Harlem's Fashion Row Partners with Major Retailers to Create Shopping Directory for Black and Latino Designers

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Harlem's Fashion Row Partners with Major Retailers to Create Shopping Directory for Black and Latino Designers

It is no secret that Black-owned and Latino brands are significantly underrepresented in the retail industry; however, all that is changing due to the increased demand for Black-owned brands. In fact, a new survey commissioned by Bloomberg and conducted by Morning Consult revealed that over a quarter of Black Americans say that they purchase from Black-owned brands frequently.

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JORDACHE TAPS BROOKE SHIELDS IN LATEST CAMPAIGN

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JORDACHE TAPS BROOKE SHIELDS IN LATEST CAMPAIGN

Jordache announces actress and entrepreneur Brooke Shields will star in its next advertising campaign. Shields has had an illustrious career as a model and actress appearing in some of the world's most memorable advertisements and films. By tapping Shields, Jordache continues the legacy of featuring strong and successful women wearing denim in their campaigns.

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Fifth Anniversary Blue Jacket Fashion Show Featuring Billy Porter, André Leon Talley and More Goes Virtual

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Billy Porter wearing Thom Browne at the Blue Jacket 2019 runway show during NYFW.

Billy Porter wearing Thom Browne at the Blue Jacket 2019 runway show during NYFW.


The fifth annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation will be held virtually—and with a newly personal approach—at 7:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 4, 2021, which is also World Cancer Day. Janssen Oncology, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, will return as the official healthcare sponsor of the event, which helps raise awareness about the devastation of prostate cancer and the importance of screening and early detection, as well as treatment options across the disease continuum.

The event will again unite the fashion, entertainment, healthcare and media worlds to openly discuss prostate cancer, with a new emphasis on racial disparities and underserved communities—and with the models' individual homes and personal spaces standing in for a shared runway. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into participants' personal lives will hope to inspire viewers to take charge of one's own health and treatment.

The program will feature virtual one-on-one discussions with leading celebrities and fashion, medical and research experts, and conclude with a socially distant version of the initiative's traditional Blue Jacket runway show.

Event participants include fashion industry icon André Leon Talley, actors Billy Porter, Mario Cantone and Dominic Fumusa, TV personalities Mike Woods, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Don Lemon and Bill Nye, and celebrity stylist Ty-Ron Mayes. Top fashion designers including Michael Kors, Thom Browne, Stephen F, Duckie Brown, Nick Graham, Ben Sherman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bruno Magli and Michael Strahan and Joseph Abboud for Men's Wearhouse will reimagine the traditional "blue jacket" that participants will then model in their own unique ways.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime. Risk factors for prostate cancer include increasing age, African ancestry, family history of the disease, certain inherited genetic conditions, as well as other factors (e.g., diet, chemical exposure, smoking). Men should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer screening options starting at age 50, or 40 if in a high-risk group.

"Janssen Oncology is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show once again to raise awareness of prostate cancer. This year, we are especially proud to help shift the focus to reflect patients most impacted," says Rodney Gillespie, VP of Sales & Marketing at Janssen Oncology, and himself a participant in the event. "Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Black men, who are also twice as likely to die from the disease as white men. Janssen Oncology is committed to raising awareness of the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer in Black communities as we work to eliminate health inequities for those living with and impacted by prostate cancer."

"As we discover how genes work in prostate cancer in order to detect it far earlier and treat it far more precisely, we accelerate the end of death and suffering from prostate cancer," says Jonathan W. Simons, MD, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. "The Prostate Cancer Foundation prizes our partnership with the Blue Jacket Fashion Show. It heightens awareness of prostate cancer, encourages every man to talk to his doctor about personal and family risks, prioritizes screening and stylishly encourages a healthier lifestyle."

To reserve a "seat" at the 2021 Blue Jacket Fashion Show, you can register at www.bigmarker.com/blue-jacket/2021. All attendees must register by Wednesday, February 3, 2021. After the event, the show will be available for viewing on Blue Jacket's YouTube channel.

Donations toward prostate cancer research can also be made on the Prostate Cancer Foundation's website at www.pcf.org/bluejacket.

