Unmasking the Art of the Masquerade
Unmasking the Art of the Masquerade Since the introduction of the masquerade ball in Medieval France, there has been an air of seduction and allure around these typically high profile events. With the original parties surrounding royals and court goers- prestige and power, rendezvous and intrigue are the core of the masquerade. After all, doesn’t anything go once you put on a mask? Carnival season, the period of heavy indulgence before the onset of Lent, was the birthplace of masked debauchery- the streets filled with disguised individuals hoping to give into their temptations one last time before they must rebuke their sins. During this time, the wealthy and the poor were able to celebrate together due to the anonymity provided by the mask. By the 17th century, the ball had been adopted by nobles involved in high fashion, using the events to premier the newest, most decadent styles to the ever watchful eye of the royals. In an age without the internet and social media, the allure of obscured identity was pure and enticing, leaving guests tantalized by the question: who asked me to dance last night? Today, the ball has been transformed into a scene for TV socialites, like Serena Vanderwoodsen and Katherine Pierce, to let loose- and for the more “common” person, a compelling halloween party theme. While there are still high-society balls that occur in places like Venice, Italy and New Orleans, the new wave of anonymous appreciation is lower maintenance while still preserving the coolness of its history. The layers and layers of ball gowns may be toned down to a figure hugging dress in a luxurious fabric, or chopped above the knee. Gloves are still in this year, but opt for a sheer or lace version. For the men, a classy look is always a winner- but try swapping the suit jacket for a trench or adding a funky belt to the get up. Overall, the idea of the masquerade ball is exploration without inhibition, so experimentation in the name of fashion is highly encouraged. Though fashions have changed, the message of the masquerade ring true today: indulgence is human nature.
Thrifting Your Halloween Costume With Buffalo Exchange
Thrifting Halloween Costumes With Buffalo Exchange By: Caitlin Thompson October 24, 2022 Whether you want to be a spooky witch, werewolf, or even a Spice Girl this Halloween, Buffalo Exchange has got you covered! Buffalo Exchange is a local buy, sell, and trade thrift store located in the Cary Court Shopping area in Carytown. Thrifting your costume is a great way to shop sustainably this Halloween season. In collaboration with Buffalo Exchange we created a 2022 thrifted halloween lookbook. If you are in need of last minute costume ideas we have got you covered! All of these costumes came from our own closet or thrifted from Buffalo Exchange. Be as heavenly as Madelyn in this fairytale angel costume. Just look for a white flowy dress and white wings! Connect with your inner 1920’s flapper girl. Erin is styled in this amazing black flapper, lace gloves, and a headband. Madeline channeled all of her spooky energy into being a witch. To be this spooky find a black dress and a big witch hat. Grr! Marr is scaring everyone in this werewolf costume. Furry leg warmers really pull the costume together. If you’re a sports fan Jada’s New York Knicks costume would be a great way to show support for your favorite team. Erin is channeling our favorite spice girl, Ginger Spice, wearing her iconic Union jack dress. Barbie stands no chance next to Madelyn’s beautiful doll costume! Having a big skirt and rigid movements is the key. Marr is on their way to save the day! Make any all-back outfit into a bat woman costume with a bat on your chest. Arrrgghhh! Jada is stunning in this adorable pirate costume. Bringing a fun prop along can really tie any look together. In the mystical world of Harry Potter Erin would be the best Gryffindor student. Stick to the color palette that matches your Harry Potter house. Madeleine is ready to get her groove on in this spunky 80s costume. Bright colors and tight clothes are the keys to nailing any 80s look. Be more sustainable this halloween season and shop second-hand with Buffalo Exchange! Stylist: Sydney Robinson Photographer: Julie Dinh Models: Madelyn Carter, Madeline Martin, Erin Wardlaw, Jada King, & Marr Hovastak Creative Director: Carolina Gomez Fashion Director: Madden Cook Buffalo Exchange Follow us on Instagram!
