Tag: NYFW

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From Alabama A&M to NYFW: Kim West Elevates Southern Voices in Fashion

Kim West, fashion influencer, dynamic speaker, and founder/publicist of The Kimberly West Agency, proudly attended New York Fashion Week as a media representative for her renowned digital platform, Style + Life + Fashion Blog.

In addition to covering the week’s most notable runway shows, presentations, and style moments, West represented her PR agency at exclusive fashion events, further cementing her role as a bridge between brand storytelling, fashion journalism, and public relations.

A proud graduate of Alabama A&M University’s Apparel Merchandising and Design Department—holding both undergraduate and graduate degrees—West has built a career at the intersection of style, culture, and communications. Her unique perspective as both a fashion professional and media strategist allows her to amplify designers, brands, and creative voices with authenticity and impact.

“Attending New York Fashion Week is always an inspiring experience. It’s an opportunity not only to highlight the artistry of global designers but also to represent the innovation and creativity coming from the South—especially from my alma mater, Alabama A&M University,” said West.

Through her work with Style + Life + Fashion Blog, West continues to deliver insider coverage of the latest industry trends while championing diversity, entrepreneurship, and accessible fashion. Meanwhile, as founder of The Kimberly West Agency, she leverages her expertise in PR and brand strategy to help lifestyle and fashion brands expand their reach and visibility.

About Kim West

Kim West is a fashion influencer, speaker, publicist, and founder of The Kimberly West Agency. She is also the creator of Style + Life + Fashion Blog, a leading digital platform for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle coverage. With academic training in apparel merchandising and design from Alabama A&M University, West has built a career at the forefront of fashion media and public relations. 

Follow Kim on social media:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok 

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NBA Star Cade Cunningham Hosts Exclusive Balmain Fashion Week Reception

On September 15, 2025, Fashion Week in New York gained a bold new highlight as NBA star Cade Cunningham partnered with MBG360, founded by Tiffany James, to host an exclusive cocktail reception at the Balmain New York flagship. The event placed athletes at the center of the global fashion conversation, cementing the role of sport as one of today’s most powerful cultural forces.  Cunningham, known for his sharp sense of style and influence beyond the court, welcomed an elite crowd of fashion insiders, athletes, and cultural leaders. Guests included WNBA stars Rickea Jackson and Te’a Cooper, further underscoring the growing intersection of women’s sports, luxury fashion, and cultural influence.

“This wasn’t just a party—it was a statement,” said Tiffany James, Founder of MBG360. “I started in fashion, and I’ve always seen how deeply it’s tied to culture. Today, athletes are not only icons on the court but also leaders shaping trends, business, and influence worldwide. Fashion needs culture, culture thrives through sport, and athletes are at the center of it all.”

The collaboration spotlighted a larger movement: athletes as modern tastemakers redefining luxury and celebrity. With Cunningham as host, Balmain became the stage for a conversation bigger than Fashion Week—where high fashion, cultural identity, and athletic excellence intersect.

About MBG360
MBG360, evolved from the groundbreaking ModernBlkGirl platform, is a global community empowering women through financial literacy and wealth education. With a mission that has already helped women across Europe, the Americas, and Africa generate hundreds of millions in wealth, MBG360 has expanded into culture, sport, and fashion—bridging money, influence, and innovation.

About Balmain
Founded in 1945, Balmain is one of the world’s most iconic luxury fashion houses. With a bold vision, craftsmanship, and groundbreaking collaborations, Balmain continues to shape global culture through design and influence.

About Cade Cunningham
Cade Cunningham, NBA star and cultural leader, represents the new era of athletes redefining their influence beyond the game. With a passion for fashion, culture, and community, Cunningham embodies the modern athlete as a global tastemaker and leader.

 

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NYFW Packing Guide: How to Look Stylish Without Overpacking

New York Fashion Week isn’t just about what’s happening on the runway—it’s about how you show up. From the shows to the street style photographers waiting outside, every detail matters. But let’s be real: overpacking or throwing random outfits into your suitcase is a quick way to stress yourself out.

Here’s your complete guide to packing smart, staying comfortable, and serving looks all week long.

Featured Photo from E News

Start with a Packing Strategy

Think capsule wardrobe mode: a few statement pieces balanced with versatile basics. You want enough options to mix and match without dragging half your closet across state lines.

