LEANNE MARSHALL Spring 2014 Collection (NYFW)

I checked…her hands indeed were a subtle shade of coral.

Notoriously hands-on when it comes to getting her pieces the exact right shade, Project Runway winner (Season 5), Leanne Marshall saw a return to the bright colors and whimsical shades that  her line has become known for. While Fall/Winter 2013 saw her experimenting with darker silhouettes and was better described as after-five than black-tie, Leanne’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection embraced the formalwear which has become her brand’s staple.

Full of movement and intricately layered, Marshall added a few more modern touches to her usual flowy  cocktail and tea-length dresses while weaving bolder colors in with her usual pastel palate. Her full-length gowns were updated with regal lace overlay and almost origami-like accents, while her non-traditional offerings added a well-needed punch of color to the collection. True to form, Leanne found a way to sneak in at least one extra layer or ruffle into every piece while managing to defy gravity, as models almost seemed to float down the runway.  Silk and jersey was the star here, no doubt locally sourced as is the standard for the always eco-chic designer.

Here are a few of my favorite looks.

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Written by Guest Blogger Amaris Acosta of Black Latina & Fabulous, which covers topics including life, relationships, pop culture, fashion and beauty– all from a fabulous Black Latina perspective.

40 REALLY IS THE NEW 20…Celebrating 40 Years of Style with Elie Tahari

Those of us that work in the industry routinely joke that Fashion Week should be declared a holiday. I guess the City of New York was thinking the same thing when it proclaimed Wednesday, September 4^th, Elie Tahari Day. With an official decree from Mayor Bloomberg, the day was created to honor Tahari’s 40 years in the fashion industry.

Elie Tahari immigrated to the United States in 1971 with less than $100 in his pocket. He has said that while searching for work, he would sleep on benches in New York’s Central Park and occasionally at the YMCA.  In 1973, with inspiration from New York’s club scene, Elie “gave birth” to the Tube Top.

He’s come a long way since he first arrived in Manhattan. Elie Tahari is now the heard of a wildly successful multinational brand are sold in boutiques bearing his name worldwide as well as some of the world’s top luxury retailers including Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

In front of a crowd of selected press (which yours truly was a part of), close friends, family, industry colleagues and the Fort Hamilton High School Marching Band gathered at Elie Tahari’s Fifth Avenue pop-up shop, the fashion industry and New York City came together to fete an icon.  Fashion Police host, Joan Rivers, with her usual over-the-top comedic stylings hosted the morning event reminiscing on her friendship with Tahari and the infamous tube top.  Later, Rob Goldrich (an official from the Mayor’s office) read the official proclamation signed by Bloomie himself honoring the Israeli-born American designer with his very own day.

As a way of saying thank you to “the city who gave [him] everything,” Elie Tahari announced that he would be donating proceeds from the dress he created for fashion reality show Project Runway to Save the Garment Center—an organization whose programs are aimed at the preservation of the city’s garment center and fashion design and manufacturing heart.

In honor of this huge milestone, Elie Tahari will unveil a new spring collection called “Elie Tahari 1974” highlighting some of his greatest fashion “hits” over the last 40 years—from jumpsuits (a fave of mine) to power suits and everything in between.

So what are you supposed to do on Elie Tahari Day? Is it a day to barbecue, throw a parade, or wear something fancy? As the designer himself simply put it, all one has to do is “make someone happy….Enjoy the day and remember it is our collective consciousness that creates our reality and guides our path. A grateful mind is a great mind.”

This was definitely the perfect way to kickstart what is turning out to be a crazy but fun Fashion Week.

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ON THE RED CARPET: 2012 Emmys Fashion (Examiner article)

The red carpet was on fire tonight (not just because of LA’s balmy temperature) with some style showcasing the hottest trends in evening wear. With  stars like Modern Family’s Sophia Vegara, Mad Men’s  Christina Hendricks and Project Runway’s Heidi Klum among the many celebrities making their grand entrances in some amazing pieces, we mere mortals get a chance to see what will be flying off of store shelves in 2013.

But the Emmys also gave a chance for celebrities to talk about causes near and dear to their hearts as did Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson did with his charity Tie The Knot. Created with his new fiance, Justin Nikita, Tie the Knot is a charity that champions the cause of Marriage Equality. Teaming with the Tie Bar, Jesse and Justin have created a line of limited edition bow ties (20 in total) to support the cause.

For more about my take on Emmy Fashion, visit my Examiner column here.

Project Runway’s Heidi Klum in sea foam.

Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and fiance Justin Nikita donning bow ties from their new collection for TIe the Knot,