Richmond’s 11th Annual Fashion Week Brings more Inclusivity to the Runway
Story By Aliviah Jones Photos By Stanley Tran When people think of Fashion Week they often think of big cities like New York and Milan but Richmond has a very unique way of showing that exquisite style can be found right here in Virginia’s capital. The 11th annual Day to Night fashion show presented the top designers and models in Richmond and surrounding areas, hosted by NBC 12’s morning news anchors Candice Smith and Anthony Antoine. The collections being shown represented a wide variety of people that the fashion industry tends to not shed light on. The Day to Night runway show took place at Stony Point Fashion Park which sponsors #RVAFW. Each collection was unique in it’s own way but there was a common theme that we don’t often get to see on other runways, Inclusivity. There were so many women and men in different age groups, heights and not to mention the diversity of race. In this day and age, inclusivity in fashion has become a hot topic being that in the past the fashion industry only catered to the size 0 demographic but some brands have come to realize that the average size for a woman in the United States is a size 18 and designers need to put that into consideration. The collections being show definitely proved you can look fabulous whether you are a size 2 or a size 16 or if you are 6”0 or 5”5. Many of the collections shown drew a lot of their inspiration from African-inspired prints with bright colors and designs. The show started with House of Klyde’s ready to wear collection that presented ready to wear day dresses as well as mens wear. There were a lot pieces that had earth-tone colors and bold contrast colors along with silk dresses. The collection by Klyde Wright also had a lot of classic pieces like the LBD, side-cinched tunic, and flared pants. The ToFREEYOURStyle collection by Charisa George proved that you can incorporate bold African prints into everyday wear all the while being sophisticated. The collection incorporated the use of color block with electric blue and yellow garment pieces and black and yellow and red and black.There were a lot of two-piece cropped sets as well that are perfect for a summer night on the town. The Abena Aforo collection also used the boldest colors I think the eye could ever see. Some of the pieces also had a very retro- 1970s vibe with wide-leg jumpsuits, colorful pantsuits. There was also maxi dresses with beautiful prints and frills. This collection is truly for the women who want to make a sophisticated statement when walking into a room. The Wala Afour collection which translates to “All we need is life” in the Ghanaian language by Bernie Adjei proved that there is a place in fashion for everyone. The collection had a lot of garments that were so rich in color, texture and patterns. Many of the pieces by Adjei had a lot of marble-esque patterns contrasted with teal blue, mustard yellow, and electric blue. The collection made you feel like you had just been transported back to the motherland. The Stitch by Chanel collection by Chanel Green was truly a 1970s time capsule. There were a lot of garments with bold colors like coral, and a very beautiful purple one shoulder dress. There was a lot of colorful jumpsuits and who can’t go wrong with a nice jumpsuit for the summer right? There was also some belted pant and top pieces that can really take you from work to drinks with the girls. The High Maintenance collection used a lot of Asian-inspired prints with a bold red and blue jacquard pattern. There were also very rich silk garments from two-piece pants, fuzzy tops and mini silk skirts. This collection sent a message about people often feeling marginalized within the fashion industry. Designer Michaela Bradley was inspired to start High Maintenance because she never felt properly recognized as a woman of color in fashion. These collections showed that fashion is and always will be for everyone no matter of what race, class or gender one may be. A lot of these collections also made it a point to not limit yourself and be bold with what you wear.
The Grace to our Frankie: Jane Fonda
It’s never too late – never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.-Jane Fonda Story by: Aayesha PoudelPhotography by: Anna Debald As we grow older, we often question if we are still able to accomplish the goals that we want to do, or if we should just stick with our current path because it may be too late to change your life. And this stems from the problem of thinking we all have a conventional path that we must follow. Jane Fonda uses her career to prove that we have a long life to live, and can do as much as we want to do with it. Because, it is never too late to do what makes you happier. Along with being an Academy Award winning actress, Jane Fonda is an inspiration for modern women because of her devotion to political activism. She showed her support in the Civil Rights Movement and showed her opposition for the Vietnam War. She was also an activist for causes such as Native American rights and women’s rights. Even recently, Fonda has protested issues such as the creation of the Dakota Access Pipeline in the Standing Rock. When it comes to the Dakota Access Pipeline, Fonda said, “It has been 45 years since the Occupation of Alcatraz. At Standing Rock we are witnessing the flowering of the seeds that were planted there and, again, it is the youth who seem to be leading