newsletter. F.A.M.E NYC wishes each paparazzo the best of luck.
Take a look at some behind-the-scenes photos shot by F.A.M.E NYC’s Editor
American Apothecary Adds a New Voice to Fashion
Heroin hot…cocaine cool…tapeworms titillating? When ingested, absolutely not, but when worn as a funky fashion statement, the answer is most definitely! Just ask the creative team of American Apothecary, they are pushing eco-friendly clothing in the hopes that we will all begin to “take a closer look.”
American Apothecary is the hottest new fashion label I have seen in a long time – true NYC originals. The company consists of a line of T-shirts that brandish nifty recreations of ads for turn of the century remedies that are now illicit. Imagine using cigarettes for asthma, almost as asinine as giving a patient Demerol for a migraine. American Apothecary creative team consists of Co-Presidents Jeremy Sziklay and Matthew Kronenberg, Head Designer Anastasia Fokina and PR Director John Thompson II. As I shared a glass of wine with them at their showroom on West 36th Street, it became apparent that these fashion mavericks seem more like a family instead of a company, a sort of new millennium Yours, Mines and Ours. Each of them chose a different path to arrive at this destination, so how did this cutting-edge T-shirt company come to be?
Oddly enough the seed for American Apothecary was planted in college. “I was a Psychology minor in college. These products were being used in the early 1900s and late 1800s so through psychology [I] started learning about the first things prescribed to people in the United States. So that idea kind of permeated in my mind,” Jeremy states. After college Jeremy attended law school and began working in the D. A. prosecutor’s office, next door was the narcotics department. Jeremy began to learn that the majority of cases involving drug addiction were coming from prescriptions drugs such as oxycontin and vicodin. It was then that the connection was made. “It’s amazing,” Jeremy remarks, “we’re peddling heroin, cocaine and chloroform a hundred years ago and now we’re peddling oxycontin, hydrocodone and ritalin.” After leaving the District Attorney’s office, Jeremy decided to use the fashion industry as the vehicle to make a statement about the way business is done today while educating the consumer. “So much of fashion is just superficial,” he adds, “I wanted to create fashion with a purpose, to create a conversation.”
Jeremy enlisted the talents of Anastasia Fokina to bring his vision to life. Anastasia has a background in the arts and has owned a gallery in Provincetown, MA. She credits her artistic roots in assisting her with manufacturing the company’s innovative aesthetic. “I think every designer should have some kind of arts education so they can know how to express ideas. When designing you really have to listen to what people want, you have to fulfill someone’s vision with your capability.”
Matthew Kronenberg was in real estate development before becoming a part of this new enterprise. Like most Americans, Matthew fell victim to The Great Recession and was laid off, but as the real estate door closed, a fashion window opened. “I wasn’t really happy with what I was doing anyway. About a month after I was laid off Jeremy came to me with this idea and I was like it sounds amazing. I know and have met a lot of people who’ve had problems with prescription drugs and so it did hit home. It hit home for me personally because I had a bunch of different surgeries from sports injuries and anytime I’ve been prescribed any kind of pain killer I didn’t take it, but being that I had these bottles with all these pills my friends were coming up to me asking if they could have them and I was like they were prescribed to me so chill out,” he explains, “and the idea in general was so amazing just because it was a great way to portray what we we’re trying to get across.”
John Thompson II was well on his way to building a stellar career in fashion PR before coming to American Apothecary. “Initially I came in to assist with the PR department, “he says. John was initially intrigued with the young creative fashion start-up, but, “What really sold me on the company was the box the shirts come in,” he continues, “if that creative energy was placed into a box, what else could be accomplished. And since then my hunch has paid off, everything you see [Anastasia] creates. Being in the fashion industry I have seen a lot, and a lot what she creates I have never seen before.”
