Features — Page 6

The Juxtaposition of Fashion and Music Evidenced in Current Collaborations

July 7, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Fashion isn’t the most powerful art form just because we need it to express ourselves, or at the very least, avoid public indecency charges. It’s the most powerful art because it seamlessly fuses every other form of artistic expression. From Schiaparelli’s architectural silhouettes to Jonathan Anderson’s Dior invite featuring Lucian Freud’s Four Eggs on a Plate, fashion pulls from painting, sculpture, literature, film, and more.

But no art form collaborates more intimately with fashion than music. Musicians have long been muses for fashion designers; their lyrics and stage presence intertwined with the garments they wear. And as a result, music and fashion frequently give rise to some of the most iconic, genre-defining collaborations in culture.

Some are straightforward—celebrity endorsements, ambassadorships—but others are deeper, creative exchanges that birth limited-edition collections, visionary photoshoots, or entirely new aesthetics. At Fashion Reverie, we’re spotlighting a few of the most unforgettable recent pairings where fashion and music collided beautifully:

G-Dragon x Nike
If any genre reigns supreme in fashion right now, it’s K-pop. And G-Dragon proves it. A founding member of the boy band Big Bang and a streetwear icon in his own right, G-Dragon’s collaboration with Nike marked a major moment. His custom-designed Air Force 1s sold far beyond expectations and helped set the stage for a new era of artist-driven sneaker collabs.

Jennie x Gentle Monster
Jennie of BLACKPINK is not just a global pop star and Chanel ambassador, she’s a force in fashion. Her collaboration with Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster was a natural fit, merging their shared roots and bold aesthetics. What began as a one-off collection blossomed into a continued creative partnership, with every pair of glasses blending Jennie’s soft-meets-edgy persona and Gentle Monster’s avant-garde designs.

Bad Bunny x Calvin Klein
Bad Bunny has been the face of many scroll-stopping campaigns, but none made waves quite like his Calvin Klein collaboration. Channeling the provocative spirit of the ‘70s “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins” era, his campaign was sensual, cheeky, and internet breaking. Bad Bunny in boxers? We didn’t have that on our 2024 bingo card.

Images courtesy of the respective brands

Pharrell Williams x Louis Vuitton
If you’re looking for the pinnacle of music-meets-fashion synergy, it’s Pharrell Williams as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director. His debut blurred the lines between runway and music, further proving that a musician at the helm of a legacy fashion house isn’t just a gimmick, it’s the future. Pharrell brings a fresh, genre-bending perspective to Louis Vuitton, one that nods to both hip-hop culture and haute couture.

—Sydney Yeager

Dippity Don’t Says: July 2025

July 3, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Happy July and it is hot!! As we prepare for Fourth of July festivities, it’s time to pour the tea. While temperatures call for iced tea, Fashion Reverie has a piping hot cup of tea to serve you. Much is afoot in fashion, as creative director debuts are afoot (congratulations, Jonathan Anderson at Dior), and much else is happening in fashion. From big-time editors stepping down from their posts to once promising businesses floundering, it’s a summer of drama in fashion.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Legendary Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has stepped down from her post after 37 years at the helm of arguably the most powerful fashion magazine in the world. She will retain her positions as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer. While Vogue is searching for a new U.S. editor-in-chief, the rumor is that Wintour is stepping down from her post because she was pressured into giving Lauren Sanchez a digital cover ahead of her nuptials to billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. While Wintour might love Bezos’ donating to her annual Met Gala, she wasn’t keen about putting his bride on a digital cover. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back after 37 years.

Image courtesy of ebay.com

Drunk Elephant, once one of the most profitable beauty brands in the business, is now sinking like the Titanic. The brand’s sales have plummeted 65 percent as the company blames inventory issues. Inventory also doesn’t change the fact that people are no longer shopping for their products as they once were. Bankruptcy could be in their future.

Image courtesy of fashionista.com

The speculation over who will take over Fendi has the fashion industry begging for the brand’s parent company, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, to announce someone already. The latest name in the rumor mill is American fashion designer and senior vice president of design for Calvin Klein menswear, Willy Chavarria. Chavarria has arguably become one of the biggest names in fashion, and there was news that the designer has been in talks with Fendi about a potential gig. It’s possible he could become Fendi’s new menswear director, or also possible he’ll be the brand’s new creative director succeeding Kim Jones.

