(Biscuit Paint Wall skirt c/o Damsel White Label, Black Tee- American Apparel, Darling Dita Sunglasses c/o Darylynn Eyewear, Vintage Shoes- thrifted, Vintage Necklace- thrifted, Vintage bracelet- thrifted, headwear- thrifted.)
This was a pretty epic photo shoot with a couple really talented ladies and co-workers. The Scottsdale location with the Water Mark horse sculptures was the perfect background for showing off a vibrant and colorful skirt. The skirt is by Houston wedding dress designer- Natalie Harris, of Damsel White Label. While non-traditional wedding dresses are Natalie’s specialty, she is branching out to printed apparel, such as this amazingly awesome maxi skirt, that was inspired by Houston’s Biscuit Paint Wall mural. I paired it with a simple black tee, but made it into a crop top. I kept the rest of my color palette black, as I was eager to keep the skirt as the statement piece.
Kaleidoscope Houston concluded with Imaginarium- held at the very cool Vivaldi Stone Boutique. Wikipedia defines imaginarium as a reference “to a place devoted to the imagination. There are various types of imaginaria- centers largely devoted to stimulating and cultivating the imagination, towards scientific, artistic, commercial, recreational, or spiritual ends.” The event was exactly that… a destination into one’s imagination. The artists that showcased that evening (including myself) helped transform the showroom into a inspiring showcase. The art gallery-esque lighted stone sample walls created a unique backdrop for the runway. Shawn Flowers and Yung Chris HK (founder of Son Kiss’d) were the fabulous hosts of the evening.
Now, because I spend the good first half of the show behind-the-scenes, I wasn’t able to see most of the performances, which included: Fenyx Aerial, Stella Marie Manalo- (whose voice I heard during rehearsal, and the girl can SING!); Toki Singh and Son Kiss’d.
I showcased a curated vintage collection with pieces from my shop- Lone Star Vintage. I also included accessories that I have made throughout the years. It was a great experience for me to showcase my talent to the large audience.
Local bridal designer Natalie Harris of Damsel White Label had a low-key presentation, that of which I wasn’t able to fully see. However, I was able to catch a glimpse of the designer with two of her models after the program. She was showcasing select gowns, one of which is one of my faves. To the unforeseen eye, it’s a gorgeous white wedding gown, BUT if you look closely under the white overlay, you can see a beautiful print of a Texas bluebonnet field. The prints are basically why I’m going to get my (eventual) wedding dress done by her. Harris likes to incorporate edgy and memorable details into the gowns, thus giving the bride-to-be a non-traditional approach to her beautiful day.
The last half of the evening (and the half that I was able to watch) continued with the debut of Of Myth + Muse’s first collection. The brand’s designer- Em Natalicchio also collaborated with Elyse Herman of Bark & Beam, a brand that does bohemian flower and crystal crowns. Natalicchio’s designs were feminine and romantic. I loved the black leather romper with lace top, the bralettes and skirts.The Of Myth + Muse website is live, however the collection will not be available until spring.
The last runway presentation belonged to André Redou on apparel, Damari & CO. on gloves, and Shopnonhuman on jewelry. Fashion designer- André Redou is also a furniture designer. His collection was sexy and clever. High-waisted shorts (my fave), pencil skirts, tops and jackets were in materials such as: vinyl, mesh and nylon. Damari Rubio- glove designer-extraordinaire at Damari & CO.,created a collection of short and long gloves for Kaleidoscope that I feel represented each of her collections: Be Chic, Be Fit, Be Free, Be Playful and Be Romantic. Michelle Yue is the brains behind Shopnonhuman– a jewelry brand that focuses on minimalistic-meets-futuristic designs that are mostly created from high-quality lucite. I especially love the ‘knot choker’ and the ‘bangle bundle.’
I want to thank Pamela of Ubertina Productions for putting on this amazing event where local artists and creatives can come together and do amazing things. I also want to thank the entire Kaleidoscope team- you guys worked extremely hard and rocked it! Let’s see what Kaleidoscope Houston 2017 brings!
The cold weather didn’t stop prospective brides-to-be and their friends from going out to Silver Street Studios Events open house this past week. The inaugural event, organized by Piper & Muse, was titled “The Creative Heart of Houston” and showcased several creative wedding professionals; including Cafe Natalie, Swift + Company and Flora Eventi. The event seemed to be quite interactive, ranging from mingling with industry experts, tasty food and cake sampling, a fun photo booth and a DIY station provided by Pop Shop.
The main reason I was there was to support friend and local bridal designer- Natalie Harris of the Damsel White Label, who hosted a runway show showcasing her latest creations. I would describe Damsel White Label, which launched in 2013, as ‘couture for the alternative bride,’ as her designs aren’t for the typical cookie-cutter bride. The rebellious yet sophisticated gowns feature unexpected details; such as killer stripes, edgy silhouettes, laces and bursts of color. The looks that evening also boasted bouquets constructed out of brooches and bits of fabric. Harris states that she designs for the Montrose/Heights/Austin-type gal in mind and creates styles that stay true to the wearer’s personality. She offers her client “Haute Custom Service,” where she takes her passion for design to the next level. She works one-on-one with the client, starting from the initial consultation and works with the bride to customize and make sure the dress is PERFECT for the big day. The entire collection that was showcased is customizable, from the hem length, a sleeve addition and even down to the fabric substitution. Harris showcased a floral print gown, where the print was actually designed by Harris herself, which that too, is also customizable. Harris goes on to explain, “Brides may order a custom print as a sentimental touch used as a print lining. Past clients have chosen everything from punk rock concert posters to a memoriam with a father’s army stripes or grandmother’s favorite flower. From the inside out, Damsel White Label strives to make gowns that make everyone say, “Oh, that’s so [insert amazing client’s name here]!”
If you are currently on the hunt for a fun yet edgy gown for your big day and want to break away from the tradition- definitely check out Damsel White Label.
I love bike print like this! You can pull it off well.