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Tag: Designer

  • Paul Tazewell Mentors Designers on Tamron Hall Show

    Paul Tazewell, the visionary costume designer behind iconic productions like “Hamilton” and “Wicked,” is bringing his expertise to the “Tamron Hall Show” as a mentor for its upcoming designer series. This initiative aims to provide a platform for emerging designers from non-traditional fashion hubs, offering them guidance and exposure.

    A New Dimension for Tamron Hall’s Designer Series

    Tamron Hall expressed her excitement about Tazewell’s involvement, stating, “Welcoming Paul Tazewell brings a beautiful new dimension to the Designer Series.” She highlighted his role in creating memorable ensembles that tell stories across regions and dimensions, transporting audiences to ethereal wonderlands in “Wicked” and lyrical battlegrounds in “Hamilton.” Hall emphasized that fashion, for Tazewell, is about “storytelling, culture, and creating something truly beautiful.”

    Tazewell’s extensive credits also include “Wicked For Good,” “Lackawanna Blues,” and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” showcasing his versatility and talent in bringing characters and narratives to life through costume design. His mentorship is expected to provide invaluable insights for the aspiring designers.

    Supporting Indie Talent and Diverse Backgrounds

    Hall’s “Designer Series” has consistently highlighted indie fashion talent each season, and this Spring’s group is particularly diverse. The featured designers—Kimaya McPherson, Dutch RicLamar, Urvi Selaska, Fiona Rose, and Ashlyn So—hail from Coral Springs, Florida; Hampton, Virginia; Mumbai, India; Clover, South Carolina; and San Mateo, California. These locations are not the traditional fashion hubs, underscoring Hall’s commitment to providing opportunities for talents who might otherwise be overlooked.

    The work of these emerging designers spans various styles, from whimsical and futuristic to elegant and regal. They will benefit from learning from decorated professionals like Tazewell, as well as previous mentors such as Dapper Dan, the late André Leon Talley, stylist June Ambrose, Fern Mallis, and Bibhu Mohapatra. Hall herself has a history of supporting independent designers, including Sergio Hudson, whose work she has proudly worn and attended at New York Fashion Week.

    • Costume designer Paul Tazewell will mentor emerging designers on ‘The Tamron Hall Show’.
    • Tazewell is renowned for his work on ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Wicked’.
    • The series aims to support designers from non-traditional fashion hubs.
    • Featured designers hail from diverse locations across the U.S. and India.
    • Tamron Hall is committed to creating opportunities for talents with vision, regardless of background.

    What are your favorite costume designs from ‘Hamilton’ or ‘Wicked’? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Akua Shabaka’s Fashion Week Self-Care Secrets

    When Akua Shabaka speaks about her designs for House of Aama, you can feel the deep connection to history and family legacy. This season, she’s channeling that energy into a collection that’s deeply personal, inspired by her mother’s side of the family and their roots in the Carolinas. It’s a beautiful homage to her grandparents, creating a collection that feels incredibly warm and familiar.

    Nostalgia Meets Self-Care Rituals

    This sense of nostalgia isn’t just in her garments; it extends to how Shabaka approaches her own routines during the whirlwind of Fashion Month. She believes in honoring history while intentionally carving out space for rest, beauty, and overall wellness. For her, self-care isn’t an indulgence—it’s a fundamental practice that keeps her grounded.

    Before heading from Los Angeles to New York for the shows, Shabaka made sure to prioritize herself. She anticipated a relaxing spa day, seeing it as a crucial part of her pre-departure ritual. Alongside treatments, getting her hair done is a non-negotiable part of her preparation.

    Hair, Glam, and Grounding Scents

    Shabaka describes her hair styling as a ritual, a way of ‘prepping her crown’ that makes her feel ready for the intense period ahead. This season, she’s opting for a ‘pick and drop’ bob, a style reminiscent of the late ’90s and early 2000s that’s making a comeback. She feels it will perfectly complement her new collection.

    Her beauty inspiration draws heavily from the past, particularly the glamour of the ’50s and ’70s. She finds the crossover of beauty trends from women who were in their twenties during the ’70s fascinating. However, for her day-to-day during Fashion Week, Shabaka prefers a simple, fresh makeup look. Her go-to essentials include blushes from Rare Beauty and Tower 28, brow gel, and a touch of lip gloss.