the way.” Fonda has always used her fame as an actress to make light on real-world issues that are really important to her. And this is something that she continues to do because she knows that it is never too late to fight for what you believe in. To channel her elegantly chic style, we first created an outfit that mixed the 60s polka dot in a modern twist. We paired a red polka dot peplum skirt with a black halter top. Then, added in a metallic bag with white heels. For the second look, we went for a chic dress, pairing a rose pink baby doll dress with a purple bandana that matched the funky purple heels. It was a mix of innocence with the heels adding a pop of excitement. For the last look, we went for a more casual outfit. In this look, we paired a pink top with pearl details with a pair of straight leg jeans and purple heels. This look symbolizes Fonda laid-back and relatable personality traits. She doesn’t ever come off too stiff or unapproachable, but instead someone you can treat like a friend. Fonda has spent her career as an actress, an influencer and an activist. She has stood out in the public eye because of her devotion to causes that are important to her, and for being an inspiration for all women. She teaches us to fight for what we believe in, and to never use age as an excuse. Stylist: Anna DebaldModel: Celeste Chaves
KIDS AT PLAY – Rotate
Story by: Marta Locklear Photos by: Stanley Tran Like every 90’s sitcom, Kids at Play is about a group of friends who are practically a family. Each episode tells a different story about their lives; they get in trouble, skip school, dress cool, and tackle life and the curveballs pitched at them together. The cast is always dressed in vintage and new street fashion, all purchased from the local Richmond store ROTATE. The owners hand pick the items they buy from customers to maintain the store’s personal style and theme. The kids loves ROTATE because of its hip and chill aesthetic, and it’s one of the their go-to stops after school; they drink freezes and chat on the couch. Let’s meet the Crew! Meet Olly. Full name Olivia but the gang calls her Olly, it fits her tomboy style and chill personality better. Olly is the fashion inspiration for any gal who isn’t all about ruffles, dresses, and frills. Her favorite items in her closet are wide leg jeans and her Docs. She is known for adding a stand out accessory to a simple outfit to make it pop. Meet Preston. Because he’s so creative and adventurous, Preston’s style is the edgiest out of the friend group. He likes to keep it classic and with black skinny jeans, matte black high tops, and a cool graphic tee. He likes to play with accessories and statement pieces like vests to stand out. Meet Z. Every sitcom needs the cool guy with the cool name right? Z’s style matches just that. In this episode, Z rocks Georgetown track pants, an oversized hockey jersey, and Cool Grey 11s. As the star varsity basketball player at school Z keeps his style comfy and athletic, like a ball will be thrown his way any second, because it just might. Meet Joshua. When he’s not rocking varsity track pants a graphic tee, the DMP 11s, and a making buckets on the court, He plays a big role in keeping the gang tight after silly debates and fights breakout. They go to school, hang at ROTATE, shoot basketball, and skate all in one outfit. It’s the perfect combination of fashionable and practical. Creative Direction: Jacynth Serrano Rodriguez Stylists: Daniella Osuna, Jerrell Funtila Models: Aaron Lai, Adriana DeRosa, James Bryce Settles, Tariq
Chunky Sneakers: Friend or Foe this Season?
Your go-to style guide for rocking the trend that just won’t quit. Story by: Maia Stanley Photos by: Aliviah Jones Model: Rickaya Sykes Styled by: Estelle Avbuere Spring is officially here and that means new trends are arising and old trends are resurfacing. One of these trends includes chunky sneakers, also known as “dad” or “ugly” sneakers. They started off as a trend in later summer and early fall of last year, but died down a bit during the winter. Luckily, they resurfaced towards the end of winter and are still going strong. First debuted in Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2017 menswear collection, they have now transitioned their way into womenswear, especially street wear, and in some high fashion runways for designers who are known to think outside the box. Versatility is the reason these shoes have become so popular. They can be dressed up or dressed down, are suitable for several different occasions and they come in a variety of styles and colors so they are never boring. The first is a casual one that can be worn to class or when going out during the day with friends. Styled with an oversized men’s shirt, fanny pack, and cropped jeans that make it appear more put together, but still easy to get up and throw on in the morning. Another trend that is currently resurfacing is the sporty casual wear. This has appeared with the incorporation of bicycle shorts in streetwear, but this look features a body-con dress that pairs well with the athletic style of chunky sneakers. This last look features a romantic knee length dress with a slit over the thigh. The chunky sneakers dresses the garment down and makes it more appropriate for daywear and casual outings. Chunky sneakers are a versatile trend that isn’t going anywhere, it’s the perfect way to step up your spring wardrobe and add a bit of fun and flare to your outfits.
