Meeting with NY Fashion Designer Bradley Scott

While in New York City for fashion week last month, I headed to 7th avenue, aka Fashion Avenue, as it sits in the city’s Garment District. Previously the textile-manufacturing Mecca of America, the Garment District is still considered a fashion capitol among designers and it is where I visited up-and-coming designer, Bradley Scott, in his showroom. Scott received this year’s Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for Ladies Clothing.

Stepping off the elevator and making our way to his showroom, my colleague Sheila, another writer and consultant for Stila cosmetics, remarked that the experience felt like an episode on Project Runway or another fashion reality show. “And this room, right here,” Sheila remarked, “that’s where Whitney Port was showing off her new collection on ‘The City.’” The open-spaces were very loft-like, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, stark white walls, and not much else separating each showroom. We passed designer Altuzarra and made our way through the doors of Bradley Scott, where a mannequin in a glossy yellow leather jacket greeted us upon entrance.

Once inside, Scott gave us a sneak peak at his Spring 2012 collection, which is great for Texas weather because the fabric used in the line is very light weight and the dresses aren’t heavy or overloaded with too many layers. “All of these solids are 100% silk,” Scott explained, picking a flowing yellow dress out from the bunch. “There’s no synthetic, there’s no wool, there’s no linen, so it won’t wrinkle. They are fun vibrant colors—I know the South loves color; [they come in] green, navy, saffron, and light saffron.”

Scott draws his inspiration from the famous Italian designer Gianni Versace. “He treated fabrics and took the technique of fabric manipulation and made it more special than what the fabric mills did,” Scott says. “Versace was given a beautiful fabric, chopped it up, embroidered it with leather, lace, buttons, and sequins and made it his own. I think that when you make your own design, your own way, from the raw material up until the production stage, it is fantastic.” Scott also does a lot of fabric manipulation, like his inspiration; he chops it up, embroiders the edges, ruffles things, and embroiders his own organza. “I take things unexpected, like lace over a saffron lining, and strips of hand-cut patent leather. So I do a lot of creative stuff with fabrics and use really different techniques that I don’t think are on the market.”

95% of Scott’s fabrics come from Biella, Italy, near Lake Como, where the oldest mills in Italy reside (circa 1812). The fabric-making process is “all done by hand,” as they start with a swatch and then change it around. “It’s really a very fun process,” Scott adds, “and the Carlisle Collection uses the same mills which is how I got in touch with them.” Starting in the fashion industry at age 19, Scott worked for the Carlisle Collection for eight years, eventually resigning to create his own line after graduating from the prestigious Parson’s School of Design in New York City.

When asked about the experience at Parsons he said, “Besides the no sleep and insane deadlines? That’s pretty much it. You went there to work and I did not have much of a social life. I was very focused, I knew what I wanted and I also had a fulltime job while I was there.”

Take a look at Scott’s designs in the slideshow above or check out his website.

Araceli Speaks Out about Occupy Rome Protests Turned Riots

As for the Rome riots this weekend, what can I say. I’m horribly disappointed. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t recognize my own city. My heart sank watching the news coverage of the riots. All I could see were groups of masked and hooded thugs destroying the city I call home and have grown to love just as much as my own country. Like any city, Rome has its own problems but nothing justifies what we witnessed this Saturday. Nothing justifies attacks on police, smashing windows, setting vehicles on fire and throwing up barricades. I pray they round up those thugs…and throw away the key!

I took a few pictures on Monday driving into work but nothing compares to the real damage they caused that was closed off for clean up. What happened on Saturday is NOT Rome! It’s the action of a few demonstrators that infiltrated a peaceful protest causing terror and havoc with no clear message. The results surprised us all. Occupy Wall Street...Occupy Rome...Occupy whatever capital city you want, but don’t destroy it!

Fashion Week San Antonio Finale

Fashion Week San Antonio wrapped up on Friday evening with a final Fashion Group International (FGI) event, “The Emerging Designer Show.” Hosted in an historical part of Sunset Station, “The Depot,” the runway show began spectacularly thanks to the beautiful building’s vaulted ceilings, balcony seating and 1,000 lights. State Representative Joaquin Castro, was not only excited about San Antonio’s third annual fashion week, but commented that the city would continue to support such an artistic endeavor showcasing San Antonio and Texas talent for years to come.

The first models down the catwalk wore Malissa Long’s Spring/Summer 2012 creations, which began with smaller fitted clothes, and continued with looser, cooler numbers, like a fun orange “trash bag” dress with chest embellishments. Long’s pieces often mixed the fitted and loose look, and while her poufy gray shorts and splash-colored dresses and tops were inspiring, be on the look-out for her array of multi-color-blocked handbags. They are a must-have.

Carol Reyes’s collection was a little bid louder, with interesting looks including a pink and black fur coat with silk waist belt over a fitted two-toned dress which was completed with ruffles around the bottom. Her creative take on color blocking included dresses with black and white polka dots. However—above everything else—her black flowered elbow-length gloves were so sexy and elegant I’d like to wear them everywhere—like a six-year-old princess; to school, to bed, to Halloween, everywhere.

Dolores Vernor featured warm weather clothes with intriguing detail; a gray calf-length coat with fur collars and cuffs, and black longhorn logos on pink background. The attention-getting “Cruella di Vil” jacket, another take on the popular color blocking, incorporated large vertical black and white stripes.

The “featured” designer of the evening was Adrienne Yunger, whose memorable outfits included her fresher designs. A man in golf clothes wore army green and navy blue plaid pants, accompanied by a bright blue billowy top with bright stripes. Other looks were Native American-inspired as men donned colorful coral pants with tops in Southwestern-colored palates which were also reflected in Yunger’s dresses.
Toni Jackson’s noteworthy House of Krimson label was inventive and reminiscent of ‘Lady Victoria’ while my favorite designs of the evening were created by the duo Monique Ganis and Petrecia Falcon. Their collection felt like I was going to London in the fall, winter—or even spring for that matter, thanks to the city’s temperamental weather. Gorgeous double breasted coats and chic gray business suits inspired, while a flowy umbrella jacket with bright red lining twirled and twirled. It was a romantic ending to a romantic evening.

Sagra dell’Uva (Grape Festival) in Marino

October is by far the best time to visit Rome. Temperatures are slightly cooler and grape season is in full swing. Wine is overflowing everywhere and bunches of fresh picked grapes are ready to be eaten. Especially in the medieval town of Marino where the “Sagra dell’Uva” attracted hundreds to drink up last year’s reserve to make room for this year’s vino novello. Since 1925, the town of Marino (south of Rome) has graciously shared with locals their abundant source of produce and wine by handing out over 150 tonnes of grapes and providing 3,000 litres of local white wine during their four-day festival. The highlight of the event is when they turn the water from the city’s main fountain into sparkling white wine giving visitors a taste of Marino’s famous wine.

The grape festival, which is one of the oldest in Italy, commemorates the return of Admiral Marcantonio Colonna to his home in Marino after his victory over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571. The sagra is celebrated during the month of October to give thanks for the safe return of more than 250 sailors sent to battle.

After all these years, Romans continue to show their appreciation for this victory and long-standing tradition by visiting Marino’s annual wine and grape festival.