RVAFW Runway Show
Story by Estelle Avbuere Photos by Trysten Evans If there was ever a question of whether high-quality style and creativity can be found in Richmond, the RVA Fashion Week Runway Show gave us confirmation as each model walked the runways in incredible designs and left us all in awe. Consider that question answered. The City Hall Observation Deck lent a beautiful background for the stylish event, with a stunning view of the sunset over the city. Even before the show began, the room was a hub of style. Everyone was dressed for the occasion, eating, drinking, posing for pictures, chatting with old friends, and eagerly meeting new people – all under the glow of the Deck’s soft red lights. This was the perfect time to check out the vendors – local brands and designers with unique creations, ranging from handmade jewelry to Ankara-fabric-covered earmuffs. By the time we were done gushing over the vendor’s designs and taking selfies, it was time for the show to begin. With each line, model, and look, Richmond proved itself home to creatives who aren’t afraid to translate their personal experiences through their designs, challenge societal standards, and pave their own way in the world of fashion. So let’s break it down, shall we? Creation Lords This brand kicked off the show with a sleek, red mens’ tracksuit, with the brand name on the back, that perfectly embodies street style today. The rest of the line includes pieces in bold colors and prints, like a pink camouflage t-shirt and neon tie-dye hoodies and tees. Trust Creation Lords to help you stand out in relaxed, sleek, street style. Reign With looks described as “vintage” and military”, this brand has a unique, African flavor. The models walked confidently in structured two-piece sets, pants with exaggerated hips, and bright yellows. The military inspiration was clear in the army green colors and black military berets, and one confident model saluting at the end of the runway. This brand did not come to play; they came to Reign. Abydis Clothing This line included women in various sizes and ages and reflected a mod 60’s feel. The collection has a unity to it, made clear as the models walked to Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up” at the end and the rich royal blues, greens, lilacs, and whites flooded the stage. The pieces themselves, complete with unique, asymmetrical necklines, slitted hems, and color-blocking, are modern, bold, and classic. Andrew Wolf Wolf embraced his first time debuting his collection by highlighting the fact that his work is still in process as each look had a piece with “Prototype” written on it. The pieces were are chic, casual, and neutral-toned with long, open sweaters and sweatshirts. These pieces would make easy, street-style outfits work well for the fall. For the man who is relaxed and stylish – and still in process – Andrew Wolf is the brand to watch. Destiny Howard “Ethereal Madness“ is a collection full of flowy fabrics, rich purples and pinks, and classic black and white pieces. The elegant looks were often completed with gold sequin detailing or silver necklaces. The models walked smoothly, their dresses flowing along with them, drawing you into Destiny Howard’s truly elegant and ethereal style story. Able by Amanda Campbell “Destroy Discomfort” takes old pieces that reflect the designer’s past struggle with an eating disorder and reconstructs them into inspiring clothes. The collection represents this contrast of strength and vulnerability in dark denim contrasted with wine and pink fabrics. This is for the woman who knows she is able to overcome and dresses like it too. Victim 15 by Shareef “Time Will Tell” is, in the words of the designer himself, “avante-garde, futuristic style”. This menswear line reflected that with its clean silhouettes and unique touches like fur, sheer sleeves, and silver pieces that added the futuristic feel. This brand is designing the streetwear of the future that is now, and we don’t need time to tell us that we already love it! India Laposh India Laposh’s line is inspired by her late father, whose love for Nascar models clearly influenced the collection. The line is elegant, sleek, and feels slightly “upscale New York”. In every way, from the bold colors, lacey accents, and unique silhouettes to the upbeat EDM music, this line is for the classy, daring, and hopeful. LoyWithLove Loy, the Ugandan creative behind this brand, wanted her collection to embody one aspect central to humanity: love. The line features romantic, feminine silhouettes, silky fabrics, and polka dotted and floral prints. The pieces were both easy to move in and easy to fall in love with. Blas Couture This collection, inspired by the theme of an “alien invasion”, features iridescent and sheer fabrics, psychedelic colors, silver sequins, and pops of neon. There is also a theme of royalty, highlighted by capes and extravagant headpieces. All this made for a truly other-worldly fashion experience. Iconic 7 Iconic 7’s motto is that “every woman is their own icon.” The looks, simple, yet featuring dramatic flares and frills in distinctively quality fabrics, are indeed iconic. The brand showcased women of various body types, as they supply clothing for a wide range of sizes. Any woman can wear this brand and is bound to be remembered! VII O VII “707” Menswear This classic line of clean suits, muted tones, and chic plaid prints call to mind an elegant, British-influenced look. And just when we thought the collection was perfect for the classic gentleman, a stunning woman in a well-tailored suit stepped out on the runway for an unexpected ending. And the crowd loved it! VII O VII Menswear proved itself classic and modern all at once. Vixxen As “S & M” by Rihanna played in the background, models hit the runway in pieces with contrasting textures and pieces: leather and tulle, fishnets and frills. This brand is the perfect fit for the daring and multi-dimensional woman. Inspired