Image courtesy of purple.fr

Designer Francesco Rossi has left his creative director position at Marni in what many saw as a surprise. The apparent frontrunner to replace him is Meryll Roge, founder of her eponymous unisex Belgium-based fashion brand. Roge is no stranger to color or patterns, so she could be perfect for the next era of Marni’s aesthetic. Let’s see when the brand finally announces its chosen one.

Image courtesy of nordstrompressroom.com

All is not well at Nordstrom as the company’s anniversary sale numbers are not what they used to be. Nordstrom’s anniversary sale was once a cash cow for the department store chain, aside from the holiday season and Black Friday. Now, sources say executives at the company are in a panic over why the anniversary isn’t performing the way it should. Has it occurred to the Nordstrom team that we are in an economic downturn and people are struggling to get by? Their marketing team is especially feeling the pressure as the company wonders where they went wrong. In this tough economy, this might lead to pink slips.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

After a lackluster financial performance, Roberto Cavalli is looking to sell. Cavalli passed away in 2024, but his eponymous label is still alive, although in less-than-stellar financial straits. As a result, the brand is looking for a buyer, to the surprise of no one in the industry.

Speculative buyers include Fraser’s Group, Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing, and Qatari-based Mayhoola, which also owns Balmain and Valentino. Although Roberto Cavalli is struggling, it’s still a prominent name in fashion.

—Mr. Dippity Don’t

It’s Time to Celebrate Groundbreaking Trans Models

June 26, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Trans rights are under attack in the US, particularly under the current administration. The Trump Administration has restricted access to trans citizens’ rights to accurate federal identity documents, threatened to withhold federal funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care, and tried to bar trans soldiers from serving in the military.

It is a tough fight for trans people right now, but despite the adversity they are facing, trans models are still breaking ground in the fashion industry. In the ‘60s, April Ashley became what is thought of as the first successful transgender model. While Ashley wasn’t out as trans when she began her modeling career, she was later outed by the Sunday People. The outing damaged her career, but she helped pave the way for many of the glorious trans models we know today. In honor of Pride Month, Fashion Reverie looks at some of the most major trans models of the moment and those on the rise.

Image courtesy of hello!magazine.com

Alex Consani

Alex Consani was a girl born to defy the odds. At age four, she began wearing girls’ clothing, and by age eight, she decided on the name Alex. She began modeling in 2015 after her mother found an advertisement for Slay Model Management, a Los Angeles-based modeling agency focused entirely on transgender models.

At age 12, she became the youngest transgender model in the world. In 2019, she signed with IMG Models, and by 2021, she made her runway debut in New York City walking for Tom Ford. To date, she’s walked the runways for Boss, Burberry, Chloé, Roberto Cavalli, and Coperni. In October 2024, she made history along with Valentina Sampaio, as they became the first two transgender models to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Image courtesy of marieclaire.com

Valentina Sampaio

Valentina Sampaio not only became one of the first transgender models to walk the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, but in 2019, she became the brand’s first transgender print model. The Brazilian star also broke another glass ceiling in 2020 when she became the first transgender model featured in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue.

Sampaio is a vocal advocate for transgender rights and LGBTQ+ issues in her home country of Brazil. Originally from a fishing village in Brazil, she defied the odds to become an in-demand model. She is represented by top agencies, such as The Lions in New York and Women Management in Paris.

Image courtesy of toofab.com

Zaya Wade

The daughter of retired NBA legend Dwyane Wade and the stepdaughter of Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union has been slowly making a name for herself in the fashion industry. She recently posed for MAC’s Born Famous campaign and was on the March 2025 digital cover for Seventeen magazine. She also turned heads when she walked for Miu Miu’s fall 2023 show. In addition to her slow-burning rise to model stardom, Zaya Wade is also a philanthropist.

Zaya is the founder of the trans advocacy non-profit Translatable Project. The organization is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth and acts as a resource hub for their parents, families, and support systems.

Image courtesy of washingtonblade.com

Teddy Quinlivan

Teddy Quinlivan is a name that has become synonymous with high fashion. The top model was discovered in 2015 by Louis Vuitton’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, and in 2017 she came out as transgender. Her announcement was followed by support from Ghesquière himself and other fashion industry notables, such as fashion designer Marc Jacobs and make-up artist Pat McGrath.

