A show I never miss is the runway showcase of Latinista Fashion Week during New York Fashion Week. It’s an event that always propels Hispanic and Latino designers and creative professionals. This fashion week there were show favorites, César Galindo and Cenia NYC and some designers I didn’t recognized such as the Chris Barreto Collection. Project Runway season 11 contestant Layana Aguilar also showcased her newest collection. I could not stay for the entire showcase but here is what I did get to see.
Layana Aguilar
I was excited to see what Layana had in store this fashion week. I watched her season of Project Runway and remember loving her aesthetic. This show confirmed my love of Layana Aguilar’s designs. With a message of spreading love the collection was just as sweet with its pastel colors. The One Love Collection included a color story of purples, blues and pinks in pastel shades. A mix of sportswear and eveningwear the line includes laced up bombers over cocktail dresses.While touches of edge were introduces with metal claps as fasteners to tutu inspired dresses. Intricate floral applications made clever appearances on bralettes and underneath the train of highlow hemline dresses. Styled with modern silver and blush wedges the looks were sweet yet modern. Hair was styled in high rise buns with gelled sides, that reminded me of JLO in her hip hop infused videos and looks. In Layana Aguilar’s previous collections fun prints and the theme of empowerment is seen throughout as well. I totally want many of her pieces in my closet! See more of her work here!
Cenia NYC
Cenia did not disappoint unveiling her newest Olive and Logan collection. Cenia’s always gorgeous dresses are made to fit every woman’s curves . Perfect for the office, a cocktail event or elegant gala the dresses were modern in color and classic in cut. Colors traversed the colors of the rainbow with bright orange to white with every color in between. Prints were introduced through watercolor floral, geometric prints and lace. Knits that were manufactured in Turkey laid the ground work for dresses that hugged the body just right. Shoulders and necklines varied in interesting styles with flares caps, asymmetrical lines and bare shoulders. The line which ranges in sizes xs-3x showcases the clothing everyday women want to wear, both fashionable and comfortable pieces for every type of event in their lives. This is an aspect the fashion industry has gotten much better at realizing, but that Cenia is pushing forward with her designs and Olive and Logan Collection. Not showcased at the show was the Convi Jean Cenia created which hugs bigger bottoms and small waist. To solve the problem of the back gap women get when they wear jeans zippers are placed into what would be a traditional dart placement. The zippers allow the jeans to convert into a tighter or loser size depending on your waist size. Learn more about Cenia’s collections here!
Chris Barreto
The Chris Barreto Collection reminded me of abstract art paintings in a museum. Not surprising when this Brazilian designer is also an artist! Multiple colors and prints were the name of the game. Dresses ranged from mini to maxi lengths while blouse and skirt sets were loose and comfortable. One of my favorite pieces was a form fitting, square box neck line, spaghetti strap dress with side slits. I don’t wear a huge mix of colors in one outfit but the muted orange, pink, blue and reds were mixed perfectly. The line also included comfortable afghans perfect for hot summer days. Much like that of a painters masterpiece the Barreto pieces included the designers signature placed discreetly onto the fabric. Which if you did not look closely would be mistaken for a part of the painterly prints.
The Latinista Fashion Week Presentation always shines a light on the latest and most talented designers. While the focus is on fashion, Latinitsta also showcases great causes like Friends of Lead Free Children. This great organization provides medical needs and personnel to impoverished women and children in the Dominican Republic. Also showcased at the event was the gorgeous enrealment artwork by Ecuadorian Bronx based artist Jenny Alexandra. The artwork consist of colorful mandalas that were painted and drawn with a combination of mixed media art forms. The equisitly detailed paintings and pictures consists of many lines, prints and shapes that I imagine take hours to create! With a focus on relaying emotions and shining a light on mental health Jenny’s goal is to make people connect and reflect on both the bad and the good in the world around them. See more of Jenny Alexandra’s work here!
I loved attending Latinista Fashion Week once again and seeing the amazing Hispanic and Latino talent we have in the fashion industry. Did you love them as much as I did? Let me know your thoughts in the comments and on social media.
T.S.
What do you think?