FASHIONADO

Jason Wu collaborates WILD BEAUTY Exclusive Florals

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Today, 1-800-Flowers.com®, one of the world's leading floral providers, announced it has collaborated with global design talent, Jason Wu, to release an exclusive assortment of modern and elegant bouquets. The Jason Wu for Wild Beauty™ collection, which is now available nationwide, features on-trend arrangements that embody the designer's signature aesthetic of femininity and sophistication. Behind-the-scenes content, specially designed 'thank you' notes and the ability to preview select bouquets in 3D will allow customers to have an immersive digital experience as they are introduced to the new collection. This marks Jason Wu's first collaboration with a floral and gifting brand.

"Jason Wu is one of the world's most renowned fashion designers and we are thrilled to collaborate with him on this truly original collection, which reflects his unique point of view in floral design and bouquet presentation," said Valerie Ghitelman, Vice President, Product Development and Design, 1-800-Flowers.com. "We are excited to not only share these beautifully crafted arrangements with our customers, but to engage them with distinctive content that provides insights into Jason's design influences and more."

"Playing a role in the intimate decision of what one chooses to wear each day is such an important part of what I do," said Jason Wu. "To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor. This collection with 1-800-Flowers.com is especially meaningful to me because of my lifelong love of flowers. Floral elements continuously inspire me and have been a consistent theme throughout my entire career. I'm thrilled to celebrate the beauty of flowers in this new and special way."

A Collection Influenced by Jason Wu's Design Aesthetic: Jason's design influences, such as modern femininity and refined style, are reflected throughout the entire Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection. Chic, gathered arrangements include freshly cut flowers – such as roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, thistle, aster and mini calla lilies, among others – that are grown with love at select eco-friendly, sustainable farms. Each bouquet, which includes a mix of textures and florals unique to the season, arrives wrapped in white kraft paper and is nestled inside a signature gift box. Customers can also opt to order a galvanized flower pail to showcase their arrangement. The collection includes:

Bouquets from the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection come with a custom hangtag, which prompts recipients with a QR code to enjoy a mobile web experience. Exclusive and engaging content includes behind-the-scenes footage from Jason's Ready-To-Wear Fall 2020 New York Fashion Week Show and the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection photo shoot, both of which took place earlier this year. It also provides access to special 'thank you' notes whereby bouquet recipients can instantly connect with and send a digital message to the sender. Find all this at www.1800flowers.com/jasonwu-connect.

FASHIONADO

Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Mariacarla Boscono at LA PERLA flagship boutique opening in Milan

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KENDALL JENNER, LIU WEN and MARIACARLA BOSCONO joined in celebrating the La Perla Fall/Winter 2017 ready-to-wear collection and new flagship boutique located on via Montenapoleone in Milan during Milan Fashion Week where LA PERLA hosted a collection presentation and unveiling event with campaign stars Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen and Mariacarla Boscono. The evening’s décor was inspired by the British garden — a nod to the brand’s most recent collection by Creative Director, Julia Haart. The stunning boutique, spanning over 2,583 square feet, came to life with a street-wide floral installation including pillars of blooming bougainvillea; cloaked in the brand’s FW17 NYFW runway video.

The historic La Perla boutique on Milan’s most fashionable street has moved to a new location at 14 Montenapoleone and has doubled its size, expanding to over 2,583 square feet across two floors.

A geometric arrangement steals the scene at the entrance, decorated with golden metal trims and the La Perla logo against a light blue background. These two architectural features can be seen throughout the flagship store, which was designed by the Baciocchi Associati Studio, as all La Perla boutiques have been since the brand was acquired in 2013 by Pacific Global Management, the holding company owned by the family of Silvio Scaglia.
 

The main space is illuminated by pure white marble floors, which contrast sharply with the sapphire blue carpets adorned with metallic herringbone trims, detailing that can also be seen on the dark blue aluminum ceiling. The walls are covered in powder blue panels and golden mesh accents inspired by the weave of tulle, a symbolic fabric representing La Perla style. The juxtaposition of blue and white repeats on the stunning white marble staircase and on the soft, sinuous velvet-covered seats. The refined feel of this space is emphasized by the central pillar and private suite decorated with diamond-shaped mirrors.