Quinlivan’s career has seen her walk the runways for Carolina Herrera, Jeremy Scott, Christian Cowan, Jason Wu, Dior, and Saint Laurent. She made history in 2019 by becoming the first openly transgender model hired by Chanel.

Image courtesy of 52insights.com

Juliana Huxtable

Juliana Huxtable is a New York-based Texas transplant known to many as a fixture on New York City’s nightlife circuit. Huxtable is a multihyphenated artist, and her artwork has been on display at the New Museum’s 2015 Triennial, and she can also be caught DJing around New York City. As a model, she’s walked for DKNY and Eckhaus Latta.

Images courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Inès Rau

There are few things Inès Rau loves more than a magazine cover. The Parisian model broke the internet when she went viral from an NSFW editorial paired with supermodel Tyson Beckford for French publication OOB back in 2013. This was just the beginning for Rau, who has gone on to have photo editorials in magazines, including Oyster, Vogue Italia, Numero, and Playboy. She’s certainly having more than a moment.

Image courtesy of models.com

Lea T

Lea T first came to prominence in 2010 when she became the muse to fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, the former creative director of Givenchy. T has been featured in Vogue Paris and Love magazines. Outside of Givenchy, she’s also modeled for Benetton, and she became a history maker when she scored a campaign for Redken. Upon the Redken campaign release, T became the first openly transgender model to represent a global cosmetics brand.

Image courtesy of nbcnews.com

Ariel Nicholson

Ariel Nicholson proudly wears both the hats of model and LGBT rights activist. Like many transgender models, Nicholson also boasts her “first to do it” claim to fame when she became the first openly transgender model to walk in the Calvin Klein show. Fashion designer Raf Simons personally selected her for the brand’s spring 2018 runway show during his time as creative director. In addition to her work for Calvin Klein, she’s also modeled for Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Vogue, and W. Outside of modeling, Nicholson volunteers with the Gender & Family Project. The organization supports transgender youth and their families.

—Kristopher Fraser

Fashion Danger Alert: Will NYC’s Garment District Disappear?

June 20, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of garmentdistrict.nyc

New York City’s Garment District has been an epicenter of the fashion industry since 1919. The district, which is located between Fifth and Ninth Avenues between 34th and 42^nd Streets, wasn’t always the claim to fashion fame as we have come to embrace. Before 1919, The Garment District was known as the Tenderloin and the Devil’s Arcade.

It was a cesspool of squalor and had the highest concentration of sex workers the nation had seen at the time. Many crimes went on in the neighborhood, including bootlegging and racketeering. The question loomed of who or what could turn the area from a mecca of the sex trade and other sordid activities into something of a non-illicit boom for the city.

Photo by Walter Sanders/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

The answer to that question was the Garment District. Hundreds of thousands of garment worker immigrants were essentially quarantined into the area as New York’s wealthy elite looked for ways to clean up the Tenderloin and get immigrants away from Fifth Avenue. The manufacturing zone proposed became known as the Garment District, and the first new buildings, known as the Co-Operative Garment Center buildings, were built in 1920 and 494 and 500 Seventh Avenue, wrapping around two existing hotels, the Hotel Havare and the Hotel York.

For the decades proceeding, the Garment District would be a source of some of the city’s greatest manufacturing jobs, the home of many designer studios and showrooms, and a hub of American fashion from conception to the final product. The Garment District was the symbol of arguably all that was American fashion. Even legends, such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren, would call the Garment District home for their businesses at one time.

Although many fashion brands still retain showrooms and offices there, including Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu, and Wiederhoeft, the Garment District is no longer the textile hub it once was. Over the past several decades, the Garment District’s position as a manufacturing hub has been shrinking.

The issue isn’t a cut-and-dry one and is multifaceted, with global economic shifts, high costs, and zoning changes affecting the slow loss of the Garment District. The Garment District has unfortunately seen a decline in jobs and businesses for reasons including manufacturing moving overseas and rising rents in the neighborhood.

Image courtesy of humanb.com

The rise of low-cost manufacturing in other countries led to the outsourcing of garment production, which caused the number of domestic manufacturing jobs in the U.S. to shrink. Manhattan rents are also at record prices, making it difficult for manufacturers even to open shop or keep shops open in the Garment District.

