The Human Mind collection by Nancy J. Park

This morning while on the Vogue Italy website I stumbled upon one of my best friends model Kayla Mayhew featured under MUUSE. For those who are not familiar, MUUSE is an amazing website that produces fashion design graduates collections which later become available for sale. She's no stranger when it comes to posing in front of the camera, and was the latest muse for designer Nancy J. Park and photographer/creative director Alicia Martin of ASM Photography. Nancy Park is a graduate from Parsons the New School for Design. She draws her inspirations from finding the beauty in the world around us in the most unexpected places. The "Human Mind" collection was inspired most by the human organ, the brain. The brain is an infinite storage that processes information, forms interpersonal connections, creates memories, but most importantly dreams. With each minimal silhouette and structured embellishments are designed to imitate the layers of the cerebrum.

Shop Nancy J. Park "The Human Mind"

MUUSE interviews Nancy J. Park

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If you are weighted down under a sense of oppression, look for light and hope. If you are bothered by fears of poverty or want, inhabit the sensation of prosperity and abundance. If you can continuously strive for the things you crave and do not have, you will eventually get them.

Natasa Vojnovic: Tush Magazine issue 25

Boston Fashion Week: Lily & Migs

I've been obsessed with sheer maxi dresses and leopard print as of late. Last Tuesday I was invited to attend the Lily & Migs fashion show in the tents at Boston Fashion Week. This was the first year that the local designers of Boston would be showcasing their collections in one place. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting it to go as smoothly as it did, although there're some things that need improvement. When I arrived to the Mandarine Oriental hotel where the tents were located, I stopped for pictures and drinks while mixing and mingling with my fellow Boston bloggers before the show started. I was seated in the third row but was moved to the front row near the press pit by the Boston Fashion Week founder Jay Calderin, he then asked to take photos of me. It must have been the huge bun and colorful sheer maxi that caught his attention! When the Lily & Migs show started and the first model walked down the runway, the fishtail braids and make-up immediately caught my attention. I loved the ruffles, sheer fabrics, and feminine pieces; although, the styling could have been much better. After the show I stopped for more pictures and then headed to the Lily & Migs after-party in their showroom on Newbury Street.

Photo Credit: Caitlin Gury

Wearing:

Nom de Plume sheer maxi (UO)

Jeffrey Campbell "Mountain" leopard clog (LF)

Vintage sunglasses (Thrifted)

Warby Parker event at Stel's

Last Thursday I attended the Warby Parker popup showroom at Stel's. When I arrived the store was full of fashion bloggers covering the event, friends and clients of Stel's, and shoppers who just so happened to stumbled upon the party. There were treats and beer provided by the Harpoon Brewery, and many styles of Warby Parker shades to try on while mixing and mingling. Stel's being the leader and go to destination in Boston for the finest designer pieces just recently added Warby Parker to their list of great finds. I had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with the co-founder Neil Blumenthal in the midst of the craziness.

Neil received his BA from Tufts University in Boston and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Determined to change the eyewear industry, Neil and three Wharton classmates launched Warby Parker in hopes of bringing customer service back to retail. Warby Parker designs and sells vintage-inspired frames and prescription lenses for $95, whereas comparable quality glasses cost $500. For every pair sold, a pair is given to someone in need. Neil had been the Director of VisionSpring, a non-profit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own business selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in South Asia, Africa and Latin America. Warby Parker isn't like your ordinary online retailer. When customers purchase any frame, you're then sent five frames in the mail as a trial. They then take your favorite frame and customize to your liking. Of course we all live for instant gratification but the overall customer experience is what matters most; which is one of the many reasons why Warby Parker continues to do exceptionally well. Fashion matters everywhere, and that's what is always in mind during the design process. For Neil Boston felt like some sort of homecoming, and Stel's was the perfect place for Warby Parker. There are so many awesome designer collaborations in the works, first up will be Suno which will be launching the first week of October. There is a frame for everyone and how could one resist such an amazing deal?

Anja Rubik and Sasha Pivovarova

Vogue Paris

October 2011

New York Fashion Week: Day 2 and 4

Three weeks ago I was in the city working at New York Fashion Week. I've been seated at shows before, but this time I was working behind the scenes at the Rag & Bone and Edun fashion shows. My responsibilities backstage at both shows were to dress models, run crazy unexpected errands, seat guests, and prepare all backstage areas for press, stylists, make-up artists, and hair stylists. At the Rag & Bone show I spotted models Liu Wen, Joan Smalls, Karolina Kirkova, Daria Strokous, Anabela Belikova, Shu Pei Qin, Lina Sandberg, Ajak Deng, and seen Lala and Carmelo Anthony backstage. This has to be the best spring collections they've ever done. This season used references such as seventies surfer, Glastonbury music festival, with a great mixture of 90's minimalism and grunge. I'm so excited for the Rag & Bone store that will be opening in Boston on Newbury Street in the spring!

Call time for the Edun show was at 7:00 am and I arrived on set at approximately 6:30 am. My main tasks for the day was to prepare the press area and arrange seating. Press was going crazy as models were making their way in from other shows. In the midst of it all I spotted Naomi Campbell, Courtney Love, Bono, and watched the show standing behind some of today's most influential bloggers and editors. This collection uses references from the African culture. I loved the sheer tops, slouchy cropped silk pants , bold and subtle diamond block prints, bohemian dresses, and boxy jackets.