First Model with Down Syndrome Walked in Fashion Week at Carrie Hammer

I can only imagine the energy in the tents at New York Fashion Week.  I bet fashion designer Carrie Hammer's show was even more exciting when Jamie Brewer stepped onto the runway.  30-year-old Jamie Brewer is an actress on American Horror Story, and she is made history last week as the first model with Down Syndrome to walk the runway at Fashion Week.

Carrie Hammer has been known to feature real, inspiring women to showcase her custom-tailored designs.  Models like Brewer are known as "role models not runway models."  I say she's a role model AND a runway model.  This girl's walk gives Giselle and Heidi a run for their money.  This video on TV Guide's website says it all.  Her graceful strut and facial expressions were truly modelesque.

Congratulations to Jamie and Carrie for making history.  Can't wait to see Jamie's next catwalk!  Jamie is definitely an advocate for special people (like Emilie) to lead the way to much-needed changes in the world. 

Pictures from Time, Yahoo and Today
PS - Thank you to my friends Andrea and Val for sharing Jamie's story with me on Facebook!  

NYFW Spring 2015 Trends Part 1

Some are lucky enough to experience the thrill of New York Fashion Week.  Most of us view the collections from our computers.  Spring/Summer 2015 is on right now and I can't get enough of flipping through the runway slideshows on Style.com each season, pretending I'm sitting on the runway!  I've gathered some of my favorite spring trends so far for next year.

Gingham

From left to right: Altuzarra, DVF, Altuzarra, Novis, DVF, DVF

Feminine Details

From left to right: Rebecca Taylor, Kate Spade, Christian Siriano, ZAC Zac Posen, ZAC Zac Posen, Kate Spade

Aquamarine

From left to right: ZAC Zac Posen, Christian Siriano, Tracy Reese, ZAC Zac Posen, Custo Barcelona, Derek Lam

Graphic Prints

From left to right: DKNY, M Missoni, Trina Turk, Novis, Thakoon, Derek Lam

Classic Color Combos

From left to right: Lacoste, Derek Lam, Novis, Lacoste, DVF, Christian Siriano

Stripes

From left to right: Kate Spade, Lacoste, DKNY, Kate Spade, DKNY, Lacoste

Sheer and Cutouts 

From left to right: Custo Barcelona, Derek Lam, Rebecca Taylor, Tadashi Shoji, Charlotte Ronson, Escada

All photos are from Style.com

Hair How-To's Hot Off the Runway

There's nothing I love more than avant-garde hair.  But, the truth is that it's not reality.  As a follow-up to my runway-ready hair feature, I found some great hairstyles straight off the Fashion Week runways that are simple to style for an easy-breezy look. 

Embracing your natural hair texture was a theme for Fashion Week this time around, which means less time and money spent on styling your hair.  For the Victoria by Victoria Beckham show, celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves used Color Wow products to polish each model's modern-relaxed look.  

Tracy Reese's runway show hair was also about bringing out your naturally beautiful self by enhancing your natural texture.  Ouidad products were key backstage to achieve the effortless "tendrils in your face top knot" style.  This summer, I tried some of the products used in this show and loved the results.  From my personal experience, my hair went from frizzy to wavy-fabulous.  Get your own look hot off the runways!

Victoria Beckham Modern-Relaxed Tutorial
 

Tracy Reese Texture How-To  

Fantasy Fashion Week 2012

One day this will be me...

New York Fashion Week started today.  So since I'm not famous enough to get into the tents (yet), I've been thinking about what I would bring to Fashion Week if I ever got the chance to go (which I will, one day!).  This is my Fantasy Fashion Week packing list!

 1. Sparkle in the crowd with this gold dress

2. Canon Camera to snap runway action shots

3. This hot pink Miu Miu top is to die for

4. A flowy leather skirt is edgy yet classy

5. Chanel sunglasses... Anna Wintour style

6. Classic diamond earrings

7. Pearl necklace, my signature

8. Houndstooth booties, so fierce!

9. Pink Stuart Weitzman pumps

10. Faux fur coats are my favorite, just like Rachel Zoe

11. A guide to being a chic Parisian, love it!

Look Du Jour: Red Hot

The Heart Truth fashion show is going on in NYC today.  The Heart Truth is a campaign by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Diet Coke to raise awareness about heart disease.  Every year during New York Fashion Week, there is a "red" fashion show with celebrity models. What better way to celebrate than to wear red? 

1. Coat

2. Jeans

3. Dress

4. Skirt

The New "New Look"

The Dior Spring 2012 couture show was today in Paris.  The collection looks like it is heavily inspired by Christian Dior's famous 1947 "New Look."  The cinched waist and flowing A-line shirt is classic and feminine.
*Photos from style.com

New Look 1947 (left); New "New Look" (Right)

Alexis Mabille Paris Fashion Week

Designer Alexis Mabille showed his Spring 2012 couture collection at Paris Fashion Week.  Big floral hats and color-coordinating were themes.  Love it!
*Photos from nymag.com and style.com