In the 21^st century, one of the culprits of the decline of the Garment District is fast fashion. The demand for locally produced more quality fashion has waned. This isn’t because people no longer have an interest in good clothes or dressing well, but, rather, because consumers have been so conditioned to shop fast-fashion, the idea of spending more on clothes for long-term use is foreign to many of them.

One of the biggest issues facing the Garment District today is zoning changes and relocation. In 2017, New York’s Economic Development Corporation attempted to relocate the Garment District from Midtown Manhattan to Sunset Park in Brooklyn, a move that was considered a threat to fashion manufacturing in the United States. The removal of zoning laws that protected the Garment District for decades left manufacturers with the option to move to a 200,000-square-foot industrial space with lower rent and longer leases. Thirteen factories at the time made the decision not to move to the Sunset Park location.

Image courtesy of cashmertte.com

Despite the slow decline of the number of manufacturers and fashion companies in the Garment District over the decades, there are still many fashion companies based there, and the Garment District is still home to many independent textile stores and even the famous Mood Fabric store featured on “Project Runway.” The Garment District is also up the street from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), the prestigious fashion school that has produced legendary fashion designers, including Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli, Michael Kors, and Ralph Rucci.

Now, the biggest threat to what’s left of the Garment District is a Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan, an NYC rezoning initiative covering 42 blocks from West 23^rd to 40^th Streets, between Fifth and Eighth Avenues. The proposal aims to transform the area into a 24/7 mixed-use neighborhood by adding about 9700 new housing units, including up to 2900 permanently affordable homes.

While adding more housing units, especially affordable ones, sounds amazing in theory, and would greatly help with rising housing costs in New York City, without critical changes to the proposal it could force many manufacturers out of the Garment District by the whim of real estate developers.

The New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition (NYFWDC), along with organizations, such as the Council of Fashion Designers of America, have signed a petition urging New York City to put guardrails in place to serve the MSMX plan, as well as preserve manufacturing jobs and hubs in the area. A few things the NYFWDC has proposed are prioritizing adaptive reuse over demolition, where buildings would be converted rather than torn down. Many of the District’s lofts were built for manufacturing and can’t be recreated under current building codes. NYFWDC has also called on the city to reinvest in initiatives, like CFDA’s Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, Custom Collaborative, and other workforce development programs that train and retain local talent.

New York City also has $25 million in unallocated Business Improvement District funds that were set aside for the Garment District. NYFWDC has also called on the city to relaunch the building acquisition and Industrial Development Agency programs to secure new buildings dedicated to garment manufacturing

Image courtesy of vogue.com

Other aspects of the proposal include adopting limits to prevent speculative development, offering tax relief for fashion-related businesses, and establishing a displacement relief to support businesses affected by redevelopment with grants and relocation assistance.

Garment District workers and notable members of the fashion industry, including CFDA president Steven Kolb, held an in-person rally on June 18 to speak out against the MSMX plan. The movement against the plan is growing, and while the Garment District may never return to its peak glory days, hopefully, it will still have a home in Midtown Manhattan.

—Kristopher Fraser

Dippity Don’t Says: June 2025

June 6, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of heartofashephard.com

Dance, it’s the summer of love! Fashion Reverie would like to wish you a happy start to your summer and a happy Pride Month. As we prepare for summer, the European menswear shows, and Couture Week, much is afoot in the fashion industry. The round of designer musical chairs has continued, and there is also behind the scenes drama and several fashion companies. We know it’s time to switch to iced tea, but this tea is piping hot.

Dior has named Jonathan Anderson creative director of their womenswear and couture collections, after announcing him as their creative director of men’s earlier this year. This leaves Maria Grazia Chiuri out. Currently, all eyes are on who will fill the last coveted creative director spot at Dior’s parent company LVMH’s Fendi. It is the one vacancy the brand has, and the rumored shortlist includes John Galliano, Chiuri after her recent Dior exit, and dark horse Marco de Vicenzo, the head of design of Fendi leather goods. Who will take the crown?

This New York-based American brand has found itself slowly embroiled in scandal as it is revealed to be a bastion of racism. Former employees have been leaving reviews on Glassdoor about the racism they have experienced there, and an article several months ago by a major publication featured several interviews with past employees discussing the company’s lack of inclusivity. It makes sense the only employees they have been able to hold onto are millennial and Gen Z white women. This might be Trump’s America, but good luck selling a high-end fashion brand for too long when people of color don’t want your clothes.