Yes, a T-shirt featuring a bottle of heroin or cocaine tooth drops is very provocative, shocking even, but their eye-catching designs are one of the reasons American Apothecary is a label to watch. The other is the quality and details that goes into their product. After all, fashion is about the clothes. American Apothecary uses 100% pima cotton. The box the shirts are packaged in is a witty piece of art constructed from recycled paper; one could definitely find a use for it after taking it home. The shirts are soft and well-made; the European cut is form-fitting and accentuates the frame. The lesson behind the T-shirts is probably the most stimulating aspect of this new fashion line – inspiring Americans to educate themselves and become more cognizant about the products they consume. Best of all, 10% of their profits are given to drug outreach programs; hence, they put their money where their mouths are.
What we wear is a visual testament of our individuality, mood and beliefs. One look at a person when they enter a room can sometimes tell more about them than any words that fly from their lips. American Apothecary is perfect for the male/female consumer that craves quality clothing and loves to make a bold declaration. This year, stuff your fashion addict’s stocking with opium (T-shirt that is); I’m positive they will make it a staple in their wardrobe. Coming soon from American Apothecary…heroin on a chain, so stay tuned FAMERs.
To learn more about American Apothecary, visit www.a-apothecary.com/.
“External resource for help with Vicodin addiction: http://www.michaelshouse.com/vicodin-addiction/5-symptoms/“
Photos courtesy of John Thompson II
J’adore Amor
“Diamonds are forever”, “Every kiss begins with Kay” – the love affair with women and jewelry is an endless one. More timeless than those ill-fated teenagers from Verona that Shakespeare wrote about long ago and more infinite than the horizon at dawn. Whether it is purchased at a store on 5th Avenue or on the corner of Canal Street, women (and some men) will always desire to adorn their bodies with jewelry as a personal statement of their style and individuality. While women (me included) drool over the rings, bracelets, earrings and other glittery trinkets we used to create the perfect ensemble, little thought is given to the artisans that create the pieces of sparkle we decorate our wrists, necks and fingers with. Designers and brands like Judith Ripka and David Yurman are recognized the world over, and I predict Verna Fogg and Vina Amor will someday be as popular as these designers and brands.
I first met Verna Fogg during Fashion Week. Not only did her drop-dead gorgeous visage stand out, her jewelry was killer too. Bold…contemporary… galvanic Verna Fogg follows a path similar to the road paved by such trailblazers as Alexander McQueen and Thierry Mugler, she creates wearable art. Her pieces are unique and striking and can enhance jeans and a t-shirt or a red carpet outfit. Recently, Ms. Fogg granted me the opportunity to learn more about her love for jewelry making, influences and the origins of Vina Amor.
1. Some women love shoes; others are obsessed with handbags. Have you always had a love for jewelry?
I’ve always had a passion for jewelry and accessories. For a woman an accessory adds beauty to an outfit, just like make-up adds beauty to a face. I think earrings are the best compliment to an outfit. They’re always eye-catching because people make eye contact with you first and earrings are the first accessory that is seen.
2. What was the first piece of jewelry you ever created?
The first piece of jewelry I ever created was a personally designed flame/leaf-like shaped earring out of colored vinyl. I still use some vinyl in my collections.
3. Were you inspired by any past or contemporary jewelry designers when you first started creating jewelry? If so, which ones?
I was never inspired by any other designers when I first started to create jewelry. Not that I don’t like any other designers, but I inspire myself. I think that all designers are somewhat inspired by others in some way. If it’s not the next person who inspires them, it’s other reasons like emotions or incidents that happen and ideas start to stir in their minds. I am more inspired by my many feelings than by other people. Even angry thoughts have inspired some of my designs.
4. Tell me about the day when you decided you wanted to build a brand with your designs.
Around springtime, I decided to build my brand (Vina Amor). I kept receiving calls from my local customers to make them pieces for shows, parties and dinners they were attending. And when I notice I was making money, it started to make sense to me to just make Vina Amor a business.
5. How did you come up with the name Vina Amor?
I have a mixed-race background and I wanted to infuse with some of my Spanish heritage into my brand. “Vina” means to want and to yearn for in Latin and “Amor” of course means love in French. I want people all over to want and love my jewelry.