FASHION MEETS FESTIVAL
Story by Briana Thornton Coachella may have already wrapped up its two weekends of desert fun, music festival is in full swing with quite the line-up for the upcoming summer. Music festivals have blown up over the last decade and the rush kicks off in March with South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. The fever pitch comes a month later with Coachella, a flashy two-weekend event in Indio, California that’s known for its desert weather that calls for pretty much as little clothing as possible, its middle-of-the-day, booze-filled, fashion brand-sponsored pool parties, and its high cost that weeds out the crowd till all that’s left are a high concentration of wealthy, beautiful people, with lots of celebrities and fashion bloggers among them. So we, at River City Fashion Uprising, have put together three outfits to inspire your style at three very different summer festivals: Coachella, EDC and Warped Tour. Because we all know, when it comes to these events, it’s all about what you wear. Coachella Let’s start with every fashion girl’s favorite! Coachella practically guarantees you that you’ll see a slew of different Instagram-worthy looks, but the winning formula seems to be an ensemble that exudes both bohemian and laid-back West Coast vibes. The ensembles worn by Coachella attendees are usually reminiscent of what their parents, and in some cases grandparents, wore to Woodstock decades ago. This year, the styles were a little different than in past years as neon tops were replaced by bralettes, bardot tops and swimsuits worn as bodysuits; gladiator sandals were tossed aside in favor of brand-name sneakers; and flower crowns have become a thing of the past having been nearly wiped out by baseball caps and fedoras. In past years, Coachella has breathed new life into the idea of “festival fashion”. No longer are looks seen at festivals simply trendy but poorly made garments. Instead they invoke a much more fashion-forward aesthetic as we see more outfit combos that look as great in photos as they do in everyday life. You can always expect to see flowy frocks in lace, floral and fun prints, matching separates and a blinding amount of the ivory white pieces that compliment that summer glow. Our stylist chose to the dominating hue with a lace-top bodysuit and flowy, tiered skirt. A Western style belt is the perfect piece to break up a monochromatic outfit and a denim jacket is perfect for when it gets chilly at night in the desert (yes, it happens). It’s best to opt for easy, slip-on shoes in a dark color because you will be doing a lot of walking in sand and mud and therefore, it’s best to dress for occassion! The makeup and accessories you wear to Coachella are almost as important as the full ensemble. Coachella makeup essentially means glitter, face paint and metallic flash tattoos adorning your face so don’t be afraid to go for something that’s out of your comfort zone. Warped Tour Warped Tour is pretty much on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Coachella. Let’s just say if Coachella was the music industry’s love child, Warped Tour would be its rebellious, angsty teenager. Here are some rules you can follow to ensure that your look is Warped Tour-ready: Dare to go bare. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Represent your favorite artists. When in doubt, a band tee is the perfect way to go. web link Dare to go bare. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Represent your favorite artists. When in doubt, a band tee is the perfect way to go. Support yourself. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. Support yourself. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. if you dare. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) If you’re attending EDC, you can pretty much get away with wearing whatever you want: tutus, sequined or studded bras, fuzzy boots, hats that look like a furry animal died on your head and tons (and I mean TONS) of glitter. The outfits sported at this rave are the grown-up version of playing dress up and allow the attendees to express their individuality and freedom. Honestly, there aren’t a whole lot of rules for dressing at EDC and chances are, whatever you choose to wear, whether store-bought, handmade or custom-ordered from Etsy, you probably won’t see anyone it on anyone else. The outfits sported at this rave are the grown-up version of playing dress up and allow the attendees to express their
Live as Your Limitless Self
Photos by Monica Escamillia Creative Direction by Bliss Foster Introduction by Julia Bratu Photos by Monica Escamillia Creative Direction by Bliss Foster Introduction by Julia Bratu Something reminiscent of a fairytale, RCFU collaborated with Bliss Foster to embody his conception of the project: Limitless Self. In ten unique looks, fantasy combines with reality to pair sensible and chic garments with high necklines and broad silhouettes and uniquely constructed accessories, like a multi-tiered straw hat or wire rabbit ears. A few of the more colorful designs bring us back to our childhoods, when we found ourselves playing tea party with stuffed rabbits and chasing butterflies out in fields of daisies. However, they also remind us that in this grown-up world, we can still find the beauty in the little things. Each of these looks is crafted specifically to appeal to our most nostalgic sensibilities and reveal that while we grow old, we never really