Image courtesy of theeconomictimes.com

All press isn’t always good press. Blake Lively’s once $100 million haircare line has seen its valuation shrink to $15 million amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni over his alleged inappropriate behavior toward her on set. When she tried to drag her friend Taylor Swift into it, it didn’t go over well. Swift is now no longer involved in the case, but her diehard fanbase didn’t take kindly to Lively dragging her into it. It’s now cost the actress big time.

Image courtesy of vanityfair.com

The search for Vanity Fair’s next editor-in-chief is on and parent company Condé Nast has its work cut out for them with trying to figure out who will claim one of the most coveted jobs in media. The apparent shortlist includes Will Welch of GQ, Vanity Fair’s current digital director Mike Hogan, Vogue creative director Mark Guiducci, and W editor-in-chief Sara Moonves. It will be an entirely new era for Vanity Fair.

Mr. Dippity Don’t

Fashion Celebrating Diversity is Now a Form of Rebellion

May 27, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of artnews.com

May is one of the biggest months in fashion, as it marks the first Monday in May, known to many in the fashion industry and general fashion lovers as Met Gala Monday. The Met Gala is one of the largest funding resources for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum. For decades, Wintour has wielded a Chanel ironclad fist over the Met Gala, from approving every member of the guest list to securing as much funding as possible.

When the 2025 Met Gala theme was announced, black fashion fans and industry members applauded. The theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrates black dandyism and black culture in a way like no museum ever has. What was most important about this exhibit was its perfect timing.

While companies have been rolling back DEI initiatives and have cautiously approached how to address diversity, the Met Gala was beautiful, black, and proud. Celebrity stylist Law Roach said, “They done f*** around and made the Met Gala black,” knowing that black culture wouldn’t let this moment go unnoticed or be less than stellar. Legendary black celebrities walked the red-carpet spanning generations, from longstanding icon Diana Ross to music powerhouse Usher.

Image courtesy of cnn.com

In a time when diversity is seemingly being rejected, as companies are not only rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but the world looks at only 17 percent of Donald Trump’s presidential cabinet nominees being non-white where 40 percent of Americans identify as people of color, celebrating diversity in any form is seen as n against the power status quo. Black dandyism is a cultural and fashion movement where black people use clothing to express themselves and challenge societal limitations. Dandyism is in itself political because it defies racist notions imposed by colonial ideals and white supremacy.

Companies that have decided to roll back their DEI initiatives have felt the brunt of their mistakes. Most notably, Target announced in January shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump that they would roll back their DEI initiatives. Their just desserts were served to them earlier this week when they reported dismal earnings due to what they called “DEI headwinds.” They also announced that two C-suite women leaders are on the way out. In addition to facing a public revolt from many of their customers, they also warned how the Trump tariffs could affect their business.

Image courtesy of target.com

Trump has recently called for a 50 percent tariff on the European Union but has paused the tariffs he was set to impose on Chinese imports through early July. Brands and retailers are still cautious and consumers are spending less. Target has done itself more harm than good by refusing to take a political stand and stick to its DEI initiatives.

The proof that racial diversity in this political climate pays off was when the fundraising numbers for this year’s Met Gala were revealed. The event raised a record-breaking $31 million dollars, more than any other Met Gala in the history of the event. Wintour even took it a step further and recorded a video for Vogue where she discussed how she would no longer invite Trump to the Met Gala, despite his offering to have companies throw money at the event.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), the governing body of fashion in the United States, even stopped to highlight more than several designers of color featured in the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit, including black designers Jeffrey Banks, LaQuan Smith, and Jacques Agbobly, as well as Latino designers Willy Chavarria and Raul Lopez of Luar.

The companies that have chosen to take a stand and uphold their DEI initiatives are also performing better, even in the face of a bleak economy. Ulta Beauty, which has stood by its DEI initiatives, is seeing its stock prices increase. Sephora, which did donate to Donald Trump, but has stood by its DEI initiatives, saw hundreds of people camping out overnight ahead of their Liverpool store opening this week.

Image courtesy of fitnyc.edu

Sergio Hudson, who has no outside investment, has also banked on remaining black and proud. At the 2025 Met Gala, Hudson dressed 18 celebrities, and among his retail partners, he counts Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.