    And of course, fragrance plays a vital role. Her signature scent is a soft, vanilla-forward fragrance from the French niche brand Indult Paris – her absolute go-to. It’s a small detail that adds a touch of personal luxury amidst the chaos.

    Strategic Stays and Mindful Meals

    With the demanding schedule of shows, fittings, and press events, it’s easy for wellness to take a backseat. Shabaka is very intentional about creating space for it. This season, her team is staying in New Jersey instead of Manhattan. While she initially had reservations, she now sees it as a positive move.

    She believes the separation from the city’s hustle will be beneficial, allowing her to prioritize rest and good meals. Shabaka emphasizes that a nourishing breakfast and dinner are more important than people often realize for maintaining energy and focus.

    Celebrating Beyond the Runway

    Beyond her Fashion Week presentations, Shabaka has more exciting events on the horizon. Her birthday falls in October, perfectly coinciding with House of Aama’s participation in Mecca James-Williams’ JAM pop-up event in Jamaica. She’s thrilled about this opportunity, seeing it as a way to beautifully balance the intensity of Fashion Week with a joyful celebration.

    For Akua Shabaka, building House of Aama is a powerful act of storytelling, and her personal rituals are intrinsically woven into both her creative process and her well-being. From braiding her hair to spritzing her favorite scent or finding quiet moments away from the city’s buzz, she masterfully proves that the worlds of high fashion and personal wellness can coexist in perfect harmony.

    What are your favorite self-care rituals to stay balanced during busy times? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

  • Laurel Dewitt Shines at The Bomb Fashion Show

    Get ready, fashion lovers! The highly anticipated Bomb Fashion Show is just around the corner, and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever. Due to overwhelming demand, the show has moved to Willow Hall in Brooklyn, and one designer you won’t want to miss is Laurel Dewitt.

    Laurel Dewitt: Architectural Realness

    Based in Los Angeles, Laurel Dewitt is renowned for her global presence and impressive celebrity clientele. Her showroom has become a go-to destination for fashion’s most discerning curators. Dewitt is known for pushing boundaries with her signature metal fashion and statement accessories, bringing architectural realness to the forefront of New York Fashion Week.

    Prepare to be amazed by her unique creations, which often feature chainmail-inspired looks, intricate metal frames, and dazzling metallic embellishments. Her designs exude opulence, power, and a strong sense of female empowerment, making them a favorite among style icons.

    Celebrity Endorsements

    Dewitt’s talent has been recognized and worn by some of the biggest names in entertainment. The legendary Beyoncé has been spotted multiple times in Dewitt’s incredible designs, and Cardi B has also rocked her creations on red carpets and in music videos, cementing Dewitt’s status as a must-have designer.

    Other notable clients include Gwen Stefani, Kylie Jenner, and Megan Thee Stallion, all of whom have showcased Dewitt’s bold and innovative style. Her ability to take risks and think outside the traditional fashion box truly sets her apart.

    Experience the Future of Fashion

    For fashion enthusiasts who embrace futurism and cutting-edge design, Dewitt’s runway presentation promises innovation like never before. Her work is a testament to the power of bold aesthetics and creative expression.

    Don’t miss your chance to witness this incredible display of talent! Purchase your tickets for The Bomb Fashion Show 2025, happening on Saturday, September 13th, and experience the magic of Laurel Dewitt’s designs firsthand.

    Are you excited to see Laurel Dewitt’s collection at The Bomb Fashion Show? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Advisry’s ‘4 Moral Tales’ at NYFW: A New Era

    Advisry, the fashion brand founded by Keith, has always been about more than just clothing. Since its debut at New York Fashion Week in Spring 2023, the brand has consistently used its collections as portals into larger universes, blending fashion with music, film, and culture.

    A Shift Towards Intimate Storytelling

    While Advisry’s vision has remained steadfast, its design language has evolved. Keith has honed his process, moving from creating individual outfits to crafting full worlds. This season, titled “4 Moral Tales,” marks what Keith describes as “a new beginning,” balancing lessons from the past with a focus on collections designed for both the runway and retail.