The Essentials to Pack

Statement Outfits (3–4 Looks)

These are your bold, eye-catching moments:

  • A strong blazer + tailored pants.
  • A chic modest dress with stand-out shoes.
  • A fashion-forward co-ord or skirt-and-blouse combo.
  • One “fun” or edgy look for street-style photos.

Basics for Mixing

  • A crisp white button-down.
  • A classic black turtleneck.
  • Neutral wide-leg trousers or jeans.
  • A versatile slip skirt.

Layering Essentials

  • Lightweight trench or leather jacket.
  • Oversized knit sweater (NYC nights can surprise you).

Shoes (Choose Wisely)

  • Comfortable block heels or ankle boots.
  • Chic sneakers for running between venues.
  • Dressy heels for evening events.

Accessories = Street Style Gold

  • A statement handbag (crossbody or top handle).
  • Minimalist jewelry that layers well.
  • Sunglasses + scarf for instant polish.

Beauty & Extras

  • A mini steamer (wrinkles are not invited).
  • Portable charger (because your phone will live in your hand).
  • Reusable water bottle (hydration = glow).

Faith-Friendly Touch

Want to stand out while honoring your values?

  • Add modest layering pieces to runway-inspired looks.
  • Pack scripture cards or a devotional—you’ll appreciate a quick moment of spiritual refreshment between shows.

Smart Packing Tips

  • Use packing cubes to separate “day,” “evening,” and “casual” looks.
  • Roll your clothes to save space and minimize wrinkles.
  • Keep a show-day emergency kit: safety pins, blotting sheets, lip gloss, and mints.
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Malan Breton SS 2025 Collection: New York Fashion Week

Malan Breton presented his SS 2025 collection, based on the themes of Betrayal,  Revenge, and Hope during New York Fashion Week.

 

The collection, inspired by fairy tales of the 19th and 20th century, consists of strong, sinuous looks designed in leather, silk, summer weight wools, silk brocades, and the fine tailoring Breton has become internationally known for. Models were accessorized with Ladies Coutura Collection watches by Seiko Watch of America.

 

Breton composed the soundtrack for the show that was DJ’ed by Zeke Thomas (Son of Isiah Thomas) at the show which took place in New York City and was presented by EPNFW.  The hair team was led by stylist to the stars Marco Maranghello, and beauty team led by the Emmy Nominated Vincenza Carovillano. The Fashion Show was closed by star model, Elton Ilirjani.

 

An exclusive afterparty that night at DOM featured performances by Quincy, Ben Hazelwood, and the sounds of Grippa who has recently collaborated with critically acclaimed songwriter Wendy Starland, with a Deejay set by Zeke Thomas.

 

Notable Attendees included: Malan Breton, Princess Jazmin Grimaldi, Ian Mellankamp, Crystal Waters, Quincy, Jean Shafiroff, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Michael Musto, Carmen D’Alessio, SAG Award Winner Jessica Pimentel, Tony Award Winner Baayork Lee, Tony Award winner Danny Burstein, Pierre Crespeau, and Ben Hazlewood.

 

 

Beauty /

New York Fashion Week’s Must-Have Foundation + Concealer

One of the best parts of fashion week (aside from the fashion, of course) has to be the beauty! Fashion Week showcases many incredible trends with amazing products, it’s hard to pick which ones to test out! Looking good is only part of the story, models and consumers alike want their skin to feel as good as it looks! So when in doubt, use the tried and true foundation and concealer of Hollywood!
After a long history in Hollywood, Oxygenetix is proven to look good on camera and remain luminous under hot lights. This no-sweat foundation and concealer even hold up during the most active runways, making their look last. Its buildable coverage and pore-blurring capabilities make it a must for a great photo payoff and light-friendly appearance.
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Jovani Makes 2023 NYFW Debut

 Jovani, the formalwear brand known for glamour, elegance, and craftsmanship, made its New York Fashion Week debut with a runway show last night, Friday, September 8, 2023. The iconic show starred models Haley Kalil, Taylor Hale, Jen Selter, Jenn Lee, Camille Kostek, Jenna Bandy, Carson Roney, Xenia Tchoumi, Ari Chambers, Abby Baffoe, Sydney Zmrzel, Alison Bowles, and Ella Halikas.

Real Housewives’ Luanne de Lesseps, Rachel Fuda, Sutton Stracke & Cynthia Bailey were “Feeling Jovani” in the front row. Additional VIP guests included model Brooks Nader, dancers Allison Holker Boss, Kalani Hilliker, & Asia Monet Ray, Drew Afualo, The Bachelors’ Rachel Recchia, Indi Star, Victoria Garrick Browne, Carmella Rose, Baskin Champion, and more!