6. How long does it take to manufacture a piece of jewelry – from concept to the finished product?
When it comes to completing one whole Vina Amor piece the shortest time can take about an hour. Time coincides with detail, so the more detailed the more time it takes. Also the more expensive it can be.
7. At this very moment, which is your favorite piece?
At this moment my favorite pieces are my Picasso collection. I have three versions of them.
8. Describe the feelings you had when you sold your first piece of jewelry.
I didn’t feel like anything because when I sold my first piece I didn’t realize I had a business on my hands. It wasn’t until I sold a few pieces that it rang bells in my head that I really have something going here. It made me feel talented. It made me start to design more for others and not just for me.
9. You mentioned in your Concrete Loop interview that you are most inspired by your emotions. Do you listen to music when you are designing? If so, what type of music do you listen to?
When it comes to the mood I am in when I am designing, I usually pop in a DVD and watch the same movie over and over again. Sex and the City 1 & 2 and The Social Network have been in heavy rotation lately. As for music I listen to all types of music. I have no particular genre that I stick to.
10. What do you love most about what you do?
What I love most about what I do is thoughts in my head becoming to a real product that I can touch and feel. The idea of creating ideas is what makes this fun. I am creating things that are directly from my imagination so it feels like I’m part of every piece that I make.
11. What fashion brands do you believe are most compatible to your jewelry?
I don’t see Vina Amor being compatible to one particular brand. It is different enough to be in a class of its own, yet versatile enough to work with any other brand when worn. I want people to wear my brand in conjunction with all types of other brands to make their appearance what they wish it to be. I want to be the icing for any type of cake.
12. New York City is one of the fashion capitals of the world, with Brooklyn being one of the most eclectic places on Earth. How does New York City, Brooklyn in particular influence your jewelry designs?
When ever you are somewhere and they scream out is ‘Brooklyn in the house,’ almost half of the room raises their hand. There are a lot of different styles and ideas in Brooklyn. Outside of the diverse styles of people walking around in NYC, I also am influenced by the buildings and things that are part of my everyday environment. I once made a necklace that looked like the Brooklyn Bridge. That was one of my early pieces that not too many people have ever seen.
13. Describe the Vina Amor woman.
There is no such thing as a Vina Amor woman. My vision is one that has any type of woman wearing my jewelry. So I guess technically everyone is a Vina Amor woman. And if you’re not a Vina Amor woman, I want to turn you into one.
14. Currently your jewelry line includes rings, earrings and necklaces. Will you be adding bracelets or other accessories soon?
Right now Vina Amor consists of earrings, necklaces and rings. Bracelets are now being introduced to the collection. Brooches will join the Vina Amor line as well. The will always be more to come. Ideas are limitless.
15. You have quite a celebrity following. Tell me some of the celebrities/publications that have worn/featured your jewelry?
When it comes to product placement I have had two winners from ANTM (America’s Next Top Model) Eva (Pigford) Marcielle and Jasleen Gonzalez, BET Host Rocsi from 106&Park and Dawn Richards from Dirty Money.
16. If you could choose to give one of your pieces to Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sarah Palin or First Lady Michelle Obama, who would you choose and why?
If I had the honor to give any one of these women a piece of jewelry it wouldn’t be anything from my current collection. I would look at which ever individual it was and I would design a piece that complimented her as a person and match her style.
17. Are you interested in any other areas of the fashion industry?
Yes, I would love to explore other areas of fashion. But first I want to master the area that I’m currently in. Once I master this one I can focus on another.
18. Where would you like Verna Fogg and Vina Amor to be in the next five years?
I want to have Vina Amor as a household name that is well known and desired, but also somewhat exclusive. I want it to be a line of jewelry that is worn by both celebrities and normal women.
19. Besides the website, where can a consumer go to purchase your unique designs?
Currently the best way to get my jewelry is online. I have a few pieces at Supernova Boutique on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, but since I hand craft and make so many different colors and styles of certain pieces, more people like to order online to get exactly what they want.
