J SUMMER FASHION SHOW ON THE SEINE PARIS

J SUMMER FASHION SHOW ON THE SEINE PARIS

Featuring 8 phenomenal collections from 4 continents including US luxurious swimwear brand Verano High

Following the international success of the world’s highest fashion show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, global fashion mover and shaker Jessica Minh Anh (Marie Claire July 2012) set yet another milestone in the fashion world with J Summer Fashion Show on the Seine, Paris. She created a whole new fashion show experience on the river’s giant glass boat Le Jean Bruel, where guests were seated facing the multi-facetted glass window while the boat was cruising to watch models walking in front of them as if they were walking on water. Thanks to a 360 degree view from the boat, architectural masterpieces such as Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, Grand Palais des Champs Elysees and 37 famous bridges became the natural backdrop for the phenomenal 90 metre long catwalk.

The high profile showcase opened with a spectacular couture collection from Filipino designer Joyce Peñas Pilarsky, who teamed up creative crystal accessories of various shapes with long silk and lace dresses.

Polish jewellery designer Bitru Fariel presented the richness of nature in the form of colored pieces of pumices, cinnamon, coconut shells, and exotic leaves collected from all around the world as well as recycled pieces such as coins, nails, wires, electrical cables, and steel coils. Her collection is dedicated to women who are ready to break formal boundaries.

Austrian designer Richard Rozbora brought an urban style to the catwalk with high quality and multifunctional silk dresses and jackets that accentuate the women’s body.

UAE sensation Mauzan transformed traditional abaya designs into modern elegant dresses that floated beautifully on the catwalk.

Spanish fashion house Chula came back for the second time with a limited edition of geometric designs especially made for Paris. Each piece in the new collection represented a part of Paris from the Eiffel Tower and Metro to the river Seine and Moulin Rouge.

Malaysian pride Limkokwing added colour and youth to the show with extraordinary looks which combined the best of East and West.

USA luxurious swimwear brand Verano High presented an eclectic mix of exotic prints, hues and sensual silhouettes with the Latin American vibe.

To close the show with a bang, Vietnamese celebrity designer Hoang Hai premiered an haute couture collection of extravagant long tailed sequins dresses which caught the eyes of all attendees and lit up the grand catwalk.

The highly impressive and unexpected showcase was prepared in less than 2 months by Jessica and her professional team of event coordinators. Attendees, besides the participating designers, included ambassadors of 10 countries, brand managers, company directors, and the international press. “It was tricky to host such a big show in a city and country I am completely new to. But when the boat start moving and the beauty of Paris was revealed in every scene of the catwalk, I knew I made the right decision. You gotta take risk sometimes” said Jessica Minh Anh. Her previously acclaimed shows have been held at England’s landmark London Tower Bridge, the world’s celebrity destination The Savoy, and the world’s highest Skybridge at PETRONAS Twin Towers Malaysia.

J Summer Fashion Show was supported by SLA Paris, Zazen Paris, OnlyLady China, Style TV Russia, Mega Philippines, Fraiser Hospitality, Airplay Event, Club Med Gym, Print Emballages, Anti-Oxy, Brissaud 1824, Hotel Belloy Saint Germain, Le Pradey , Hotel Pulitzer Paris , Comoprint, Hôtel Astor Saint-Honoré, Champs-Elysees Mac Mahon, and Kalengo among many others. For more information about Jessica Minh Anh’s history making showcases and upcoming projects, visitwww.jmodelmanagement.co.uk or www.facebook.com/jmodelmanagement. For press enquiries, please email press@jmodelmanagement.co.uk.

© 2012 The Los Angeles Fashion

Amsterdam Fashion Week Day 1 and 2

Day 1&2 AFW

The 17th edition of Amsterdam Fashion Week kicked off yesterday, and for the opening night, two dutch designers had the honor of presenting their collection. Claes Iversen starting the festivity with a sober-to-overflowing happiness presentation. Out of a turning mirror, we firstly saw minimalistic looks, some of which in a padded shiny fabric and featuring large rounded sleeves, a trend which seems to be confirmed (this season for the first time, the oversized shoulders coats showed a couple of seasons ago were worn by editors and bloggers!). As soon as the first flowers appeared on the catwalk we felt the warm air of spring and summer filled the Westergas area and the romanticism of the flowers embellished dresses to move us.

