Runway Archives | Febeary Fashionista

Burning Guitars Basquiat Fall/Winter 2020

I am so excited to share this photo gallery from the runway show I was part of during New York Fashion Week #NYFW for the amazing Burning Guitars at The Fashion Life Tour powered by Society Fashion Week on February 7, 2020.

The show featured the Burning Guitars Basquiat Fall/Winter 2020 collection, inspired by the legendary street artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat gained notoriety during the late 1970s as part of the graffiti duo known as SAMO, which combined elements of the hip-hop, punk, and street art movements in Downtown Manhattan, not far from where this show was held at the Broad Street Ballroom. It’s no surprise that Basquiat would be an inspiration to Burning Guitars designers Smiley Jonez and Saiyd Muhammed for his use of color, street-smart attitude, social commentary, and enigmatic themes. I think the collection would have made the artist proud.

I was honored to be asked to walk and absolutely love the look that was put together for me! Plus, it was my first runway walk to be photographed by Getty Images, as you’ll see from the first two photos below.

Burning Guitars kicked off the evening, which was produced by The Fashion Life Tour, the perfect choice to capture the audience’s attention and get the energy building. Smiley Jonez, who also performed during the show, dropped two new singles, “Highs” (produced by JeeJuh), and “Driptastic” (produced by Drizzy). He told me that I was drippy and litty myself, and I loved being part of the entire experience.

You can purchase Burning Guitars online at www.bgrockstar.com and be sure to follow them on Instagram @burningguitars. Enjoy the show!

Model, Actor and Designer Check Fernandez

Atlantic City Fashion Week Presents Designer Ellen Durken

The opening designer at the Atlantic City Fashion Week #ACFW runway show on February 27 at The Claridge Hotel was a remarkable way to open the show. The show featured many amazing uses of fabric, but designer Ellen Durken is actually a blacksmith who uses her forge to create amazing designs fashioned from metal.

Ellen’s work is wonderful both for its creativity and how striking it makes the models look on the runway. It was amazing to see how creative her designs are, and how they stretch the definitions of fashion and style. See more of her bad-ass approach to high fashion at her website www.ellendurkan.com. She also sells cool prints of her work and custom metal jewelry.

What a striking way to kick-off the show. This design set the creative tone for a wonderful evening.

Who’s Going To New Jersey Fashion Week?

Excited! Got my VIP Front Row tickets to New Jersey Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016, on Saturday, April 16! Looking forward to seeing all of the great designers and their collections. Visit www.newjerseyfashionweek.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Congratulations to Donnella Tilery and her team and I hope to see everyone there! If you’re going, leave a comment below and say hello.

Runway Pic From Montclair Fashion Night Out

I recently received this great professional photo of my runway walk for That Little Black Dress as part of Montclair Fashion Night Out on September 26, 2015. This was one of my favorite fashion memories from 2015. Thank you to Fifth+Park Style and Image Consulting for sending the photo and to Lauren Wisnewski Photography for the great shot!

I met so many wonderful people at this event and I’m looking forward to returning in 2016!

Atlantic City Fashion Week 2015

I almost didn’t make to my first Atlantic City Fashion Week (ACFW). With a hurricane in the area, and an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, it seemed like we’d have to wait for next year. But, we finally made it and it was worth the effort!

Held at The Playground at Caesars Hotel and Casino the weekend of October 3, ACFW was founded in 2011 by the husband and wife team of Lamont and Jeana Bowling.

We saw six fabulous designers featuring all sorts of looks, ranging from a kids show that was so much fun, to elegant, sexy and futuristic collections. It is obvious that the founder of ACFW love what they do and so much effort goes into making these events enjoyable for everyone who attends and a valuable networking and exposure opportunity for the designers, models, hair and MUAs and everyone else who participates.

(Special shout-out to my new friend, designer Aprille Grace! More on her show later!)

The Spring 2016 ACFW has been announced for February 25-27, 2016. I’ll be there, will you? Get more information and tickets on the ACFW website www.atlanticcityfashionweek.net.

