SHARRA'S NEW YORK FASHION WEEK SEPTEMBER 2021 RECAP: WITNESSING THE INNOVATIVE SHOWCASING OF MINORITY VOICES WITHIN FASHION

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

September is the January in fashion. It brings new trends, new concepts, and most importantly, change on every level.

Whenever I attend New York Fashion week, particularly in September, I’m always looking to see what new change is being represented on the runway, cutting through the noise and helping to transform what we wear and how we live. With Fashion Bomb Daily’s first official runway show on the September Fashion Week calendar, this change was not hard to find.

Fashion Bomb Daily has been my favorite fashion site since I was 12 years old. I remember abandoning my homework to scroll through endless content on my laptop, and always being inspired by how trailblazer and FBD founder & CEO Claire Sulmers created a hub specifically for the minority voices in fashion. When they announced their first annual #NYFW show, I had to be there because I knew I’d be witnessing a new platform being born that would catapult the black and minority voices to the forefront of the conversation, right where we belong. I was not at all disappointed.

WHAT I WORE

The show’s dress code was “Bet on Black”, so naturally I wanted my outfit to focus on black brands. My top is from House of Chic LA, my skirt is by Broken Land, and my bag is a Brandon Blackwood. (My shoes are from Public Desire). My soft glam makeup look is by @carmensartistry. Hit her up if you’re in the Manhattan area!

After getting some shots of my look with my photographer Monica Krystel Rose, I headed down the block to the The Sixth Floor Loft on Broadway in NYC for the show.

THE SHOW

The event brought out countless fashion figures & celebs from Rome Flynn to Sevyn Streeter, Jayda Cheaves, Dreamdoll, Ty Hunter, and so many more to witness a runway show that primarily highlighted the work of Black and Asian designer brands, an underrepresented group that often starts the trends that trickle up into the world of high fashion, and then gets excluded from the topic as if their influence never existed.

This is why I had to be apart of this. I always say, the more adversity, the more hungry and creative you tend to be. Just as I thought, I witnessed unique looks that explored innovative design techniques from 3D printing, to genius draping and mixing of textures, high level couture work, and so much more.

Image source: @taylar.chanell

After an amazing introduction by the lovely Bevy Smith, the show opened with Oyemwen giving us structured, tulle adorned pieces that were juxtaposed with blazer dresses and sharp cutouts, in their “back to business” collection that celebrated the return to getting dressed after a long pandemic of sweats.

Designer London Couture followed up with showstopping luxury gowns, adorned in feathers and luxurious fabrics, and designer Bree Billiter gave us an oceanic, ethereal showcase. (Check out my recap reel here for videos of my fave looks)

Image Source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Following the first show, Claire gave us a #convoswithclaire moment, featuring mini interviews with model & RHWOA star Cynthia Bailey, designer Shane Justin, & more.

I passed time in between shows by talking and taking selfies with the queen herself, Claire Sulmers, chopping it up with new friends, (I met a bomb style posse from ATL that I hung out with for the majority of the show, and making connections with showroom owners and other professionals.

My new boo, brand owner and Sheen Magazine contributor Taylar Chanell. Follow her @taylar.chanell!

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

The shows picked back up with designer Khang Le serving us the most eye catching 3D printed patterns and rich textures on luxe gowns and suit sets. I was OBSESSED. He was probably my fave show of the day.

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Shane Justin gave us a true couture moment with his new line of sultry, sheer and embellished handcrafted gowns that he completed in 3 days! I was definitely impressed.

Image source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Mah Jing Wong, one of my fave Project Runway veterans, closed the show with an epic 80’s inspired moment. Co designer & influencer Stacie Wo gave us a commanding runway moment in a matching MJW set & bomber jacket, that garnered praise from the entire audience!

The show ended with a performance from music group JNA. I left the show feeling inspired, and most importantly, seen and acknowledged as a fellow black creative in fashion. Claire and her Fashion Bomb Daily team are curating a movement that is so necessary and needed in order to cement our legacy as black professionals in fashion.

If you know me, you know how much I love Eunice Walker Johnson, the founder and curator of Ebony Fashion Fair, a trailblazing annual exhibition that took place for decades, highlighting black designers, models, and behind the scenes pros alike. While I wasn’t born when Ebony Fashion Fair was around, watching Claire navigate her first fashion week event, reminded me of that very same legacy and mission that Eunice Walker Johnson carried out, one of unapologetic repping for the creative genius that she saw in her people, and that she was determined to bring to the forefront.

