Boston Fashion Week 2014: Copley Catwalk Series

          The mall at Copley Place held a catwalk series during Boston Fashion Week to showcase local designers. Unlike most fashion week events, it was open to the public on a first come, first serve basis, generating a long line of college students and fashion enthusiasts eager to get a taste of the fashion scene.

A look from Eileen Fisher's collection.

          The show I attended on October 6th featured a collection from Eileen Fisher, followed by an awe-inducing showcase by students of the School of Fashion Design. Fisher's looks were cool and casual - denim, tees, a couple cozy sweaters and winter coats, clothing you can find in most retail stores. But the real spectacle was the student work. The audience actually murmured "Ooo" and "Aaah" upon seeing these couture pieces.

           Among the student designers were Khatu Ho Wong, Yue Wu, Lindsay Calderon, Patricia Coombs, Ali Bianchi, Ty Sinnett, Mamatha Kothiwale, Sangya Acharya, Chynna Pope and Ada Uzuegbo. All ten artists proved their talent with evening gowns and cocktail dresses, dripping in elegance, detail and quality fabrics. Some like Wong and Calderon made striking pieces through structure and color-blocking. Others like Sinnet and Pope used draping for drama and romanticism.

White coat and full skirt by Khatu Ho Wong

Cropped black & white jacket with black mini skirt by Yue Wu

Red and black romper by Lindsay Calderon

Purple poof mini dress by Yue Wu

Cranberry and navy dress with belt detail by Lindsay Calderon

Black lace top with ivory skirt by Ali Bianchi

Beaded copper and black strapless dress by Ali Bianchi

Silver evening gown with blue lace sleeves by Lindsay Calderon

Dark crimson gown with full skirt by Ty Sinnett

Dark crimson gown with full skirt by Ty Sinnett

Blue lace evening gown by Mamatha Kothiwale

Gold baby doll dress by Sangya Acharya

Pink lace strapless with tutu skirt by Khatu Ho Wong

Pink lace strapless with tutu skirt by Khatu Ho Wong

Black gown with white ruffle by Khatu Ho Wong

Dark grey gown with silver beaded bodice by Chynna Pope

Dark grey gown with silver beaded bodice by Chynna Pope

Black beaded gown with white insets by Ada Uzuegbo

Wedding dress by Chynna Pope

* As a journalist, it is my priority to deliver accurate and unbiased information. When I do express my own opinions, it is my obligation to explain my exact observations and be true to my stylistic taste and views. I will not give a designer a good review to be in their favor, nor will I abstain from giving a designer a bad review to avoid their disapproval.

Boston Fashion Week 2014: Nigel Ramsay Presents Before Midnight

           Nigel Ramsay showcased Before Midnight, a collective of his past work, at Vlora Bar and Restaurant to kick off the first day of Boston Fashion Week. The Jamaican designer described the collection as "simple with free flowing lines," pieces of his that Boston hadn't seen before. He was impressed by the response from bloggers, models, and stylists who inquired about his show. Most tables and bar seats were full by the time the fashion show began last Sunday and every model received excited applause as they walked. After the show, Ramsay was greeted by many proud and familiar faces, congratulating him on an elegant presentation.

            The looks spanned from casual, form-fitting dresses, streamlined suit separates, intricate and sexy evening gowns, laid-back menswear, and (my personal favorite) voluminous striped and plaid skirts in vibrant, primary colors. The final look was a deep red and burgundy gown with a simple silhouette, however it carried an intriguing element. A versatile train was tied corset-style to the back of the skirt, then doubled as a cape for the show's finale.

             Ramsay has been involved in the Boston fashion community for over ten years and loves the creativity the city inspires in him. He's now based in Hartford, CT and will be presenting an all new collection at the Hartford City Hall on November 8th. To purchase tickets, visit www.NigelRamsay.com.

* As a journalist, it is my priority to deliver accurate and unbiased information. When I do express my own opinions, it is my obligation to explain my exact observations and be true to my stylistic taste and views. I will not give a designer a good review to be in their favor, nor will I abstain from giving a designer a bad review to avoid their disapproval.

DIY Denim Cutoffs - Sequin Party Shorts

          The final pair of denim shorts I made this summer took the longest to make. I must have spent at least 12 hours sewing each individual strand of sequins on one side...then again on the other side.

          Needless to say, I did not tackle this project all in one day! I spent a few hours a day on my bedroom floor stitching sequins and listening to a Pandora station of The Weeknd, Trey Songz, Drake and Miguel. The perfect music, of course, to listen to while embellishing what I have deemed my Party Shorts. Since sequins aren't a typical, everyday adornment, I designed these for special occasions and nights of dancing. I discovered they look best with a simple tee to offset the sparkle and low heels so as not to look too "club-y."

DIY Denim Cutoffs - Rockstar Style

          The next pair in my series of DIY denim cutoffs was a rockstar style, complete with studs, dye and a little sparkle. For a grungy look, I ripped the bottom edges and dip-dyed the bottom of the shorts. Then, I covered one back pocket with trim and glued star studs to the front with fabric glue. It was a pretty simple design, but time consuming no less.

DIY Denim Cutoffs - Hippie Style

           I've had less time for sewing this summer (as well as blogging) since I've been freelancing, interning and endlessly apartment hunting for the upcoming school year. However, I still managed to make a few pieces before I left home for a month with my older sister in NC. My first projects were actually due in part to my sister, as I found a few pairs of her high school bell-bottoms in a pile of  old clothes. I've wanted to revamp old pairs of jeans into embellished, cutoff shorts for a while, so the hardest part was deciding which of my ideas I would choose.

            For the first pair, I created a hippie-inspired design with trim, embroidered flowers, iron-on appliques and lace. I had a little trouble with some of the iron-ons sticking, so I secured them with fabric glue. Other than that, I was really happy with how they came out!