Halcyon: Lost in Time
Photography By: Dom KhunStory By: Aayesha Poudel There has always been something soft and romantic traveling on train. From the tale of strangers meeting at a station or while traveling, and falling in love to saying goodbye to a significant other as they embark on a railway journey. In some form or another, we are all romantics. We set the scene in the midst of a love story with two souls who find themselves secluded from the rest of the world. In this wide open train station, they are alone but together. They create beauty in their movement, their shadows and their gaze. They surround themselves in art, from their scenery to the clothes they wear. Halcyon, a vintage consignment boutique located in Richmond, allows us to idulge ourselves in the old Hollywood fantasy and bring it into our modern wardrobe. First, we have the beautiful Celeste who gives us young Faye Dunaway vibes, wearing a victorian ruffle blouse paired with a suede mid-length skirt, kitten heels, knit gloves and a hat. She evokes elegance and power with her deep stares and glances. What would this love story be without a gentleman like Nicky? He is the Clyde to her Bonnie, the Warren to her Faye. In each scene he doesn’t just wear his clothes in style, but uses them to provoke drama. For instance, he styles his fedora to hide his eyes which creates a bit of intrigue. He pairs a white button up with brown trousers, boots and a leather jacket. Before they part ways, the two of them share an intimate dance using every part of the station as their stage. We feel their connection through the looks they give each other, making us fall even deeper in love with them. As we leave the two trapped in a timeless love story, we are reminded of how even in the digital age of technology, we can create romantic beauty anywhere, and find historical significance in the clothes that we wear. Stylists and Models: Celeste Chaves and Nicky Reardon Photo Assistant: Stanley Tran
Women’s HERstory Month: On the Basis of Style
Story by: Aayesha PoudelPhotos by: Dalvida Palmer Imagine being a female graduate from a top tier law school during a time where the career field is completely dominated by men. Imagine majority of employers are reluctant to hire you because they believe that women are too weak, maternal or generally incapable. Now imagine, you are told that women who are intelligent and career driven come off as too intimidating and therefore un-likeable. This was life for Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the late 1950’s. Ruth Bader Ginsburg broke glass ceilings for American women throughout her career. But she didn’t do so without facing tremendous struggle in order to eventually earn her position as Supreme Court Justice. Ginsburg finished top of her class at Columbia Law School in 1959. After graduating, she spent some time in her career as a professor at Rutgers University. Following this, Ginsburg worked for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as a volunteer lawyer and furthered her career advocating for gender equality. From there, she helped repeal laws that striped the freedom of women across the country. She was then appointed to the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C Circuit by President Carter, and continued the rest of her career in law as Supreme Court Justice where she remains today. Ginsburg spent her entire career fighting for women’s rights. To this day, she continues to have millions of admirers which led to two movies that recently came out about her career: RBG Documentary and On the Basis of Sex. To ensure that everything from the story-line to the wardrobe was RBG approved, Ginsburg played a critical role in supervising the movie On the Basis of Sex because she wanted to help preserve the authenticity of the story. Ginsburg wore a lot of chic patterns, so we started the outfit with a cheetah print top. Then, we wanted to use the color green as another major piece to the outfit because that was a color that RBG wore a few times throughout the movie. It is also a color that can symbolize ambition. Many of the outfits RBG wore in the movie were very bright and colorful, therefore we paired the green pants with a mustard yellow bow and green and yellow earrings. RBG’s hair was styled with bows and headscarves quite a few times, so it was a great match for the outfit. So channel one of our favorite SHEroes today! Stylist: Aayesha Poudel Model: Eve Mclernon
Women’s HerStory Month: We Copied Rihanna’s Cool Girl Street Style
Story by: Aayesha PoudelPhotos by: Dalvida PalmerWorld renowned musician, actress, fashion icon, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Rihanna or “Ri-Ri” encompassed all of these roles in her career in the public eye. Rihanna rose to fame as one of the most celebrated musicians of the 21st century. Currently, Rihanna is the third most awarded female artist in history, earning her first Grammy Award for her hit song Umbrella. Alongside this, she’s been in movies such as Ocean’s 8 and has been a cover-girl for numerous magazines and brands. But recently, she’s challenged the beauty industry to create more makeup products that are inclusive to all women of color with her line, Fenty Beauty. For years, makeup companies have offered a very minimal selection of foundation shades for their consumers. To make matters worse, most of these companies create an even more limited range of shades for women with darker skin tones. For most companies, it’s not a matter of if they can offer more colors, but really if they care enough to. Fenty beauty pioneered the industry with the focus of offering over 40 foundation colors from their launch. Not surprisingly, this created a ripple effect where companies such as Cover FX, Cover Girl, and Revlon created their own inclusive foundation lines. In just the launch of Fenty Beauty, Rihanna challenged the beauty industry to include more women of color. Rihanna diversified her career in order to break barriers in both her personal businesses and the entertainment industry. But something else that Rihanna has always stood out on is her sense of style. RCFU was inspired by her daring, now iconic street style, and put together some looks to pay tribute to the Bag Gal herself. In the first outfit, our model wears camouflage pants with a grey tube top and a blue-orange color block puffer jacket. For her accessories, she pairs the outfit with white chunky dad shoes and some rad sunglasses. For her second outfit, the model wears a graphic t-shirt of the band Kiss which is paired with a grey camouflage jacket, black sweatpants and white chunky dad shoes. This time for her sunglasses, she wears neon blue sport sunglasses. Both of the looks resonate with Rihanna’s personal style. She wears a lot of streetwear trends with bright colors, and is never afraid to go above and beyond with her style. Her style is very reflective of her personality and work. Rihanna is often seen as an unapologetic woman who is expressive and optimistic. She pushes boundaries, and this is often shown in her music and her brand Fenty Beauty along with in her personal style. The queen of music, makeup and fashion- Ri-Ri continues to prove that she can conquer just about anything. Stylist: Jerrell FuntilaModel: Malanee Erenna