    Inspired by the French filmmaker Éric Rohmer, known for unearthing profound truths in subtle human gestures, “4 Moral Tales” embraces quiet intimacy. “It isn’t about spectacle,” Keith explains. “It’s about finding ways to communicate the ordinary decisions and gestures that reveal something deeper about who we are.”

    Blurring Lines Between Mediums

    Advisry has a history of blurring the lines between different creative mediums, staging runway events as multi-sensory experiences. For “4 Moral Tales,” Keith hints at musical components and an entirely new medium he hasn’t explored before, emphasizing that “everything is meant to accentuate the fashion.”

    The brand intentionally speaks to its creative community, acknowledging that some references might resonate more with film enthusiasts than fashion week attendees. “It’s not about everyone catching the reference,” Keith says. “It’s about making people feel seen, even if it leads them to discover something new.”

    Continuing a Legacy, Pushing Boundaries

    As Advisry approaches its ten-year mark, Keith sees the brand as a continuation of cultural designers like Virgil Abloh, who championed vision and community building. However, he also aims to push boundaries further, evolving luxury codes and the medium of fashion itself.

    Keith reflects, “Advisry can exist as both a cultural entity and a fashion house that speaks to purists.” He believes this season marks the beginning of achieving that balance. Advisry also plans to expand beyond the runway, creating more accessible ways for people to engage with the brand in their daily lives while maintaining its signature layered narratives.

    What are your thoughts on Advisry’s new direction with ‘4 Moral Tales’? Share your insights in the comments below!

  • Brandon Blackwood: 10 Years of Fashion, Community, and Growth

    Brandon Blackwood, the New York-based designer behind some of fashion’s most coveted bags and shoes, is celebrating a major milestone: ten years of his eponymous brand. From his early days as a buyer to creating custom designs for Beyoncé and launching the viral “End Systemic Racism” tote, Blackwood’s journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and a commitment to accessible luxury.

    From Neuroscience to Fashion: An Unconventional Path

    Blackwood didn’t initially set out to be a designer. After studying neuroscience at Bard College, he pivoted to fashion, working as a buyer at Crossroads Trading. It was during this time, in 2015, that he created a backpack for himself. The positive reception and frequent inquiries about the bag inspired him to start making and selling them, eventually leading to the launch of his brand via Squarespace. Early on, he would ship orders during his lunch breaks or after work, bootstrapping the venture with limited resources.

    His persistence in reaching out to editors and stylists, though often met with silence, eventually yielded results, including a shoutout in ESSENCE. By 2016, he left his job to focus on the brand full-time, further expanding its reach through collaborations with luxury subscription boxes like Luxor, which introduced his custom designs to a wider audience.

    The ‘End Systemic Racism’ Tote: A Blessing and a Curse

    The brand experienced explosive growth in 2020 with the release of the “End Systemic Racism” (ESR) tote, created in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent racial justice movement. A direct message to Kim Kardashian led to her quickly wearing the tote, resulting in an immediate surge of customers. Blackwood describes this period as both a “blessing and a curse,” as the immense popularity of the ESR tote overshadowed his broader body of work, leading to him being labeled an “activist designer.”

    Fearful of being pigeonholed, Blackwood eventually stopped production of the bag, noting that a statement against systemic racism shouldn’t become a trend. He has since worked diligently to highlight the vastness of his brand, including his CFDA nomination, custom work for Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour, collaborations with the Jean-Michel Basquiat estate, a speaking engagement at the White House, and designing amenity kits for American Airlines.

    Enduring Principles: Functionality, Affordability, and Community

    Over the past decade, Brandon Blackwood pieces, from the classic Kendrick Trunk to sneaker heels, have been distinguished by their functionality and affordability. Blackwood emphasizes his desire to create a brand accessible to his community, stating, “I want to make a brand that my cousins can afford, my friends can afford, the actual people that supported me from day one, that I actually grew up with.” This commitment to keeping prices reasonable, even amidst growth, reflects his foundational values.

    Reflecting on his journey, Blackwood shares valuable lessons learned from the challenges and successes, emphasizing that he has no regrets. He views the difficult moments as essential parts of his growth, making him more knowledgeable and well-rounded. His vision for the brand’s future extends beyond handbags to include furniture and real estate, demonstrating a continued drive for exploration and creation.

    What’s your favorite Brandon Blackwood piece? Share your thoughts in the comments below!