It was then Marga Weiman's turn to present her collection for the first time in Amsterdam, after exhibiting during many season in Paris. Cities and architecture were the main inspirations of this meaningful collection. Handcuffed to metallic rolling structures, the models presented extravagant and voluminous dresses in black and white graphic prints as well as ochre coats and jumpsuits. To add even more height to the outfits, square-wood platform shoes were created and worn by the models (and designer at the end of the show, proving they can really ve worn!). The highlight of this collection, a black dress presented in total darkness, surprised everyone: asked to call a cell number given at the beginning of the show, the audience soon realized they were in a way designing the dress themselves: their call provoked the dozens of cell phones hung under the dress to light on, creating a super visual effect!

It's great for young designers to be given some space to present their job with the presence of professional buyers and journalists, and Amsterdam Fashion Week enables that. Dorhout Mees was the first one to show her collection: willing to come back to a saner and more simple life, most of the outfits featured nature-related elements, such as moss prints on sateen jumpsuits and green elegant pure lined skirts and jackets.

How good is it to feel this incredible security that the young designer whose show you are attending has got a great future ahead of him. It was the case of italian designer Domenico Ciuffi's collection, who handled tailoring and sportswear inspirations as a maestro and presented a fantastic collection. Inspired by ancient Greece, he extracted the symbols of the Mediterranean  culture and mixed them with sports codes. The result, grey, off-white, pink A-line coats, dresses and strict jumpsuits is astonishing, such s the shapes and fabric were under control, enabling a subtle and chic sporty collection.

Roya Hesam's classic collection will surely be a success in stores and the details she developed on the shoulders of her dresses and coat proved the capacity of the designer to go onto a more original path, breaking with the safe fashion show she presented.

Fabric innovation was at the heart of Melissa Siegrist collection: linen men's sleeveless T-shrts presented in tone of beige and then gold! Even a padded linen jacket was showed. The proof that technology and fashion can be best friends.

Rebecca Ward's collection was a bit similar to Iris Van Herpen's style, the dutch designer who now shows in Paris and get one of the best press critics during Couture week. Structured skirts with round extensions at hips' level were worn with transparent tops, enabling the rock inspired print in light salmon and grey to occupy the whole space.

A great initiative was presented during this second day, Individuals is a project which gathers 13 young designers who work together on the collection. Their SS13 one was primitive, featuring almost wide human beings dressed in large white blouses, short pants and their silhouette shortened by the fabric covering their heads, while golden jewelry made their wrists and necks shiny.

The day was closed with the Lichting competition, during which fantastic young talents were revealed. The work on fabrics, textures and shapes were stunning!

Stay tuned fore more AFW news, still three amazing days of fashion shows and trends!

© 2012 The Los Angeles Fashion

Photography by © PETER STIGTER

Caffé Swimwear's 2013 Collection Brings The Heat to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim

On the third day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, in the Cabaña Grande of the picturesque, Raleigh Hotel in South Miami Beach, Caffé Swimwear presented their amazing 2013 collection.

Born in Cali, Columbia, Caffé designer, Paula Saavedra, brought the flare and flavor of her South American roots to life through her astounding collection. Caffé Swimwear first burst onto the scene in 2004 and has been turning heads ever since. Its popularity has spread like wildfire; and is offered for sale internationally, in 38 countries. After earning her degree in Marketing and Advertising from Emerson College in Boston, Paula joined the creative team of McCann Erickson, a leading global marketing communications company in Miami. She worked in advertising for a few years and ultimately identified the need for a high-end, yet wearable swimwear line. Having always had a love for fashion and drawing, she and a friend channeled their creative energy into realizing the feat of launching a luxury swimwear line. Two years later, in 2006, Paula bought her partner's participation and is now the sole owner of Caffé Swimwear. Her quality designs are influenced by current fashion trends and the rich culture and beauty of her beloved country, Colombia. She designs with the belief that women strive to look and feel confident and sexy , and can do so in her comfortable, hand-crafted, yet glamorous swimwear.

