NYFW – SS18

Ahh, New York Fashion Week. What’s more fun than a train ride to the city? Watching fabulous shows and presentations where we just drool and daydream about owning just one piece from each collection is! Here’s a recap of some of our fun at NYFW this season…

Alterre Shoes

Harmony Pilobello and Shilpa Iyengar are the reason why so many women have more closet space! Let us explain. Alterre is an interchangeable shoe brand. What? Buy one of their eco-leather shoe bases and add a “look” (snap on straps), and bam, there’s your shoe. Keep the same shoe base, but just change the color on your look and there’s a whole new shoe for you! Try out their shoe builder here.

Alterre invited us to Maman in Tribeca for a lovely breakfast (the mini quiches were AMAZE) and presentation of their new Painted Desert collection (inspired by rock formations in Arizona). We chatted with Shilpa for a bit over mimosas!

 How many shoes are in your line?

With spring ’18 there are now about 5 base styles that come in various colors, and we have 9 top styles now. They come in so many colors, you can make like 600 combinations.

We are loving the chunky platform! (Shilpa happens to be wearing them…)

They are so comfortable because they are made with the same last as the mules so literally the same incline, just elevated!

Where can we buy these?

We sell online and do pop-ups and shows in the city. We have another one in October for the winter season. We do house shows sometimes for people who want to host a party. Those are really fun because people invite their friends and it’s a really intimate gathering.

What are some of your favorite trends for spring that inspired this line?

Pastel brights! We tend to stagger the trends. Blush has been in and in and in, so we kept it. The ankle wrap has been in so we kept that, as well as the slides. Other than that, when we see a cool leather we ask how we can put it in our line!

Are you the only shoe company doing anything like this?

There are modular shoe companies where you can change the heel, etc. but ours you can wear the base alone. There’s nothing wrong with the integrity of the shoe. And the straps are just fun and decorative!

How did you and Harmony’s education and experience at Parsons shape your business?

Working at all hours of the day helped us (laughs)! The idea of a clean aesthetic that is classic and can last seasons comes from Parsons. You can wear these in like 10 years from now. The Parsons thinking is making something of quality with integrity that’s made to last. Harmony studies sustainability, so our shoes have recycled heels and are made in a fair labor factory. A lot of that came into play from our education at Parsons as well.

Not only do we love their shoes, but we love that they donate 5% of all sales to RestoreNYC, a non-profit organization that provides long-term rehabilitation to victims of sex-trafficking in New York, which is one of the largest global markets for human trafficking.

Women helping women. Kudos, ladies!

Website: Alterre Shoes

New York School of Design

We love up and comers, so we were pretty excited to see NYSD’s presentation featuring 8 emerging talents in womenswear and menswear from the school’s graduating class and recent alumni.

Sentell McDonald

We chatted with Sentell McDonald, who’s on the current season of Project Runway (he’s also a dancer, singer, and personal trainer + nutritional coach!), about his line!

What did you learn from your experience on Project Runway?

Project Runway was an AMAZING experience! One of the many things that I have learned while being on Project Runway was that I am great under pressure, I am very grounded, and that I am more capable than I have ever imagined!

Tell us about the looks you presented. What was your inspiration?

As a streetwear designer, the inspiration for my collection was to reference 90’s street wear and take it to the future with a punk vibe. I deliberately designed each piece as a separate that could transition into its own “mini collection” and stand on its own (buyers want to buy unique separates instead of an outfit that matches), then I paired them together. I design “menswear” but I feel like all of the pieces I created can be unisex.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand?

My brand is focused on a marriage between wearable streetwear, art, and ready to wear.

What’s next for you??

Pelush

We’re all about faux fur – so we’re pretty obsessed with NYC based, Pelush.

“Through meticulous research and the selection of the finest Italian fabrics, and the best man-made pelage, each coat is carefully crafted to create a luxurious and elegant experience. A cruelty-free product, Pelush is a wonderful alternative for the modern woman in search of glamour, comfort, and the warmth of a plush coat.” (Pelush website)

Their NYFW presentation at the Stewart Hotel, Fitzgerald Ballroom was heavenly…