Scene: The Winter Solstice arrives for only a moment. The coldest season enters with a gust of Arctic winds as big white fluffy clouds are pushed aside. The time to layer and bundle up is here as the waning of daylight hours comes near and the Sun disappears. Wrapped in warmth for comfort and style. Uptown, downtown, and all around town, coats and jackets, scarves, sweaters, hats, and boots fend off the chill with color and swag in Winter Land.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season. Be filled with wonder, be touched by peace. And always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder. Love, Beth and Fred xox
Scene: Christina Osburn and Paul O’Connor’s Annual Halloween Gathering. On a cool fall evening full of spirits and delights, festive friends arrive. Smiles, hugs, and greetings. Some in costume. Some in sweaters, jackets, and warm wear. The Waxing Crescent Moon in the sky, was illuminated 41% by the Sun. A subtle breeze brushed by, the leaves rustled as the branches swayed. The wind then howled as the trees bent, the leaves shook, and the clouds covered the moon! Everyone looked up. Everyone looked at each other. “It’s so strange”. What was that? “Must be the season of the witch”! Revelers above, Giselle Potter, Rachel Chayon, and Jojo Ans.
Scene: Co·hosts Paul O’Connor and Christina Osburn, with their adorable Stella.
Scene: Kieran Kinsella.
Scene: Fred Smith and Paula Cerrighino.
Scene: Josh Alexander and Aya Cash.
Scene: Katie Coyle Todd and David Todd.
Scene: Giselle Potter and Kieran Kinsel.
Scene: Anthony Borelli and Chris Boosahda.
Scene: Jojo Ans and Carmel Holt.
Scene: Giselle Potter, Chris Boosahda, Rachel Chayon, Jojo Ans, Carmel Holt, Darren O’Sullivan, and Anthony Borelli.
Scene: Chris Boosahda, Sean B Nutley, and Brendon F. Casey.
Scene: Pema Cliett.
Scene: Josh Alexander and Paul O’Connor.
Scene: Christina Osburn’s delicious Pavlova Cake with the Day of the Dead imagery. The merinque desert had flavoring of vanilla, and a richness from the custard and fresh fruit.
Scene: Rachel Gans and John Murphy.
Scene: Janet Wygal and Todd Prudhomme.
Scene: Tasty delights.
Scene: Spooky treats.
Scene: Sunny and Elise.
Scene: Janet Wygal and Todd Prudhomme.
Scene: Liv and Greg Hill.
Scene: Rachel Chayon.
Scene: Todd Prudhomme.
Scene: Paula Cerrighino, Beth King DeVito, Mario Geissler, and Janet Wygal.
Scene: The cowgirl spirit is strong and brave, and full of endless possibility.
Scene: Brendon F. Casey and Sean B Nutley.
Scene: Amy Worley, Hans Gissinger, and Frank Bango in the back.
Scene: Christina Osburn and Josh Alexander.
Scene: Frank Bango and David Todd.
Scene: Giselle Potter.
Scene: Anthony Borelli and Paul O’Connor looking at the Waxing Crescent Moon as the clouds cover it.
Scene: Sunny and Elise, and Mario Geissler.
Scene: Paula Cerrighino and Beth King DeVito.
Scene: Jojo Ans, Sean B Nutley, Brendon F. Casey, and Rachel Chayon.
Scene: Steve Bohn.
Scene: Yours truly.
Scene: Christina Osburn looks back to make sure the prison officer isn’t around!
Scene: Jim Fossett, Suzanne Stokes, and Veronica Reck.
Scene: Paula Cerrighino and Aya Cash.
Scene: Co·hosts Paul O’Connor and Christina Osburn, the hosts with the most who always put together a fun and wonderful celebration. Thank you!
Scene: Stella on the scent for a treat…
Scene: Paul O’Connor’s unique creation “Self – Serve Dispenser”.
Scene: Seasons change from warm to cool. Summer sightings of lace, stripes, and semi-sheer. Orange, yellow, lime green, and blues. Always black and white. Patterns, 90’s simplicity, and updated romantics. Denim and cargo pants. Flowing and hugging fabrics. Super mini and maxi too. Boots, slides, and strappy low heel sandals. Oxfords, loathers, and kicks. Easy Breezy. Note: Normcore is a fashion movement that celebrates effortless style and comfort, which relates to this post.
