May 5, 2006- In a world fueled by instant satisfaction, most of us anticipate the end before things even begin. In recent times I have been in the tradition of reading a book's intro and then immediately reading the last chapter in order to get the overall "gist" of the story. Furthermore I have been applying this custom of instant satisfaction to all aspects of my life. Like most bad habits this has been hard to break, which is why out of the three-day extravaganza that was Brooklyn Fashion Weekend; I chose to check out the first and last days to get the overall 'gist" of the event. With over 15 local "Brooklynite" designers showing at the Tobacco Warehouse in the DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge) section of the city, this event was ambitious with scheduled performances, silent auctions and red carpet arrivals.

Day 1:

The initial experience was bumpy- complete with a late start, unassigned seating and unnecessarily long intermissions between each transition (designer and performer). In a crowd of mostly friends and family- the vibe resembled more of a talent showcase than high fashion. Then in a whirlwind, the atmosphere changed when the first look from veteran designer Simon Duncan glided down the runway.

Hits-

Simon Duncan's show of couture women's eveningwear was the perfect start to the evening. From first glance it was clear that each piece was flawlessly executed. The proportions of these dramatic designs were long, lean and breathtakingly beautiful. Silk satin pantsuits, fluted skirts, leather detailing and tailored lace shirts with contrast placket/cuff/collar details were just some of the many highlights from Mr. Duncan's Spring 2007 collection. The look was totally high fashion, complete with rich tones of burgundy, ecru and green. I especially loved the champagne colored pant suit with coordinating vest and emerald green shirt as well as the high-waisted black rayon crepe skirt with leather stripe insets on the waist that was paired with a crisp white lace blouse seductively tucked into the skirt. Finally, with several feminine denim pieces to show the designers full range, I imagined that this collection must be what most "City Princesses" dream was in their wardrobe! Bravo.

Designs by Simon Duncan

Designs by Simon Duncan

The men's wear collection by celebrated designer Nana Boatang for Akua Adoma Couture was next. Feeling eager to see a great men's wear collection I sat perched on my seat. As a bevy of designs graced the catwalk the collection seemed to lack a cohesive season, which is quite a contrast from the tightly presented collection shown on the designer's website. With barefoot (and sometimes bare-chested) male models donning designs crafted from materials ranging from gauze to felt wool the theme/ inspiration was unclear. The designer offered brightly colored suits (think coral and lime green) with contrast pocket details, bold prints and jacquards as well as wool overcoats complete with a fur collar. Despite the season-less feel for the collection the finale piece was a wonderful lime green and ivory jacquard single-breasted suit paired with a tropical turquoise colored button-down shirt. The look teetered between royalty and rock-star a la Lenny Kravitz.

Designs by Nana Boatang

Designs by Nana Boatang

Misses-

Last but not least, that evening was the collection by former Project Runway contestant and costume designer Zulema Griffin. She was clearly inspired by the matador's style as Spanish music rang out and the models sashayed down a candle-lit rose petal lined runway. The color palette was rich with red, fuchsia, brown and gold tones. The opening look was a black jacquard waist length jacket and long white shirt paired with black stretch knee length leggings that had mesh side panels. And for added drama the look was accessorized with a red cape. Look after look was feminine and sexy with each model donning dramatic hair and make-up and then it was over! There were only 9 pieces shown! And the crowd loved every piece. We wanted to see more so I guess the miss lies within our desire to satisfy our Zulema fix.

Day 3:

"Team" Brooklyn Fashion Weekend must have reconvened and decided that there needed to be a tightening of the reigns. No more long intermissions (yeah). No more taking your front row seat after the show has begun (double yeah)! And designer line sheets neatly distributed on each seat (my fashionista heart smiled). The line up for this evening was a weighty eight designer collections that included six women's wear collections (Nature vs. Future, Jewel Shannon, Harriet's Alter Ego, Vaine, Vaella) one men's wear collection (Tyeknow) and one collection that showcased both male and female designs (Khalil).

Hits-

Four-year-old Nature Vs Future was a serenely beautiful collection that was full of clean style lines and a calming color palette. Inspired by the "the constant struggle between nature and future.." designer Nina Valenti presented designs that had a futuristic feel with much exploration of lines and symmetry. Some highlights included an ivory wool coat with turquoise shirtdress as well as a coral shirt with a cutout detail on the sleeve paired with a black skirt.

Get Money Girl- a high-energy urban girl line was the perfect show for closing this event. The music boomed with girl and Brooklyn empowering songs like "independent woman" by destiny's child and "welcome to Brooklyn" by lil' Kim. The show began with a feistily clad model stomping down the catwalk in satin kelly green knickers and a satin black bomber jacket. She walked with attitude and midpoint down the catwalk she tossed out a handful of real money into the audience. There was velour, logo denim, sparkly jersey, corduroy and faux fur effortlessly flirting through this collection. The collection captured the urban vibe and proved to be the perfect wardrobe for the city girl that loves her sneakers just as much as her stilettos.                             

Designs by Get Money Girl

Misses

After visiting the retail hub Harriet's Alter Ego approximately two years ago and then visiting the website days before the start of BK Fashion Weekend, I was anticipating the unique urban wares the store is known for. Unaware that this hip hub in Brooklyn was actually a line of women's wear, I was anxious to see the runway show. A few simple silhouettes were presented in many fabrications with slight variations, which was a slight disappointment. A lone deep red corduroy wrap dress was dropped amiss sea of purple tones. From sweater knits to tweed to lace, the collection was uneventful. A trip to the store may prove to be a more vibrant experience.

Summation:

Brooklyn Fashion Weekend is the start of something good. With some finessing this event will evolve to become a mandatory fashion pit stop for buyers, journalists and other media to come and be introduce to the note worthy up and coming Brooklyn designers.

For more information on Brooklyn Fashion Weekend (including a complete listing of Designers) please visit www.bkfashionwkend.com.

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