Zerotwonine

New York is an eclectic city, a myriad of sights and sounds in constant battle for your attention.

New York Fashion Week only amplifies an already superlative-overloaded metropolis.

Who was there in the middle of it, soaking up the fashionable ambience? Why 029, naturally.

029’s runway-worthy Isabelle and the ever fashion-forward Christian accompanied a group of Manhattan and Fashion Week virgins (yes, they exist) to the Big Apple for a feast of fashion amidst the hustle and bustle of Fashion Week.

While our posse wasn’t rubbing shoulders with Anna Wintour, yet, we enjoyed our fair share of runway shows, shopping excursions and happening nightlife.

Our home base was the swanky and sexy W New York Times Square. 

A fashion statement in itself, the W is the ideal location to be in the middle of it all whilst still being able to retreat into the confines of your state-of-the-art and sophisticated hotel.

On Sunday, the group was chauffeured around Manhattan to some of the best shopping districts the city has to offer. 

SoHo and the Meatpacking District are home to some fashion heavyweight brands with their grandiose flagship stores and up-and-coming designers of tomorrow with their funky, hole-in-the-wall boutiques. Our group indulged in one-of-a-kind pieces, statement making accessories and recession-friendly wardrobe staples. Then it was time to get dolled up. 

A team of makeup artists and hairstylists came to the hotel to improve what nature had already given us. Then we stepped into our limo on our way to the Couture Fashion Week shows at the famed Waldorf-Astoria hotel. There we watched designers such as Sydney-based designer Cristina Nitopi, Peruvian-born designer Luis Machicao and US-designer Edwing d’Angelo sent their unique collections down the runway. 

The next day it was time for us to model the clothes, not on the runway, but in a fully stocked stylist’s showroom where we received styling tips and free clothes! Imagine a group a females letting loose amongst racks and racks of clothes, shoes and accessories - a sight to be seen.

Tuesday was the main event; we were off to Nolcha Fashion Week, the place for independent and emerging fashion designers from around the world to showcase their talents. Since our seats were front row, we had to make sure we were just as camera ready as the models (those front row guests ALWAYS end up in photos). A team of professional stylists once again came to the W Hotel to get us all ready for our close ups.

Nolcha Fashion Week took place downtown on Broadway and our group enjoyed backstage access to meet with the designers and take photos with the models. And it was hectic, shoes and clothes strewn about, models hair being pulled, teased and coerced into the perfect style and make-up galore.

We were treated to the funky contemporary fashions of Dora Abodi, the innovative elegance of Mexican born Stella Simona and the fusion of Euro-Asian fashion from Australian label KabukiU.

Dora Abodi:

Stella Simona:

KabukiU:
  

Following our overdose of fashion opulence, we were treated to a three-course meal at the famed, award-winning Capital Grille Steakhouse, where the dessert was just simply divine. To work off our indulgence, we headed off to our VIP table at Club Green House to dance the night away.

Other highlights to 029’s trip to New York Fashion Week included Robert Geller’s fashion show and an invitation to a private party at the seriously sexy Rose Bar in the Grammercy Park Hotel where we mingled with the likes of Chace Crawford, Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick of Gossip Girl fame and the adorable Rachel Bilson of former The O.C. fame.

In true New York style, we hardly slept, but the time we had in New York was worth every second of missed slumber. Manhattan never ceases to amaze us and without fail, always shows us a new side every time we step foot in the world’s most dynamic city. Fear not New York, 029 will return for Fashion Week and other attendance-worthy events and we are truly looking forward to taking in all the new wonders you will undoubtedly throw at us. So ciao NYC, it’s been grand!

029 Experience Artist and successful menswear designer, Robert Geller, unveiled his Spring/Summer 2011 collection during New York Fashion Week.

029’s fashion scouting gurus, Isabelle and Christian, along with our friends and lovers-of-all-things-artistic Robert and Hale of United Creators watched as the models aggressively strut down the runway.

Victor Hugo once said, “Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.”

Robert Geller kept to his German roots and found inspiration from the Berlin student movement of the 1960’s that sought to challenge the authoritarianism of the German governments and the hypocrisy of Western governments in general.

The protests in Germany were a reflection of a broader trend of global unrest, which saw the youth in various countries uniting together for a common cause against their respective governments.

This somber, yet liberating era in German history provided the backdrop and televisions broadcasting scenes from those protest set the mood for Geller’s latest collection. With the scene set and the audience’s undivided attention – it was time to tell a story by way of cuts, colour and fabric. 

The clothes were an expression of contrasts: sharply cut blazers, leather jackets and jumpsuits added an aggressive element while loosely cut shorts and silky fabrics helped soften the collection’s tone.

An army fatigue palette dominated the collection, army greens and desert khakis were prominently featured to symbolise the military response that often greeted peaceful protests.

Various shades of reds, a colour that Geller introduced into his collection for the first time, spoke to the passion and courage that marked the era’s youth movement.

Despite his new theme and inspiration, Geller stayed faithful to a few of his signature elements: impeccable tailoring, expert layering and an all-around messy-yet-pulled-togetherness that produces wardrobe staples with a rock-n-roll edge.

Our inspirational & über-creative friends over at United Creators had their own time in the spotlight during all the New York Fashion Week frenzy. During Fashion Week, UC had their  Fashion’s Night Out 2009 to contribute to the fashion industry’s inspiring efforts to stimulate the economy.

United Creators and New York artist Skye Nicolas extended a helping hand by conceptualising a sophisticated and sexy piece that was unveiled during Fashion’s Night Out 2009, New York Fashion Week: The Salut Beauté Lux-Tee - featuring stunning artwork by Skye Nicolas.

And the marvellers came out in droves. Kate Nauta, fashion model, actress and singer was there to give her support to Skye and Artists for Fashion. The Contemporaries‘ Moran Bar-Kochva was in attendence, R&B singer from the UK, Nathan was there, fashion photographer Jacob Sadrak, entertainment industry specialist Lucia Kaiser, New York society VIP Francois Alexander, models from Ford Models among others were all there to feast their eyes on The Salut Beauté Lux-Tee.

Being the first design to be released from the Artists For Fashion series makes this unique piece a highly collectible item; only 300 of these special limited edition tees will be made available to the public in a joint venture between United Creators and American Apparel. An overwhelming amount of pre-order inquiries from both supporters of the art world and eager fashion fans have already flooded the production team, foretelling that this unique piece may earn its place on the hot list of must-haves for Spring 2010.

More info about Skye Nicolas

The work of Skye Nicolas cultivates a perfect synergy between two forms of art: the art of portraiture, and the art of fashion photography. Both art forms are thematically known to celebrate idealized beauty, romanticism, human sexuality, and the female figure. The provocative power of Nicolas’ large-scale portraits of stunning faces lie in his ‘up-close and personal’ approach to capturing the elusive underlying sensuality and sublime eroticism within his chosen subjects.

Below are some of Skye’s stunning artwork and the first two portraits are featured on the The Salut Beauté Lux-Tee