Style.Uz Art Week: The Last Samurai: Mysterious Japan

LORIS DIRAN Spring/summer 2014 "SAMARKAND" with GULI collection

LORIS DIRAN presented his Women’s and Men’s Collections for Spring/summer 2014 on Thursday, September 12th 2013 at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music in New York City for this September’s New York Fashion Week.  Known as a regular on the NYFW schedule for 9 previous seasons, this runway presentation marked Mr. Diran’s return to the New York Fashion Week schedule after a 2 year absence during which his collections were shown exclusively in Italy and Asia.

The Spring/Summer 2014 collection, entitled “SAMARKAND”,  draws its inspiration from Diran’s time spent in Central Asia’s Uzbekistan. From the deep, Warm Spice tones of the Souks to the opulence and ancient grandeur of its Mosques,

Kithe Brewster Fall 2013 Collection

Celebrity Stylist and Designer Kithe Brewster presented his Fall 2013 Collection on Valentine's Day, with an intimate show at his private studio in the garment industry.   I felt fortunate to be part of the select group who experienced the myriad of show-stopping dresses and flowing gowns in exotic materials.  The looks were lighthearted and sexy.  Skin flashed, but in unexpected and playful ways, such as high slits in the back of gowns.

Mr. Brewster was particularly influenced by a 2011 trip to Uzbekistan where he attended Art Week in Tashkent as a guest of Gulnara Karimova for Style.Uz.  He not only got a rare glimpse of the Uzbek art and fashion world, but also hosted his own master class,  where he talked about the challenges of working with famous actresses, singers and top models.  While he was there, he saw many unique and beautiful Uzbek fabrics and intricate gold embroidery which he purchased and used for this current collection.

One of the Uzbek fabrics was a bright teal floral silk fabric which was cut as a burqa and also as a gown.   An interesting piece was a beautiful black dress, which seemed military inspired with a shield-like structure, embellished with a bold golden pattern reminiscent of a royal coat of arms.   Producer and Co-CEO of The Halcyon Company and Tara Subkoff of Imitation were the grand finale, looking golden in their respective outfits as they walked the runway.  Guests at the show included Atlanta Real House Wife, Cynthia Bailey, designer Zang Toi, and Constance White.

Tara Subkoff, Victor Kubicek, and Kithe Brewster

Tara Subkoff models for Kithe Brewster

Golden Pair: Producer Victor Kubicek and Imitation of Christ's Tara Subkoff

 Cynthia Bailey (Real Houswives of Atlanta) and Designer Zang Toi

Susan Murphy and Dr. Robert Brewster

Makeup by Edward Cruz

Designer Stefanie and Jocelyn Taylor (wearing SKINDEEP by Stefanie)

Singer Marieme