For brands smart enough to stay on the DEI train, it’s easy to figure out why they perform better, especially luxury fashion brands. In 2019, Business of Fashion reported that black customers are 20 percent of luxury spending in the U.S. Market, a number that was projected to increase to 25 to 30 percent this year. For brands targeting Asian consumers, China is considered the world’s largest luxury market, with some estimates saying China contributes over 25 percent to the global luxury market. Needless to say, you can’t have a successful luxury brand without people of color.

A Mintel survey recently revealed that 41 percent of Gen Z consumers, the most racially ethnic and diverse generation currently in America, prefer to shop from brands that reflect their identities. Case in point, they want to see more designers of color. One of the most in-demand handbags to date is still Telfar’s shopper tote, the brainchild of Liberian American fashion designer Telfar Clemens. The bag once had a waiting list that felt like “The Hunger Games.”

Image courtesy of history.org

Rebelling against racism will pay off for fashion brands in the long run as America continues its trajectory toward more racial diversity. With Black, Indigenous, and people of color, or consumers, making up 40 percent of the population, brands and retailers would be smart to continue their acts of anti-DEI rebellion and cater to the next generation of consumers, and those already pouring big money into fashion and retail.

—Kristopher Fraser

The Legacy Ball of Harlem Celebrates the Style of the Harlem Renaissance

May 10, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Now that we are in this black dandy moment, it is important to consider the eras and the different types of black men that have embraced black dandyism. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and early 1930s wholeheartedly embraced black dandyism and all the forms in which that fashion aesthetic may have presented itself.

That fashion aesthetic, which was such an endemic part of the Harlem Renaissance, presented itself in some iconic black literary figures from Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Wallace Thurman, and Zora Neale Hurston to music legends Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and more. And you don’t leave out the leagues of black folks who had migrated from the Jim Crow south and showcased their newfound liberation in Harlem to demonstrate style and pizzaz.

In this 100^th celebration of the Harlem Renaissance, the Legacy Ball of Harlem seeks to highlight and embrace that spirit of creativity and style in its first celebration of that golden era. Media entrepreneur Myrdith Leon-McCormark brought together New York City leaders and style icons to give voice and credence to this historic era.

“The glamour and creativity of Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance inspired my desire to build a wedding business in the early 2000s, and later in 2006, a bridal magazine. I’m proud to celebrate how this iconic era continues to shape my vision and creativity,” states Myrdith Leon-McCormack. “It was an honor to be able to honor living legends who contribute to my success and that of our community.”

The inaugural edition of the Legacy Ball of Harlem counted as its supporters a seemingly endless list of leaders, designers, philanthropists, and influential citizens. The City of New York Agencies of Tourism, represented by Markly Wilson, the Harlem Economic Development, represented by Curtis Archer, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams represented by Gina Williams, Group 868, represented by Ivan Meza, and Harlem One Stop, who partnered with the event organizers to provide the musical talent, were all in attendance to lend their support, with some offering official citations and proclamations.

A fashion presentation was one of the highlights of the evening, celebrating fashion designers of color’s latest collections. Designers showing in the show were Yumi Katsura of Paulette Cleghorn, Carlton Jones of the Carlton Jones Collection, Brooklyn Bespoke by Rody McDonald, Yemi of Kosibah, Elizabeth Salassie (the great, great granddaughter of Emperor Salassie of Ethiopia) founder of Designer Loft, and Ivan Mesa, the owner of the Sample Room Bridal Salon, as well as legendary designer and long-time Harlem affiliated designer Mark Ingram, a celebrated anchor of the New York Bridal Fashion Week calendar.

Images of VERY New York

The highlight of this event was the appearance of A‘Leila Bundles, the great, great granddaughter of Madame C. J. Walker, who signed copies of her new book Joy Goddess. “The Legacy Ball of Harlem was more than just a celebration—it was a call to action,” says Leon-McCormack. “By supporting this event and the ongoing initiatives of World Bride Magazine, you’ll be helping to preserve Harlem’s vibrant history while empowering the next wave of artistic and entrepreneurial talent.”