About Jovani: Jovani is a family-run company celebrating its 40th year in business. The brand synonymous with glamour, elegance, and craftsmanship creates works of art to empower women in their most magical moments. The brand has gained its fame through beloved celebrity fans, as a trusted brand to contestants and winners of Miss USA and Miss America pageants, and as a trusted brand for bridal, homecoming, prom, and more. Jovani’s trusted brand is now expanding further debuting their ready-to-wear and couture lines during their NYFW runway show.

Website: https://www.jovani.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jovanifashions/

Media Contact: Jovani@michelemariepr.com
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Cynthia Rowley Presents an All-Female Comedy Show for FW23 #NYFW

Cynthia Rowley presented an all-female comedy show at Sony Hall on Monday, February 13th. The designer’s latest NYFW show took on a whole new format this season, featuring an immersive hour of stand-up led by some of comedy’s most renowned female voices, all dressed by Cynthia Rowley.

Fashion and comedy have always been a great escape, and there seems to be a collective zeitgeist toward the necessity for humor right now. A sense of humor has been a part of the brand’s DNA since the very beginning, and Rowley’s mission to express fearless fun that brings joy through each collection remains as strong as ever.

“I start each day with ten minutes of stand up,” says Cynthia Rowley. “I’ve long said I wish fashion were funnier. Not necessarily the clothes, but the attitude. After hosting a stand-up comedy night at my store in Montauk this summer with my friend and collaborator Seth Herzog (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Broad City, 30 Rock, Chappelle Show), it became clear to me that it was time to realize my long-standing dream to host so many of my favorite funny ladies on one stage.”

Featuring some of the biggest names in comedy, the all-star all-female cast included comedians Nikki Glaser (Welcome Home Nikki Glaser? on E!), Rachel Feinstein (Last Comic Standing, HBO’s Crashing), Arden Myrin (Netflix’s Insatiable, iHeartRadio’s Will You Accept This Rose podcast), Rosebud Baker (Emmy-award winning writer, one of Variety’s “Top Ten Comics to Watch”, writer for Saturday Night Live), Claudia Oshry (Disgraced Queen on Amazon Prime, co-host of The Toast podcast), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live cast member since 2018), and Michelle Buteau (Netflix’s The Circle, Welcome to Beautopia).with host Esther Ku (MTV’s Girl Code, Wild ‘N Out, and Last Comic Standing) hilariously tying all of the performances together into one hour of non-stop laughs. In addition to the stars of comedy on stage, notable guests in attendance included Olivia DeJonge, Eve Jobs, Cooper Hoffman, Jane Krakowski, and Alan Cumming.

The clothes were designed with each performer in mind using references from the full collection (lookbook to come). Giant pastel paillettes, loads of sheer fabrics, and classically tailored pick-stitch pieces rendered in our signature sport fabric.

“I see fashion and comedy serving women in the same way. If you can be funny, you can feel confident. If you love what you’re wearing you feel confident. And if you can have both, even better.”

www.CynthiaRowley.com

@CynthiaRowley 

#CynthiaRowleyFW23

Michelle Buteau

Kit Keenan, Gigi Powers

Margo Oshry, Brigette Pheloung

Natalia Suarez, Dylana Suarez

Ego Nwodim

Amber Wang

Nikki Glaser

Jane Krakowski

Esther Ku

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BADGLEY MISCHKA DEBUTS THE SPRING 2023 COLLECTION

Badgley Mischka, the iconic American design house that exemplifies timeless glamour, debuted its spring 2023 collection at Spring  Studios on September 11th at 3:00 PM EST. This latest collection draws its inspiration from Mark Badgley and James’ Mischka recent travels to Morocco and celebrates the captivating allure and magic of the fabled Marrakesh and the city of Casablanca, which they had imagined so many times.

 

“Spring 2023 is about building bridges and forging alliances.  After two long years of staying in place, we were finally able to put our feet on the ground of a distant shore,” said Mark Badgley.

 

James Mischka added, “We brought back colors, smells, and experiences from the Medina and the Casbah, burnishing them to a cosmopolitan polish. We partnered with some of Casablanca’s famous workrooms to create embroideries and gowns inspired by tales of the desert and the sea, making them perfect for glamorous evenings in Beverly Hills or London.”