have to grow up. It is with pleasure that RCFU invites you to discover your own Limitless Self. Something reminiscent of a fairytale, RCFU collaborated with Bliss Foster to embody his conception of the project: Limitless Self. In ten unique looks, fantasy combines with reality to pair sensible and chic garments with high necklines and broad silhouettes and uniquely constructed accessories, like a multi-tiered straw hat or wire rabbit ears. A few of the more colorful designs bring us back to our childhoods, when we found ourselves playing tea party with stuffed rabbits and chasing butterflies out in fields of daisies. However, they also remind us that in this grown-up world, we can still find the beauty in the little things. Each of these looks is crafted specifically to appeal to our most nostalgic sensibilities and reveal that while we grow old, we never really have to grow up. It is with pleasure that RCFU invites you to discover your own Limitless Self. view
Dream for Purpose in the New Year
Story by Julia Bratu Photos by Thomas Mednikov Video by Spencer Sease Story by Julia Bratu Story by Julia Bratu Photos by Thomas Mednikov Photos by Thomas Mednikov Video by Spencer Sease Video by Spencer Sease more info here
Rooted in RVA: Urban Traders
Story by Briana Thornton Photos by Spencer Sease Story by Briana Thornton Photos by Spencer Sease Four years ago, Charles Brown used his “exceptional ability to pick really prime locations” and opened Urban Traders at 1387 Broad Street. Since then, he’s been selling products from all around the world to a multicultural and diverse audience. But this isn’t just a retail store — these days, a shopper just has to cozy up with their laptop in bed to find the item of their choosing. Urban Traders, on the other hand, distinguishes itself as more of a social destination, according to Art Burton, the Operations Manager. “When you come here, you’re coming for more than just a piece of clothing: you’re coming for the conversation, the atmosphere, the camaraderie, the politics, the art, the music. You come here to figure out all the unique ways to express yourself in the context of the style and artistic culture in our community. You come here to be a part of the extended family,” Art said. The Afrocentric boutique carries an eclectic mix of ethnic, urban, and military-like surplus with such variety it’s almost hard to sum up. It’s hip hop, it’s eccentric, it’s relevant to people young and old, and it’s a store that is with the times without being too concerned with modernity. In a time where movements like Black Lives Matter and The Natural Hair Movement are working to show the world black is beautiful, a focus on urban wear is the job of those in the retail industry such as Charles and Art in order to accentuate beauty they have seen for their entire lives. Charles has been an innovator in the multicultural fashion industry for over 40 years now and he expresses his vision around fashion, art and music through clothes. “He was multicultural and ethnically diverse before it was popular. When everything was black and white, Charles was shades of grey,” Art said. And that’s certainly what you can expect to see when you enter Urban Traders, meet their exuberant sales staff, and see the worldly merchandise. It’s not something you see every day and certainly not something you can find in a mall. It’s a destination for those who want to step out of their comfort zone or find a way to really express themselves or tell a story through their fashion choices. Four years ago, Charles Brown used his “exceptional ability to pick really prime locations” and opened Urban Traders at 1387 Broad Street. Since then, he’s been selling products from all around the world to a multicultural and diverse audience. But this isn’t just a retail store — these days, a shopper just has to cozy up with their laptop in bed to find the item of their choosing. Urban Traders, on the other hand, distinguishes itself as more of a social destination, according to Art Burton, the Operations Manager. “When you come here, you’re coming for more than just a piece of clothing: you’re coming for the conversation, the atmosphere, the camaraderie, the politics, the art, the music. You come here to figure out all the unique ways to express yourself in the context of the style and artistic culture in our community. You come here to be a part of the extended family,” Art said. The Afrocentric boutique carries an eclectic mix of ethnic, urban, and military-like surplus with such variety it’s almost hard to sum up. It’s hip hop, it’s eccentric, it’s relevant to people young and old, and it’s a store that is with the times without being too concerned with modernity. In a time where movements like Black Lives Matter and The Natural Hair Movement are working to show the world black is beautiful, a focus on urban wear is the job of those in the retail industry such as Charles and Art in order to accentuate beauty they have seen for their entire lives. Charles has been an innovator in the multicultural fashion industry for over 40 years now and he expresses his vision around fashion, art and music through clothes. “He was multicultural and ethnically diverse before it was popular. When everything was black and white, Charles was shades of grey,” Art said. visit our website And that’s certainly what you can expect to see when you enter Urban Traders, meet their exuberant sales staff, and see the worldly merchandise. It’s not something you see every day and certainly not something you can find in a mall. It’s a destination for those who want to step out of their comfort zone or find a way to really express themselves or tell a story through their fashion choices.