Scene: The seasons turn. The colors of nature change, maintaining the summer’s vibrant hues of orange, yellow, greens, and lavender. Mixed with beige, browns, and blues with touches of red. Enhanced neutrals. And yes, black and white with grey too. Leather, wool, cashmere, suede, and cotton. Boots, Doc Martens, Timberland, sandals, and sneaker. Color and texture.
Scene and Heard: Steppin’ into fall with Bizarre Inc’s I’m Gonna Get You
Scene: Kim Shui’s Fall Winter ’23 collection at New York Fashion Week. The Chinese-born fashion visionary doesn’t shy away from sex appeal as she celebrates the female form, presenting an array of skin-baring garments that skillfully play with textures, patterns, and faux fur. This maximal excess collection was ultra sultry, ultra sexy, and ultra ’90s. Skin and nudity were prevalent. But Shui herself is a self-proclaimed shy girl. Her clothing however is bold, loud, and statement making. “The reason I chose Bowery Savings Bank building is because the banks are a place that historically withheld power from women. I wanted to reclaim that because the whole thing was about women’s agency, women’s freedom to express themselves”. A poignant message in this time of feminine political issues. The runway show began with models cascading down a marble staircase before strutting atop an elevated runway strewn with official documents. Notably, Kim Shui’s model line-up was richly diverse. Women of all skin tones, hair textures, body shapes, and sizes. The collection delves into the delicate balance between individuality and self-expression. For Shui, celebrating the bodies of women comes second nature, as her looks commonly drape the body and provide the wearer with uninhibited confidence. Her signature diamond encrushed “K” was on belts, bras, coats, jewelry, skirts, and sunglasses. Talent for the show: Hair by lead hairstylist Jaylin Seng and team for Cutler Salons using Redken products. The key hair looks were very long straight hair with the signature “K” tattoo and very long braids. Hair “K” tattoos by Paul Miller for Cutler Salons. Lead makeup artist Romero Jennings and team for Mac Cosmetics using Mac products. The key makeup look was two toned lips lined in red with purple, an ombré effect (gradient color effect). Nails by Narina Chan and team, Stylist and Casting Director Ella Cepeda, Shoes High Heels and Moon Boots, Location Bowery Savings Bank building which opened in 1834 located in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Photos by Fred J. DeVito.
Scene: The ceiling of the historic Bowery Savings Bank built in 1834.
Special thanks to Helen Oppenheim, hair historian, archivist, and blogger, for asking me to collaborate during Fashion Week.
Scene: A.Potts Fall Winter ’23 collection at New York Men’s Day during New York Fashion Week. The New York based designer, Aaron Potts, delivered a polished and modern collection. Titled Neorascalism, Aaron reimagined lives of “The Little Rascals” as if they were students at Parsons in the early 1990’s, “NeoRascal”. Potts’ signature, oversized genderfluid looks also featured slimmer silhouettes this season. This collection was grounded in a classic color palette of black, white, and red, full of texture, layers and depth with faux fur. A Detroit born and raised Brooklynite, Aaron Potts attended Parsons School of Design where he interned with Donna Karan at DKNY. Potts would go on to amass an impressive resume designing for Emanuel Ungaro, Anne Klein, Victoria’s Secret, Escada in Germany, Badgley Mischka, Ellen Tracy, Kaufmanfranco and at Tamara Mellon (co-founder of Jimmy Choo) where he was the design director. With two decades of experience under his belt, Potts felt it was the right time to step out on his own in 2018. The work of fashion legends like Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, as well as pioneering American designer Willi Smith, were some of Potts’ early influences, particularly when it came to volume and silhouette. Talent for the show: Hair by lead hairstylist Kien Hoang and team for Oribe. The key hair look was natural, windswept with movement. Lead makeup artist Jessica Marisol and team for New York Academy of Makeup AOFMPro. One of the key makeup looks was called City with simple glowy skin. The other was called Outdoors with a matted natural look. Stylists Memsor Kamarake, Shoes Dr. Martens, Legwear Hue, Hats Kangol, Eyewear Kimeze, Custom Belts Delfina Farias, Location Daylight Studios in Hudson Yards, Photos Fred J. DeVito.
Scene: A.Potts lookbook film.
Special thanks to Helen Oppenheim, hair historian, archivist, and blogger, for asking me to collaborate during Fashion Week.