—William S. Gooch

2025 American Image Awards

May 8, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Every year Fashion Reverie looks forward to the American Apparel & Footwear Association’s 2025 American Image Awards which celebrates visionary leadership in the footwear and apparel industry. The theme of the evening was one that celebrated legacy and innovation, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Held at Gotham Hall, the event was attended by fashion industry professionals Ken Downing, Jameel Mohammed (Tiffany & Co.), Chuks Collins, Cynthia Rowley, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Reem Acra, among many others.

Fashion Reverie chatted with some of our favorite industry professionals and discussed new collections, the state of the apparel industry, and what’s new and innovative on the horizon. Fashion Reverie loves to stay current and on top of the trends, so we had to ask one of our favorite influencers, Caroline Vazanna, two questions, what are you wearing and why are you here? Fashion Reverie also spoke to Reem Acra and discussed her latest bridal collection.

Before we headed inside to mingle over cocktails, Fashion Reverie had to speak with Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, who received the Fashion Maverick Award. He spoke to us about Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, Michigan, which is an HBCU pipeline for career education and product development in the product creation industry. Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, who inspired the room with a message of resilience, stating, “At Pensole Lewis our mission is clear … Make dreams accessible to everyone willing to work hard for it.”

During the cocktail hour, Fashion Reverie mingled with shoe designer Ruthie Davis and menswear designer John Bartlett, among others. We reconnected with old friends and made new acquaintances over champagne, hor d’heurves and enjoyable conversation. Dinner was served and we enjoyed Burrata and Tomato Three Ways, Miso Glazed Cod with Black Rice, Pickled Hon Shimeji and Kaffir-Lime Dashi (all of it was delicious), cosmic cake and coffee while the honorees accepted their awards.

Image courtesy of VERY New York

Ulla Johnson received the Designer of the Year Award and Ulla Johnson made an emotional statement about how her fashion brand ” continues to celebrate women’s voices, women’s collective power, and our hard-won rights for all those less fortunate … and all the daughters in generations to come.”

It was an evening celebrating the tastemakers of apparel and footwear. A good time was had by all!!

—Renessta Olds

Dippity Don’t Says: May 2025

May 8, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of healthshots.com

Happy May everybody. May in Fashion means it’s time for The Met Gala, a.k.a. the first Monday in May. The Super Bowl of Fashion is here, and with May also comes a Super Bowl-sized amount of tea in the industry. From invitation scandals to what creative director is getting moved around next, much is afoot in fashion. Prepare your teacups, darlings, and don’t forget the finger sandwiches.

This luxury conglomerate is preparing to slash 10 percent of its workforce in response to Trump’s tariffs. While they are still sitting high and mighty at the top of the fashion industry, even they aren’t immune to the economic woes of the world. Most of the brands in their portfolio saw profit losses in the last quarter, and now they have to tighten the belt to keep steering the ship. As we already reported on Fashion Reverie, those tariffs are bad news.

This top fashion brand has declined to dress anyone for this year’s Met Gala. Many speculate it’s because they have only recently named a new creative director and want desperately to hold off on debuting any of his designs until September. While keeping spectators and the industry on their toes until his big debut is crucial, opting out of the Super Bowl of fashion is not a good look.

Image courtesy of okayafrica.com

In a slap to the face on a night celebrating Black Dandyism, the Met Gala and Vogue are being criticized on the internet for not inviting top TikTok influencer Wisdom Kaye. Kaye is considered one of the epitomes of modern Black Dandyism and was even described by Vogue as “The Best Dressed Man on TikTok.” Kaye attended the 2024 Met Gala, so it was shocking he didn’t get a repeat invite this year. Is it possible he did something to earn Vogue’s ire? Either way, maybe he’ll be spotted at an after-party.

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Martine Rose has emerged among the shortlist of designers to take over as creative director of Balenciaga. Rose’s consultancy was considered instrumental during the early years of Balenciaga, turning the brand into the much bigger household name it is today. It would also be history-making, as she’d be the first Black woman to hold the position.

—Mr. Dippity Don’t

Met Gala 2025 Monday Awaits: What—and Who—to Expect!

May 1, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

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Fashion’s biggest night is quickly approaching! The 2025 Met Gala, put on annually by Vogue at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will take place on Monday, May 5, 2025. Fashion Reverie is here to provide all the details, from the star-studded guest list to the run of show.