The upper floor is divided into four rooms decorated with display niches and gilded mirrors. These spaces range in color, from shades of lilac and amethyst to bold purple in the VIP suite, a sophisticated and cozy lounge for the brand’s most important clients.

The relocation of the historic boutique on Via Montenapoleone falls within a global expansion project involving select La Perla flagship stores, such as the Rome boutique on Via Bocca di Leone which has also doubled in size in order to accommodate the new ready-to-wear collection— reflecting the company's new and expanded offering developed by Creative Director, Julia Haart.

fashionado

My NYFW Fall 2017

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I made my return to New York Fashion Week this season and I couldn't be happier. Gone are the long days at Lincoln Center and I'm very okay with that. Hello Manhattan! It was fabulous to hop around the city, with my partner Alex, from show to show. 

On the first day that we arrived to NYFW, timing got the better of us and we missed the Jill Stuart presentation. (So) we gratified our hunger and then hit the streets. Later in the day we attended some of the Art Hearts Fashion shows at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, followed by our support of a couple of Art Institute of Atlanta students who were showing at a smaller venue. By then end of the night, Alex and I were whipped from travel and runways and decided to turn in... of course, not before enjoying some NYC thin-slice pizza! (Don't worry, we walked nearly nine miles that day!)

The next day, Sunday the 12th, we started out at the Pier 59 Studios where we caught a glimpse of Fern Mallis and a couple of runway shows. (See runway finale videos above.) VERDAD, made its NYFW debut to a roaring crowd and Custo Barcelona shimmered with metallics and lames. These were both very exciting, chic and modern runways. 

Oh, I forgot to tell you, that on the first day, as we were "Lyfted" to our hotel - ROW NYC, very very noisy place, don't stay there! - I spotted a pair of designer pumps clacking down the sidewalk to a limo. As my eyes wandered upwards, it was la fabulosa Nina Garcia! The celebrity designer sightings continued with Alexander Wang walking out of Barney's as we were walking up and a priceless visual of Queen DVF herself holding court on a white leather club chair at her showroom. Across the street from DVF is Jeffrey, so of course, we stopped in. We met up with Jeffrey Kalinsky and chatted for a bit. He is celebrating 25 years of Jeffrey Fashion Cares in Atlanta this August - kudos!!!

Monday morning began with an appointment at the Frye Corporate offices. Their offices are on the 60th floor and there was a wind advisory in effect... Yikes! So what that the building was swaying...this was one of my fave stops on my NYFW tour! The Frye Company's Director of Marketing & PR is a super genuine, gorgeous and lovely person who carved out a very generous hour+ to meet with us and show us around. The rich leather scents throughout were fabulously intoxicating.

By late afternoon, our next runway was Sherri Hill at Gotham Hall. Famous for her prom and pageant-wear, the designer presented evening looks that sparkled with sequins, beadwork and glam. Real Housewife, Lisa Rinna and hubby Harry Hamlin walked past me after the show. I recognized the razor cut hair and signature LIPS. The front row for Sherri Hill looked the the cast of Pretty Little Liars and Mean Girls.

We ended our evening back at the Art Hearts Fashion shows. I stood next to the jewelry designer for Rich by Richie Rich and had a fun chat about him and his show which I had an invite to but I wasn't up there yet.

February 14th rolled in. It was Valentine's Day and our flight was at 4:45PM. We made a decision to skip fashion shows and enjoy a day to ourselves. After checking out of the hotel, we took a car to Little Italy where we feasted on authentic pasta dishes and red wine. Happy Valentine's Day to us! To walk it off some, we wandered into Crate & Barrel where I noticed a ridiculous line of teenagers waiting to get into a showroom - there was a huge freakin' line with bouncers and security as all this teen spirit eagerly awaited entry into Kylie Jenner's Pop Up Shop... whatevs. Alex and I went somewhere better and with no line - the Acne Studios showroom.

NYFW came to end for us - though it's lives on through my collection slideshows! I'm already dreaming of NYFW September...

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