I can’t wait for the next NYFW. While this particular time was a quick stop by, I plan on staying multiple days next time! Which looks are your fave? Let me know in the comments!

Sharra,

“Empowering her evolution through style.”

MY THOUGHTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF A ONCE UNDERRATED LEGEND IN THE MAKING: LAQUAN SMITH FALL 2020 RTW COLLECTION REVIEW

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE. IMAGES BY DANIELE OBERRAUCH

With the exception of shows I personally attend during fashion week, I don’t write nearly as many collection reviews here on the site as I used to. Especially right now, with my podcast being where I mainly share my opinions on designers, both seasoned and on the rise (new episodes coming soon!), I don’t make as much time for it as I once did when I had less on my plate. HOWEVER, after viewing the looks served to us on a silver platter at yesterday’s Laquan Smith Fall/ Winter show, I HAD TO come out of semi-retirement and share my excitement.

I’m mostly hype because I remember not that long ago, being a huge follower of LaQuan’s work and searching the internet high and low for media coverage on him during NYFW, and not having much luck finding anything, of course with the exception of the GOAT when it comes to black fashion media, Fashion Bomb Daily keeping us current. None of the traditional mainstream outlets were featuring him. And as a young black creative who was becoming more and more aware of how “we’re often left out of conversations in fashion that we started in the first place”, as FBD founder Claire Sulmers so eloquently put it, I was anything but surprised. Nonetheless, as a fan of LQS with her own dreams in fashion, watching his work go unnoticed season after season when I honestly felt, back then, that he was one of the greatest to do it, it was still disheartening and extremely frustrating to watch.

But as they say, no one is messing with your movement until it’s moving… LaQuan Smith serves as a prime example of how staying true to your aesthetic pays off over time. Watching some of the world’s biggest artists like Queen Bey and Rih offer their support early on in his career to now noticing how he’s sooo many starlets' designer of choice is both inspiring and motivating for me. Furthermore, observing how these days, it’s hard to come across a fashion media outlet who doesn’t offer their two cents on his latest collection is even more ironic and interesting to me.

I initially fell in love with Laquan’s work back in 2012 because he designed for the type of women that I’ve always wanted to style; bold and unafraid of their sexuality yet always bringing a certain class, elegance and poise to whatever it is they choose to wear. In my eyes, LaQuan’s clothes embody the perfect balance between high fashion exclusivity and ready to wear relatability. He doesn’t let the fact that he’s a ready to wear designer cause him to rely too heavily on the concepts of modesty and practicality. He takes it there and no matter how far he takes it, he always knows what elements to incorporate in a garment to still have it evoke luxury. This season was no different. He juxtaposed voluminous shapes with body hugging sheer to illustrate that balance between the unapologetic provocation of today and the impeccable tailoring that we’ve witnessed from top designers for almost a century now.

This sense of balance doesn’t get any more clear than in the puff sleeve corset he showcased yesterday, paired with exaggerated joggers. It nods at yesterday and winks at today. Among my other favorite looks were the chocolate brown wool cropped coat and pencil skirt, layered over a sheer one piece, a patent leather oversized coat, a crisp white fur wrap coat that screamed old glamour, and a puffer two piece, just to name a few. Smith accomplished so much with such a minimal color palette this season… and after all that, I truly believe he’s just getting started. See some of my faves from the collection below.

Sources: Daniele Oberrauch, Vogue Runway

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

"FASHION MADE ME DO IT": NEVER LET SEASONAL TRENDS STOP YOU FROM PUTTING YOUR OWN SPIN ON A LOOK

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE | PHOTOS BY MONICA KRYSTEL ROSE

Growing up, one of my guilty pleasures was (and still is) watching reality tv shows with my mom and sis. And as crazy as it may seem, my favorite part about it isn’t even the drama and crazy storylines that most of us watch reality tv for in the first place. I mean, obviously that’s what initially sparked my interest. But after a while, I realized my favorite part really is looking at all of the looks the people on the shows wear, and having side convos with my fam about what we liked and what we didn’t like, who we thought always dressed well (and who we thought needed MUCH help), along with how we would’ve worn or not worn certain things differently.

Difference in perspective is what makes fashion culture so interesting. What I think is fly is not necessarily what someone else may think is, and vice versa. And to be honest, without us all having different tastes, fashion would be really boring and uninteresting. Personal style is what makes all the difference. That’s why I always encourage my fam, friends, and even my clients to always stay true to themselves, despite what may or may not be currently “in fashion”. It’s cool to incorporate trendy pieces but it’s so much more important to wear pieces that speak to who you are because you never know how your unique take on something could inspire someone else, which is inherently what keeps the culture moving forward and what keeps us all on our toes.