Let us begin with a bit of Met Gala history. The ball’s inception was based on the opening of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which takes on a new theme each year, matched by the gala’s detailed dress code that all participants follow. Annually, the event raises eight figures that benefit the Costume Institute.

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About This Year’s theme

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the name of the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” on Wednesday, October 9. The announcement spurred excitement for the thought-provoking and culture-rich exhibit, and allowed ample time for the invitees to curate their themed looks.

The exhibition’s theme draws from Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, by Monica L. Miller, published in 2009. The text explores the origins of Black dandyism, identifying the emergence of the Black dandy in 18th-century England, where formerly enslaved African Americans conformed to European fashion to reclaim dignity and challenge expectations. (Duke University Press)

The exhibition will be presented in 12 sections, each one embodying an attribute of Black dandyism. They are: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook (also known as places of respite for post-emancipation African Americans), Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism. Echoing the theme of the exhibition, the infamous dress code for this year is described as “Tailored for You,” striking a more ominous tone than years past, leaving guests with subjectivity in how they might interpret it.

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The event is routinely star-studded, and this year is no exception. A selected group of co-chairs will join Vogue’s Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour, as the faces of the event. This year, they are Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams. LeBron James will serve as an honorary chair.

About This Year’s Co-Chairs

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Colman Domingo is an award-winning American actor, director, producer, playwright, and minister. Outside of his endless talent, he is known for his incomparable style, which can be defined as impeccably tailored, cohesive, and especially refreshing in the menswear landscape. He routinely makes it on best-dressed lists following red carpet events.

Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Ferrari. Formula One has long been associated with luxury, style, and refinement. Yet, the sport has seen a recent increase in association with the fashion industry, and it is a match made in heaven. Two luxury entities have come together for a mutually beneficial sporty yet fashionable marriage. Lewis Hamilton is set to be a shining example of this come May 5.

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A$AP Rocky is no stranger to the Met Gala or to fashion. Some know the American rapper for his hit song Fashion Killa, and he lives up to the name, increasingly reputed as a fashion icon. He is also recognized as Rihanna’s partner, for whom he named the famed song. The two are an iconic pair, and fans of the event are sure to wait with bated breath for a Rihanna appearance on this year’s red carpet.

Pharrell Williams is a jack of all trades. Pharrell is best known as an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record-producing legend. Always a fashion legend, recent forays into the industry have solidified him as a mainstay. He currently holds the title of Creative Director of menswear at Louis Vuitton and has reinvented the brand with his innovative and forward-thinking eye, often paying homage to his hip-hop roots and streetwear.

This year’s Gala will dust off an old tradition, reintroducing a host committee, and this year’s list is star studded. It is comprised of André 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jordan Casteel, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Edward Enninful, Jeremy O. Harris, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Rashid Johnson, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Audra McDonald, Janelle Monáe, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Tyla, Usher, and Kara Walker.

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A standout on this year’s host committee list is certainly Doechii, as this year will mark her Met Gala debut. The rapper/singer has been making music for a long time, but has certainly made a splash this year after making history as the third woman ever to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album since the awards’ inception in 1989. Moreover, she is a rapidly rising fashion icon status, and Vogue has certainly taken note. Doechii and her team nailed look after look at her Paris Fashion Week appearances this spring, donning major designers such as Schiaparelli. Her debut will certainly have Met Gala watchers anxiously anticipating her appearance.

A collection of red-carpet hosts of similar celebrity status will also decorate the carpet, interviewing equally star-studded guests. When guests enter the museum for the seated portion, each chair will be filled with one of the most prominent and influential people of the current moment, spanning fashion, the arts, sports, and politics. Once the last star leaves the carpet and the doors to the museum close, whatever happens inside is kept under wraps, thanks to a strictly enforced no-phones policy. What happens at the Met Gala stays at the Met Gala!

However, those who may not be able to have a seat at the gala can catch every detail of the red carpet from the comfort of home. This year’s livestream will be broadcast across all of Vogue’s digital platforms and YouTube. Singer and actor Teyana Taylor, actor and producer La La Anthony, and actor and comedian Ego Nwodim will host the official livestream.

As far as post coverage goes, be sure to check back here at Fashion Reverie for our best dressed list, and impossible-to-miss moments. With a theme as rich in history as it is in style, the 2025 Met Gala promises not just fashion, but a moment of cultural reflection.

—Marley Gifford