For anyone who wants to be a part of ACFW, watch out for casting notices being posted on the website and Facebook.

I was lucky enough to get to chat with Jeana Bowling after the show. She was so sweet and took the time even in the middle of fashion show craziness. Hi, Jeana! See you in February.

Montclair Fashion Night Out: Sofistafunk Runway Show

One of my favorite parts of the Montclair Fashion Night Out event on Saturday, September 26, was the amazing runway show presented by Sofistafunk and that brand’s wonderful designer Arlinda McIntosh.

First, a quick aside: Arlinda was also the runway coach for the evening and gave the models a lot of wonderful and helpful instructions before our walk. So, we could say that I had my first runway training from Arlinda. And, she said that I did great! Thank you, Arlinda!

Back to the show. Sofistafunk is “The Original Skirt Co.” and her skirt designs are really amazing, unique and look fabulous. As you’ll see from the photos below, they stand out and definitely need to be seen in person. Some of her designs are being sold at Robert Greco’s Atelier boutique in Montclair, NJ, or contact them at [email protected] with questions. They do showings by appointment only. Call 917-566-5900 Monday-Friday 10am-6pm to set one up (and let them know that I sent you!)

Lots more Sofistafunk fun – along with shopping online – can be found on their website at hello.sofistafunk.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook here.

Me and the fabulous Arlinda McIntosh on the Montclair Fashion Night Out red carpet!

AMCONYC’s Jovan O’Connor NYFW Runway Show

The final in AMCONYC’s amazing series of seven NYFW week runway shows was held Sunday evening, Sept. 13 at the PUNTO Event Performance Space. This wonderful evening event featured the collection of Philadelphia-based designer Jovan O’Connor. O’Connor’s collection is the perfect collection of sexy and classy, with a dazzling array of colors and fabrics that made each model light up the room as she stalked the catwalk. Her statement pieces are drawing attention from celebrities and the fashion world at large, and I’m told that the work in this collection is only a portion of the scope of her overall oeuvre.

This collection is inspired by the sights and sounds of Brazil and the models walked the catwalk to the cool bossa nova rhythms of “The Girl from Ipanema” spinning from the dj booth. If all the photographers and bloggers that crowded around the designer and the models after the show is any indication, great things are ahead for the fabulous and classy Jovan O’Connor.

Find out more about Jovan O’Connor on her website (www.jovanoconnor.com), Instagram (@jovanoconnor.com), Snapchat (@jovanoco15), Twitter (@jovan_oconnor), Facebook (jovan.oconnor) and Pinterest (jovanoconnor).

For more information on attending future AMCONYC events (and everyone should!), or if you are a designer looking for a great company to help launch your brand and gain industry awareness, check out www.amconyc.com and follow them on Twitter (@amconyc) and Instagram (@amconyc). I know I’m looking forward to attending their future shows! I hope that you’re there as well!

AMCONYC New York Fashion Week Meagan Ollari Runway Show

Sunday afternoon, September 13, I attended a wonderful runway show at PUNTO Performance Space on 38th Street. This fantastic event was put on by Adriana Marie Quaranto and her fantastic team at AMCONYC (www.amconyc.com). AMCONYC is a terrific event production company and New York’s leading creative platform for millennial fashion designers. I loved the show and can’t wait to go back for tonight’s 8pm.

All of the photos below are from the latest collection by designer Meagan Ollari (www.ollari.com). The Ollari collection, which made its debut at last year’s NYFW, utilizes luxurious fabrications and novelty beadwork, targeting a more refined contemporary woman. The colors and fabrics are all beautiful and I’ll be watching out for great things from this fabulous New Jersey-based designer. Follow her on Instagram @_ollari_ and on Facebook at /OllariCollections!

And be sure to follow AMCONYC on Instagram as well @amconyc.

Designer Meagan Ollari. It was a pleasure meeting you and congratulations on a successful show and a gorgeous new collection!