20. Christmas is coming soon. If someone wanted to purchase one of your pieces as a gift, when is the cut off date to place an order?
With the holidays (Christmas) coming, the best way is to order a piece or pieces of jewelry by the last week of November until the first week of December to guarantee you can have it by the holidays.
Want check out more of Vina Amor? Take a look at the website, http://www.vinaamor.com/.
Photos courtesy of Verna Fogg
F.A.M.E NYC Model Profile
Christian Brown
During Fashion Week I get the opportunity to meet and converse with myriad people, but this September was the first time I talked with a human mannequin. American Apothecary’s Fashion Week event at Hells Kitchen, located on 9th Street, boasted trendy, fashion forward t-shirts, a signature drink and models draped in their gear; Mr. Brown was one of them. Even with a plethora of NYC’s fashionable chatting, drinking and moving about, Chris Brown’s earnest face and virile physique were noticeably obvious.
Chris is a native of Washington Heights where his future was constantly prophesied, “Since I can remember people have always approached me and assumed I was a model or that I should model,” he says. While working on the film Just Wright, Chris’ dreams and future finally collided. He made friends with Mehcad Brooks, one of the stars of the movie, who persuaded him to take acting/modeling seriously. “A person of his status telling me [I had potential] gave me the push I needed to go all out and chase my dreams,” he says. Chris also credits PR maven John Thompson II with showing him the ins and outs of the modeling industry as well as connecting him with good photographers.
This past summer Chris signed with Silver Models and has worked with Poetik Design- by Nicklaus Jones, N8KD- Desi Adorn, WashHouse Jeans- by Danny “Moya” Reyes and Combat Pro uniforms for Nike. He described booking his first job as “getting the monkey off my back.” “In this business there is a lot of rejection,” he adds, “but from that point on I knew I would book other jobs and it solidified me as a working model.” As Chris is aware of the rejection that comes with the business, he is also cognizant of the challenges people of color face in the fashion industry. Although names and faces like Iman, Tyson Beckford, Naomi and Tyra have become legends, the road they paved is still an uphill one and the industry is slow to welcome change. “Ethnic models in this industry are often immediately labeled and put into the urban category and that limits prospective work,” Chris says. “Those who do break out of “label” are often recycled. You will see the same models and actors in campaigns, television shows and movies.”
Although this fact may stop some, Chris’ determination is as solid as his chiseled arms. He refuses to let the self-doubt or negative responses derail him from his goals of modeling and acting. Chris uses a quote by William Shakespeare that personifies his will to succeed, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we often might win, by fearing to attempt.”
Tell me your favorite memory from high school.
My favorite memory from high school is winning the NYC and State Catholic High School championship. My Rice High School brothers/teammates and I had a blast that season. We ran through the Catholic High School league finishing 28-1, finishing number one in the tri-state and number three in the nation.
Describe the perfect first date.
The perfect first date would have to be a candle lit dinner outside at night, eating amazing food sipping on wine and having deep conversation.
Boxers, Briefs, Boxer/Briefs or Commando?
Boxer/Briefs
Describe your grooming techniques.
Clean cut, neat and fashion forward
Favorite Drink
Chardonnay
Favorite Designer
Ralph Lauren/ Sean John
Sex on the first date or not
All depends on the vibe. If two grown people hit it off at the right place/right time and most importantly it feels right- why not?
The one item that has to go into your luggage
Cologne
Paris, Milan or Tokyo?
All three, I love to travel
Give us a model secret
If I tell you, then it wouldn’t be a secret
Photos/Slideshow: Desi Adorn, Arturo Lorde, Oleg Lugovskoy, Luis Morillo, Joanna Pena, Max the Photographer, Candita Robinson, Jason Rodriguez
To see more of Christian Brown, visit, www.whoischristianbrown.com.
F.A.M.E NYC Magazine 