 

“Our print studios created artwork from our descriptions of the spices, the fruit, and the flowers we discovered, and brought them home. The hidden energy of the desert and the calm of the oasis meet the pulse of the nightlife in this collection.  Colors are spare and luscious – chalk, terracotta, ocean, aloe, melon, mango, pomegranate, and limon,” Badgley concluded.

 

For more information and to watch the show on the LiveStream please go to: www.badgleymischka.com

 

In addition to showcasing their latest collection, Badgley Mischka has partnered with Covet Fashion , the virtual styling platform that brings top fashion brands to women around the world, for the annual Covet Fashion Week in-game event. The event gives players first access to see and play with the new collection, allowing them to give their in-game looks and avatars fashion week makeovers. The annual in-game event, Covet Fashion Week, a digital celebration of fashion from the hottest runways, features limited-time daily style challenges and exclusive behind-the-scenes looks from NYFW. Then, starting at 9:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, September 11, players can live their Covet Fashion Week fantasy when The Badgley Mischka Style Challenge becomes available. The challenge will give players an exclusive first look at the collection via the Badgley Mischka NYFW22 SS23 Runway Stream and special in-game features.

 

About Badgley Mischka

Over the past thirty years, Badgley Mischka has flourished into a true lifestyle brand recognizable worldwide. To date, the Badgley Mischka brand includes multiple product categories such as Eveningwear, Day Dresses, Sportswear, Outerwear, Bridal, Swimwear, Footwear, Handbags, Eyewear, Timepieces, and Jewelry. Mark Badgley and James Mischka’ s timeless designs appeal to a wide range of fashionable women including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Carrie Underwood. Badgley Mischka is sold in the most prestigious stores in the world including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Harrods, and Harvey Nichols in addition to the Badgley Mischka flagship boutique in Los Angeles. For additional information, please visit www.badgleymischka.com.

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Cantu Beauty: Official Hair Sponsor of The LaQuan Smith Show for New York Fashion Week

Leading multicultural hair care brand, Cantu Beauty, is the official hair sponsor of The LaQuan Smith Show for SS20. Partnering with LaQuan and celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble, the brand worked with the team to create runway-ready natural hair looks.

Featured Photo from LaQuan Smith Instagram

Cantu is bringing their fans backstage to fashion’s biggest week with one of the industry’s top designers whose collections have been seen on the likes of Rihanna and Kylie Jenner. From the dressing room to the front row, the partnership will provide Cantu consumers an up-close and personal look and experience into the world of New York Fashion Week through LaQuan’s show on Cantu‘s digital properties. The partnership will also entail Kimble using Cantu‘s award-winning products such as Cantu Coconut Curling Cream, Cantu Curl Activator Cream, and Cantu Edge Stay Gel in styling the models’ hair for the show.

“Cantu is excited to partner with such an amazing and unique talent as LaQuan in helping create beautifully textured hairstyles to complement his Spring-Summer collection,” said Cantu Beauty Global Marketing Director Dametria Mustin. “We love how edgy and real LaQuan is as a designer and believe this partnership connects perfectly with our Cantu audience – she wants real beauty and fashion. We can’t wait to see his bold and innovative take on hair.”

Over the years, Cantu has partnered with other designers such as Tracey Reese to bring a spotlight to natural hair on the runway during New York Fashion Week. On Sunday, September 8, brand fans expected to see Cantu correspondent and lifestyle influencer Kia Davidson, who goes by @TheNotoriousKia on Instagram, go behind-the-scenes with live moments and interviews with LaQuan, Kimble, the show’s key celebrity makeup artist Sir John and models while viewing the actual runway show. Viewers can anticipate seeing various curl types to body types, the collaboration between Cantu and LaQuan will celebrate every woman.

Consumers can learn more about The LaQuan Smith Show and Cantu‘s collaboration during New York Fashion Week SS20 by following the brand on Instagram at @cantubeauty.

Cantu products are made for all hair types – curly, coily, and wavy textures – and readily available at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Amazon and more.

About Cantu Beauty

It’s Cantu Beauty’s mission to celebrate you in all your glory. Whether you’re rocking coils, curls, waves, or straight tresses, Cantu designs products specifically with you and your hair’s versatility in mind. Cantu‘s collection of award-winning products is inspired by beautifully textured hair to help you achieve any look you desire. With one-of-a-kind formula, Cantu helps achieve everything from cutting-edge looks to classic styles.