Shop the Look: I am wearing a Naked Wardrobe bodysuit, faux suede thigh slit maxi skirt & studded jacket from Akira, Lemon Drop by Privileged feather boots, House of Rehab runway bag, Nasty Gal “babygirl” earrings, Forever 21 ring bundle.

I wore this look while I ran around NYC during fashion week, catching shows. After a show, I stopped in Chipotle to eat and charge my phone. As I was scrolling away, a lady came rushing in and came up to my table, telling me how much she looved my outfit and asking me where I got my jacket and boots (shop the look above). She mentioned how she would’ve worn the jacket with a matching gold skirt instead. As I explained to her how I always like to add an unexpected element into my fits, it sparked a dope convo and we ended up talking for an hour about how we as women use personal style to express ourselves and how our style usually evolves as we enter different chapters in our lives.

It made me think about how something as expressive and fun for us should never just be limited to what’s “on trend” and what’s not. With everything from top designers to social media and fast fashion factories selling us an image day after day, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s poppin’ and what’s played, losing our sense of individuality. But as exciting as it is to study trends as they come and go, at the end of the day, I gotta be me… you gotta be you. Never let a temporary wave keep you from serving a look that’s authentically YOU. Our different points of view when it comes to style are so necessary.

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

#NEWYORKFASHIONWEEK RECAP FEB 2019: BEING A STUDENT OF MY CRAFT AT THE SHOWS & SEASONAL STYLES TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE | PHOTOS BY MONICA KRYSTEL ROSE

So this year for fashion week, I spent the days taking in runway shows, attending showcases, and capturing content with my boo Comfort, Style Blogger and Writer of CNK Stylebook (check her site out, her content is BOMB.) Comfort and I met a little over a year ago, as we were both doing press coverage for a charity fashion event in May 2018. I always love attending events with Comfort because we’re both about our business and constantly thinking of ways to grow our brands while having a dope time in the process.

This year’s NYFW experience was a little different than my experience back in September, being that I spent most of last year’s fashion week running around backstage, styling and perfecting designers’ collections before they hit the runway, with the exception of attending a BOMB group show sponsored by Fashion Bomb Daily on my last day. But this time, I got the opportunity to get dressed, flick it up, and just take it all in while in the audience. Though I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m right back in full stylist mode chaos, this trip was just what I needed.

We watched severals shows, with a few of my favorites being Ron Ramos, who brought sexy suiting in vibrant colors to the runway, Out of Order, the brand that brought us some of the dopest streetwear I’ve seen in a while, as well as a live showcase by Landeros New York, in which models sported lush outerwear in rich colors and fabrics, slick patent leather pieces, and cool trousers, an aesthetic that was unmatched. For some of my fave show moments, check out my events & NYFW highlights on my styling page’s instagram.

Me and Comfort grabbing drinks before a show, of course my drink is almost gone by the time we started taking pics lol.

One thing that I always try to do while attending a fashion show, is to be a student of my craft and really soak in the designer’s creativity by paying very close attention to detail. Everything from the color story and fabric range of a collection, to the models chosen, down to the way the stylist or designer has accessorized each look, really helps me be a better stylist. Studying the details, both big and small, allow me to see where fashion is going, in terms of trends, specific silhouettes, and just the overall culture.

I’m always on the look out for new styles that I want to try for myself, as well as some that I want to introduce to my clients and try on models. A few trends that I see emerging and making their way around for the upcoming seasons are dramatically oversized outerwear in eccentric shapes, suits and co-ords being done in vibrant colors such as magenta, royal blue, lime green and citrus, as well as patent leather separates. All of these are dope looks spotted on the runways to incorporate into your wardrobe for a look that’s ahead of the curve.

Shop our Looks: Comfort and I both channeled slight 70’s vibes for our Day1 looks. Comfort is wearing a two piece plaid set and white ankle boots from Nasty Gal, and a thrifted DKNY blazer (shop a similar one here) I am wearing a ribbed fringe sleeve mini dress by Akira, PLT studded belt and snakeskin thigh high boots, double disc earrings from Forever 21, vintage clutch, bangles and ring I got forever ago.

I always leave fashion week with a new found sense of creativity, and feeling so inspired. Whether working behind the scenes doing what I love, or watching it all take place, it’s always the best time for me to network, build connections, and get inspired. I already can’t wait to do it all again for September! What were some of you guys’ favorite designer collections this NYFW? Let me know in the comments!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”