The ninth season of Nolcha Fashion Week: New York hosted the Nolcha Fashion Lounge, a pop-up showroom exhibiting independent fashion designers at the Empire Hotel Rooftop; the Lounge also included complimentary pampering for fashion week attendees and an industry networking party.
The Nolcha Fashion Lounge, featured 19 independent designers of womens, accessory and eco/sustainable brands including Abreu Rios, Adolfo Sanchez, Ailin, Alberto Parada, Bodyrock Sport, Chabahll, Courtesan Studio, Daniela Vlad, Eva Evanovich, Helicopter, Pitusa, Ricki L Designer Jewelry, Rey, Rudy Wolff, Room To Roam, Show Me Your Mumu, Tammam, Vivienne Pash, and The Art of EMJ.
Two collections really stood out to me – Abreu Rios, a luxury label based in New York which is founded, owned and operated by Iris Abreu and Irene Rios, two life-long New Yorkers who draw inspiration from their own lives to design gorgeous pieces for confident, vibrant, creative and bold woman
and Adolfo Sanchez, another designer who designs for the strong woman. His collections consist of influences from different experiences and inspirations he has encountered – he says he’s inspired by everything – people, places, music, etc.
I have actually featured Adolfo Sanchez on my blog before, in September 2008, I wrote about the MyIt Things Designer Contest and Adolfo Sanchez was one of the three finalists (ANTM’s Jaslene Gozalez actually walked his show).
After getting a tour of the other designers, I took a break to enjoy the Nolcha Lounge’s The Beauty Oasis, particularly the Nails and Lashes applications offered by Kiss. I was really surprised by the Kiss Nails – they lasted more than seven days and no one knew they were glued-on nails. The Kiss Perfect Application Eyelashes are so easy to put on with the attached application strings. Although more dramatic than my own looked very natural and really brought out my eyes. Both the Kiss Perfect Application Premium Eyelashes – $3.99 and Kiss Everlasting French Nails – $5.99 are available at all Walmarts and Walgreens.
