runways


Louis Vuitton X Yayoi Kusama take two

louis vuitton x yayoi kusama 2012

pictured: This is my little pouch from the original Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collaboration in fall 2012. I love this little bag and have pulled it out for many occasions over the years, including fashion week!

I love a good designer collaboration. While some are interesting to look at, such as the recent Gucci and Balenciaga collab, others are so intriguing, I want a part of them. This re-collaboration between Louis Vuitton and artist Yayoi Kusama is exactly that; a collab I want a part of.

In case you just read that last paragraph and are wondering what in the world I am babbling about, here is the tea! Ten years after the first collaboration, Louis Vuitton is collaborating, once again, with famed artist Yayoi Kusama. Her work is instantly recognizable and renown throughout the world. In 2021, Kusama collaborated with Louis Vuitton to created totes, handbags, and accessories in her famous dot patterns. Most of the pieces were black and white, yellow and black, red and white, or red and black. I loved the black and white patterns, so I snapped up this little pouch to wear on special occasions; after all, it was a special collaboration, so an everyday bag didn’t feel right. I am in love with this little bag!

For the Cruise 2023 season, Louis Vuitton has once again partnered with Yayoi Kusama to create another special collection, and it is just as fabulous, if not more, than the original. Hold onto your hats, this one might blow them off! While I don’t have permission to post photos from the collab here, you can see the bags yourself on Louis Vuitton’s Instagram. Check out their saved stories to see the bags walking down the runway.

The new collection includes a more three-dimensional version of Kusama’s famous dots. There are stud-dots, which I want in my collection, and there are rainbow dots painted on bags. I love the soft box bag with studs. It really is a fabulous piece. Please check their Instagram so you know what I am describing.

Missed out on the first collab? Here are a few pieces on the secondary market online, enjoy!

This new collection is said to launch in January 2023, but I suspect you can get your hands on it before Christmas, after all, many designers release cruise a bit early in order to take advantage of the holiday rush. What do you think of the collection? Do you have a favorite piece?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


New York Fashion Week will be different in September

front row nyfw spring 2020

Join me in the front row this September. (original post here)

The show will go on! You may have heard New York Fashion Week is going to be a lot different this September. Instead of everyone flying into the big apple to watch the new spring/summer 2021 collection grace the runways at Spring Studios, Pier Studios, and other locations, we will be watching many of the shows live, from home, in our fuzzy slippers.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

Yes, I am shouting because you get to watch NYFW too! This season, you don’t need that special, coveted invitation we all die for. You don’t need to watch blurry Instagram Stories, and scroll through twitter seeking iPhone photos with poor lighting to catch a glimpse of your favorite designers new looks. YOU can watch the shows with ME live! Online!

Now, not ALL designers will open up their livestreams for you, but many will. This means you will have some access to New York Fashion Week. So get your fuzzy slippers, and your coffee; because it’s going to be a really fun ride!

NYFW is currently scheduled for September 11-16, 2020. Be flexible, because these dates could move around a bit as designers and brands figure out how they will share their collections with you.

So stay tuned! I will actively share with you the shows you can watch from home with me! In the meantime, stay fabulous 😉

XOXO

Cathy


West Valley College 2019 Annual Fashion Show | Alchemy

west valley college fashion show

This wall was designed by the architecture students at West Valley College. It was inspired by the color palettes, and fabrications, from the runway collections designed by the fashion students.

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It’s always exciting when I learn about local fashion. It’s even more exciting when I learn about fashion happening within walking distance of my house. Our local community college, West Valley College, has an fabulous art school which offers students certificate and associate degree programs in many areas of art. The West Valley College Cilker School of Art and Design is an extremely creative learning environment which helps transform students, and prepare them for careers in visual arts, performing arts, and design.

The fashion design and apparel technology program is an amazing program which prepares students for modern careers in fashion design, and apparel production. West Valley College is a recognized leader in technology training for the apparel and manufacturing industry. This is an exciting and affordable way to learn the ins and outs of the ever-changing fashion industry. Love that!

I was invited to attend West Valley College’s annual fashion show named “Alchemy,” by Content Magazine. Content Magazine is a chic, local magazine which highlights Silicon Valley’s creative culture, local arts and events, and our innovation. It’s a great way to learn about everything you need to know about Silicon Valley’s art industry. I was honored to be a guest of Content Magazine, and also to be introduced to West Valley College’s fashion program!

The designers from West Valley College’s Cilker School of Art and Design are extremely talented. I could easily see many of the designs on the runway make their way to department stores such as Nordstrom, and then end up being well loved on the street. There was a variety of daily street wear, athleisure, vintage inspiration, multi-cultural inspiration, and red carpet ready couture. The design and quality of workmanship rivaled what we see on the New York runways, and in many cases, surpassed it! All of these designers should be proud of their work; these collections could easily grace the runways of New York and become highly coveted in an instant.

West Valley College’s student designers are Britney Bliven, Lina Egutkina, Peter Esparza, Rita Hernandez, Natasha Khanna, Maria Lee, Wing Hung Lo, Nicole Markelz, Lorrie McPheeters, Dipti Nichani, Lakshimi Uma Rachakonda, Grecia Rivera, Jonathon San Juan, and Hiroko Widlow. The special guest designer, show producer, and creative director of the evening was Joseph Domingo who is a local, San Francisco designer who has shown at LA Fashion Week, and is an alum of West Valley College.

To learn more about the West Valley College Cilker School of Art and Design, please visit WestValley.edu.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

west valley college fashion show west valley college fashion show