The Caffé, 2013 collection featured a stunning presentation of vivid, tropical shades and unique, lively patterns. Each look was figure flattering and styled to perfection - the essence of sexy chic. The vibe was breezy and refreshing and never compromised style and comfort. Beachy-glam ensembles all paired with classic gold accessories, and models donning gorgeous sun-kissed makeup, sleek ponytails, and toting straw and crocheted beach bags highlighted this striking presentation.

 Fun, embellished, silk kaftans sporting delicate beaded accents and coverups, topped flower printed bandeaus combined with classic black bikini bottoms, two and one-piece numbers with alluring cutouts in a plethora of brilliant shades of coral, aqueous blues, yellows and hints of animal print. Dazzling, flowing summer dresses in fluid fabrics were refreshingly effortless and transported  the audience to a far off tropical destination. Looks also included various resortwear suited for the poolside, beach or a summer stroll in the city. My personal favorite look, which Paula Saavedra wore, was a lovely printed, chiffon dress splashed in countless hues of blue and sprinklings of black and white, complete with tassel tie - GORGEOUS! The superior craftsmanship and precise fit also did not go unnoticed. Hand-crafted in Colombia, these pieces are made in a mix of Brazilian and American cuts, with flawless seamless stitching, and made to withstand extensive sun exposure and repeated wear, without fading or losing its original, immaculate fit. An added bonus for  Caffé's fashion-forward customers, is that it offers edgy, reversible numbers which add support and provide maximum comfort.

 The Caffé 2013 collection was impressive, beautiful, and exuded radiance. Every creation showcased will surely add just the right touch of opulence to every woman’s summer wardrobe and epitomizes the brand's trademark style - "Laid Back Luxury"; in short, mesmerizing.

Visit : www.caffeswimwear.com/ for more on this spectacular line!

Photography by Kai He

For images from the show please visit our Facebook Fan page

© 2012 The Los Angeles Fashion

Cia.Maritima's Collection at Miami Fashion Week 2013

Considered the hottest and most sought after swimwear line in Brazil, Cia.Maritima was launched by Benny Rosset in 1990. The line features embroideries, hand detailing, crystal beading, and intricate lace, making it high end and high quality.

During the show at Miami fashion week 2013, prints were absolutely stunning. Multicolored and blended to look almost like a gorgeous night sky, pieces were anything but ordinary. One pieces were cut on the sides to add an element of sexy, and prints were tropical and unique. With palm trees, mod-prints, and summery hues, this swimwear turned heads. I loved a yellow bikini with a tie and ruffle bottom and tiny triangle top. Leopard print is one of my favorite styles, and with an ultra-small leopard bikini, the model looked fierce and ready for a day by the pool.  On top of the basic triangle and one-piece suits, some were higher waisted and belted on the side which was interesting and different than many suits that were shown at MFW. The same styles were spotted again in tie-dye prints, snakeskin and beautiful bold hues that were stunning and showed off the hottest colors of summer. I especially loved the suits that had added ruffles and the sets that were printed with a detailed floral print.

Cover-ups were another story, because the lines cover-ups were much more than just something to wear over a swimsuit.  To start, a short dress with a long train was literally one of the most beautiful dresses I saw at fashion week. Short in the front with a train in the back, it was multi-colored and even featured a turquoise belt with a sparkling buckle in the middle. Following it was a short and belted long sleeve floral dress that was paired with ankle-strap heels-this would be perfect for a night on the town in Miami. Another cover up was completely open in the front, only connected by a yellow belt that allowed the model to show off her flawless figure, but still be somewhat covered up at the same time. Featuring bold, beautiful hues and a dazzling print, the model wore a pink bikini underneath, color blocking perfectly.

It’s no wonder that some of the most prestigious models in the world love to walk in Rosset’s shows-his collection was absolutely jaw-dropping.