Tag Archives: new york fashion

In love with Prabal Gurung Spring 2014 New York Fashion Show

My favourite designer Prabal Gurung is out with his Spring 2014 New York Fashion Show collection. I am in love with his collection in pastel colours, abstract florals, sheer mesh panelling and couture flourishes. Staged in an industrial hall in the cavernous space of Moynihan station, the show started with models lining behind the clear curtain giving audience time to look at the amazing collection in detail.

The designer explains the idea behind his Plastic Cage-Like Runway Show. “Basically, it’s celebrating the preservation of an elegant woman, which has become a source of inspiration and intrigue for me for the longest time. The idea of preservation came from couture fabrics—to modernize it, to use plastic, to lacquer it,” Gurung told InStyle.com. “The whole thing started with Bert Stern’s picture of Marilyn Monroe‘s last sitting. She’s the idealized woman. There was something so beautiful and so melancholic about (the picture), and I wanted to create that.” And that he did, bringing femininity into a modern context through the clothes, jewelry and even shoes.

I am loving the shirtdresses, halter blouses, curve-hugging midi-skirts, sweetheart neckline wiggle dresses and tulip jackets.

Here are some of my favorites from the collection.

 I also loved matte shades lips, perfect hair, colorblocked cat-eye sunglasses  but the highlight for me is definitely the amazing collection of pointed-toe slingbacks. I really want them now.

It was a celebration of women,” he said, backstage after the show. “I was thinking about preserving elegance, but making it modern and right for now – and with the right amount of danger . I wanted to abstract and modernize this idea of an idealized woman, For me, it’s someone who’s colorful, bold, and unafraid of her curves—really being feminine and appreciating that. Sensual, but with a hint of danger”

Here are some reviews for his collection.

Vouge magazine : “ Technically, too, this was Prabal Gurung’s best collection to date.

British Vouge :”I like the idea of femininity with bite,” he smiled. We do too.”

Women wear daily: “The evening dresses were the real highlight, with Gurung turning down the sporty effects to let the glamour glow. True to his word, he layered harnesses under the dresses and gowns, many done in thick, colourful satin wrapped around the body or corseted and spliced with mesh on tea-length dresses. A black silk duchesse dress, cut off the shoulder and embroidered with big crystal rosettes, was just about perfect.”

fashionista.com : “Prabal Gurung’s spring 2014 show was an experience–one that made use of all of our senses. It was risky collection, unlike anything we’ve seen thus far this week, as Gurung proved yet again why he’s one of New York’s biggest stars.”

You may also like :

*Sneak peak on Prabal Gurung for Target *Love you, Prabal Gurung *Over the moon to get the Prabal Gurung parcel

Varsha Thapa: First international fashion model from Nepal

It is always great to report success of people from Nepal. Today I am introducing Varsha Thapa, a beauty with long cascading dark hair, enviable skin and exotic features who became the first ever Nepali to walk the New York Fashion Week in 2011.

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

She’s been recognized as one of Nepal’s first supermodels and she is represented by Wilhelmina Model Agency. She is the first and only Nepali model to be represented by a major agency in America. She made her runway debut in Spring/Summer 2012 during New York Fashion Week walking in 10 shows including Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim and Many Coon.

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model - ID356765

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

Varsha’s dream is to walk for Roberto Cavalli, be the face of Calvin Klein and to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel.

Here are her details

Hair color: Dark brown

Eye color: Brown

Place of birth: Nepal

Date of Birth: Dec 16, 1990

Height: 5’10”; 178cm

Measurements: (US) 32-23.5-34; (EU) 82-62-86

Dress size: (US) 2-4; (EU) 32-34

Shoe size: (US) 8; (EU) 38.5; (UK) 5.5

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

Varsha is a graduate of Hospitality Management but decided to become a model because of her passion for modelling. Since having arrived in New York, Varsha has been mentored by her scout, Roman Young. “He has helped me with everything from my walk to advising me on what to wear when I go for casting calls,” Varsha said.

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

Varsha has been adjusting really well in New York as, on a single day, Varsha had casting calls scheduled with 19 designers. Impressively, she made it to 18 of them. The gruelling nature of the industry is the norm, especially for Fashion Week. But Varsha has also been sent to casting calls at some of the industry’s biggest names like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, an indication of where her agency thinks her potential lies and looks fit.

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

She has done shows like – Spring/Summer 2012 {3.1 Phillip Lim, Creatures of the Wind, L’Wren Scott, Mandy Coon, Patrik Ervell, Prabal Gurung, St. John, Suno, Suzanne Rae}, Autumn/Winter 2012 {Bibhu Mohapatra, Dennis Basso, Libertine, Miguel Adrover, Tracy Reese}.

Varsha Thapa - Photo - Fashion Model

She was also featured in Navayaata magazine in Nepal as well as Rouge Magazine in China.

Here is her interview with Women’s Wear Daily (WWD)

 WWD: It’s getting late in Paris — are you heading to bed soon?

Varsha Thapa: I just got to another job now, for Moda Operandi. We’re shooting Christopher Kane, I think. This is my first time working with them. I came from a fitting at Vivienne Westwood. I tried on like eight outfits. The shoes were crazy. Vivienne alwaysFXFLd7IfrZi45yu.ZOi3sc6D2CbHo_hmried were in a heart shape, with block heels. They were kind of hard to walk in, and I had to walk maybe twelve times.

WWD: Before we talk about Paris, how was New York Fashion Week?

V.T.: Great. I did Kimberly Ovitz, which was really fun. I like her clothes a lot. It was really artistic. Generally, she does like black stuff, but this time she included colour. She had these leather pants that were really cool. They were like painted gold or something. They were amazing.

 WWD: Did any other shows stand out?

V.T.: I did Bibhu Mohapatra, and I really like his clothes a lot. That show had crazy hair. First there were braids, then they had to back-comb everything. There were a lot of things going on. It was painful, but it was only for a little bit, so I was fine. There was a bun and on top of that, there was a lot of crimping. There were a lot of clips in my hair. It took a while to take them out. I slept on the pins and the next day, I was like, “What is this in my hair?”

 WWD: What are your thoughts on Paris so far?

V.T.: The amazing thing about Paris is there are so many patisseries here. You don’t really have to think about what to get — there are so many amazing choices. In New York, you don’t have that. Either you go to Starbucks or some other chain. There is this place near my hotel, and I know it’s not the healthiest, but it’s so good. Every morning, I’m so tempted to go there and get a croissant. They have different types of croissants, a healthy kind and a regular. I get the healthy kind, but sometimes I sneak and get the regular.

 WWD: Have you gotten to do any tourist-y activities?

V.T.: No, and this is my first time ever going to Paris. Thankfully, I’m here until March 20th. I’m going to go to the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysées. I want to explore Paris, which I haven’t been able to. Since the moment I got here, I started working.

WWD: Do you know what shows you’ll be doing?

V.T.: It’s all to be determined. You never know until you are confirmed. It’s very iffy. I’m not sure if I’m going to do anything, or if I’ll book a show after the fitting. But, the castings are still happening, the fittings are still happening and the options are still there.

 WWD: Do you ever get disappointed when you don’t book a job?

V.T.: Yes. Just a few days ago, after a casting, I got sent directly to a fitting because the designers liked me a lot. I was there waiting for four hours, so I had to miss two really good castings. Then, after the fitting, I was cancelled from the show. That was a really big disappointment, but it’s all right. It happens every season to every girl.

You may also like :

*Binod Chaudhary: First Nepali on FORBES Billionaires List

*Prabal Gurung : A Fashion designer from Nepal

*Aastha Pokharel representing Nepal on Asia’s Next Top Model