Fashion Examiner

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Luxury wedding dresses from New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring Summer 2017

Doha bridal gown from the Naeem Khan Bridal
Spring 2017 collection Photo: ©Shawn Punch

With New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring Summer 2017 finished, its time to take a moment and appreciate some of the lovely bridal gowns created by some of the most talented designers in the industry. Some of the skilled designers include Naeem Khan, Rita Vinieris, and husband and wife duo Sachin & Babi. They each presented wedding gown collections that showcased their individual styles and dazzling gowns.

The Naeem Khan Bridal Spring 2017 runway show presented twenty-three luxury, and incredibly detailed wedding dresses. The fashion show was held in his darkened penthouse showroom on 36th Street in Manhattan just off of Fashion Avenue. Mr. Khan expanded mainstream confines and created bridal gowns in pale blue, lavender and even black. One of the prettiest in the collection is a lavender thread-embroidered long-sleeve gown with open back and matching veil. This gown most clearly reflects his Indian heritage.

Rita Vinieris held a runway show for her Rivini Spring Summer 2017 bridal collection, and a fashion presentation of twelve looks debuting her Alyne bridal line. Both shows were held at The Standard's Highline Room & Terrace. The Rivini collection consisted of nineteen gowns. The majority of the dresses looked light, flowing and seemed to float on air. One particularly sexy wedding dress is Didi - a translucent beaded gown in a spiraling mix of hand wrapped flowers.

Husband and wife fashion team Sachin & Babi Ahluwalia held a lovely presentation for the debut of their Sachin & Babi bridal collection in their showroom at 132 36th Street. Their Spring Summer 2017 Noir Bridal line has twelve looks. Mr. Ahluwalia said the "Sachin & Babi girl has gown up, gotten engaged and now needs a wedding dress." He added, their girls "have always come to us for those really feminine, light pieces...and a lot of things from our ready-to-wear collections like the emphasis on bows; either on the hip or on the back are here. I always try to look at this collection from 360 degrees. In a sense you need to see the girl from all sides." Click on link to view more images from New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring Summer 2017.

Model walks runway in an Amafi bridal gown from the Naeem Khan Bridal
Spring 2017 collection Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model walks runway in a Luxor bridal gown from the Naeem Khan Bridal
Spring 2017 collection. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model walks runway in an Amman bridal gown from the Naeem Khan Bridal
Spring 2017 collection. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model Brooke walks runway in a "Leia" bridal gown from the Rivini Spring Summer 2017
bridal collection by Rita Vinieris. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model Viki walks runway in a "Didi" bridal gown from the Rivini Spring Summer 2017
bridal collection by Rita Vinieris. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model Brooke walks runway in a "Willa" bridal gown from the Rivini Spring Summer 2017
bridal collection by Rita Vinieris. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Bridal bow on hip. Model poses in a bridal gown from the Sachin and Babi Spring Summer 2017 debut
Bridal Noir collection presentation. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model poses in a bridal gown from the Sachin and Babi Spring Summer 2017 debut
Bridal Noir collection presentation. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Model poses in a bridal gown with bows in front, from the Sachin and Babi Spring Summer 2017
debut Bridal Noir collection presentation. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Ann Taylor Fall Winter 2016

Ann Taylor F/W 2016 ©Shawn Punch 2016

On Wednesday April 20, Creative Director Austyn Zung unveiled her Ann Taylor Fall Winter 2016 collection with a fashion show presentation held at the Ann Taylor showroom, located at 7 Times Square in New York City. This collection of thirty ready-to-wear outfits and accessories for women is elegant, strong, confident and pretty. There are choices galore for any woman to wear lovely clothes any day of the week.

According to Ms. Zung, "For the collection we were slightly inspired by the 1960s style icons, British and French, such as Françoise Hardy and Catherine Deneuve. You see it in subtle gestures. We don't go literal with anything but we definitely nod to that." She added "You'll see it in the trapeze shapes and the cropped pants that show the ankles, and the block heels. And we have a lot of fun with patterns, jacquard, you'll see some pattern around opulent bright reds and golds, and a lot of animal in ready-to-wear and also the accessories."

The designer always strive to bring femininity and strength together in order to..."have the clothes be incredibly versatile. I thinks this idea of versatility is really important to women today; who ask can I take that jacket and wear it in six different ways?" These clothes can be worn to transition smoothly from work during the day, to dinner or a chic event in the evening. Please click on link to view all looks from Ann Taylor Fall Winter 2016 collection.

White pant & scarf with off-white sweater Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Fur and flower pattern pant suit Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Orange and blue jacquard patterns Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Gold flower patterns Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Feminine and strong looks Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Vivid colors and patterns Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Color blocking and flora prints Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Jewelry, shoes and fur Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Guest attend Ann Taylor Fall Winter 2016 presentation Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Highlights from New York Fashion Week Fall 2016

Veronica Beard Fall 2016 Photo: © Shawn Punch 2016

The fabulous and luxurious New York Fashion Week Fall 2016 season just ended. There were hundreds of fashion shows that took place across New York City from February 9 to February 18. Guests were able to see the latest in luxury and creative womenswear that traveled down the catwalk in a fashion runway show, or they took a minute to admire an outfit modeled in a fashion presentation. While it is impossible to cover the over 300 fashion shows, here are some highlights from NYFW Fall 2016.

Josie Natori created 22 looks that were all sophisticated and elegant for her Fall 2016 collection. Her fashion presentation was held in the iconic Doubles Club at the Sherry Netherland Hotel. According to Ms. Natori, "It's about the glamour the 70's when we started our business. It's bridging the day-to-night...opulent fabrics, but at the same time a pant-suit look, full length dresses and sexiness in the lace dresses." Coincidently Ms. Natori and the Doubles Club are both celebrating close to 40 years in business.

Reem Acra's "The Secret World of The Femme Fatale" collection had a palpable sense of mysterious and sensuality. She presented her runway show at NYFW: The Shows in the Arc at Skylight Moynihan Station. One of the best looks in the collection is a black lace asymmetric dress with embroidered overlay. The entire collection will leave you in awe.

Childrenswear was very visible this past season. Puerto Rican kidswear designer Michelle Ann presented her Fall Winter 2016 "Equestrian Chic" runway show, followed by a runway show with acting skits from the Bound By The Crown Fall 2016 collection by Susanna Barrett Paliotta. Both of these outstanding shows were produced by Fashion Gallery New York Fashion Week at the Affinia Hotel. Please click on link to view more images from New York Fashion Week Fall 2016.

DEXTERDEXTERDEXTER Fall 2016 Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Marchesa Fall 2016 Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Vivienne Tam Fall Winter 2016 Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Reem Acra Fall 2016 Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Jet Bailon [(left) niece of singer-songwriter, actress Adrienne Bailon] and Jalen Jeter-Martin (nephew of retired NY Yankees players Derek Jeter and son of Sharlee Jetter, walk runway together in outfits from the Levi's Fall 2016 collection, for the Rookie USA presents Kids Rock! 2016 fashion show, at The Shows, during New York Fashion Week Fall 2016.

L-R Asia Prus (MSA Models), Jennae Q (D1 Models) and Kayla (Fenton Models) pose in outfits from Tigresse by Fabio Yukio of Brazil during the Epson "Digital Couture" 2016 fashion show, during New York Fashion Week Fall 2016.