Nolcha Fashion Week Opening Night September 5th

Tonight, I attended the opening night of Nolcha Fashion Week Spring 2007, featuring designers Lei Marco Jennifer Nicole Lee Katya Leonovich Samata's Muse. It is a daunting task to run essentially several different fashion shows in one, and Nolcha's organizers did so, beautifully. The shows were held in a unique and lovely location: the Prince George Ballroom on 27th Street in Manhattan.

The guests were offered drinks, and tea infused with vodka (courtesy of Tavalon tea bar) and lots of nice music, plus some vendors showing fashionable wares, but the crowd was getting restless by the time the announcement came to take seats (the show was called for 6pm and didn't begin until 7:30). Still, the large crowd hung in there until the end of the entire event.

The first designer of the evening was Lei Marco, beginning the show with several models wearing gas masks, and these two oddly suited in skirts. Afterwards, most of the models sported a variety of evening gowns made of drape-y, sparkling fabric in black, and a few in brighter colors. The sparkly fabric even showed up in very body conscious bathing suits. There were also some nice, tailored suits for men.

Kata Leonovich presented a number of shiny silk dresses, many in soft colors such as pink, silver, and blue, some adorned with metallic ribbons and light chains.

Another note-able designer was the muses by Samata Angel. I believe this is the designer (with one of her "muses/models") at the end of the show.

It would be difficult to guess a "trend" through these up and coming designers, but the hair was either rod-straight, loose and long, or worn in a semi-updo/chignon which looked quite elegant and perhaps, do-able at home. Jewelry was at a minimum, or very over sized, such as in long, shiny hoop earrings.

Nolcha offers resources for fashion industry professionals to empower themselves and their careers.

Tomorrow's shows include:

3:00pm - Rebecca Turbow Carmelita Couture & accessories by Goka Shoe Designs Bathhouse Swimwear Rimalya Ef-Fect & Quis Es Tu

7:30pm - Birgit Muller M SIAMO by Marisa Minicucci

The 7th through the 10th there are private runway events and seminars. For more information on Nolcha, visit www.nolchafashionweek.com