DCFW 2023 Winter
DCFW Spring 2023
D.C. Fashion Week is in its 18th year, and is still organized by the original founder, Ean aka “Mr. D.C. Fashion Week.” He is easy to recognize, from his build and stature, and from the fur wrap that he appears to always be wearing. Ean is always impeccably dressed, whether in a neutral-colored suit or one of vibrant rainbow colors. You can also spot him by the crowd that inevitably gathers around him from the moment he enters the room.
It's easy to see why D.C. needed a fashion week. We have a community of fashion-forward residents who are thirsty for an opportunity to drink in the latest fashion trends and to show off their own looks. In fact, watching the audience is arguably the best part of attending DCFW! This year I saw a glitter mesh top, a glitter mesh headpiece, sparkling purple pants, zebra striped “fur” coats, cheetah print anything, and a pair of ladies in the front row popping with color!
The weekend typically unfolds with an opening networking reception, followed by two nights of shows. This year both shows were hosted at the headquarters of the National Association of Home Builders (which is ironic, because I’ve made many a sales call there in my other life as a hotelier). The high, vaulted ceilings lend a dramatic effect and the columns, while obstructing sight lines, provide an opportunity for additional visual elements such as flora and uplighting.
The first night’s show on Saturday February 25th, featured Emerging Designers. Maison Nyanga treated us to a very colorful and exciting collection that was very clearly African-inspired…the patterns, the color palette, and even the background music gave a nod to the designer’s origins.
Luberta James showcased a beautiful collection of cocktail dresses, that I could easily see myself wearing on a night out. Mostly “bodycon” style, variations included ruching, capes, beaded fringe, and asymmetrical shoulders. Ironically, Luberta James specializes in footwear, but what I noticed most was the apparel.
Homage showcased a collection I can only describe as streetwear meets swimwear, with graffiti emblazoned across neon pastel-colored bikinis, bucket hats, and hoodies. I could see this style performing well in LA, or perhaps even in Virginia Beach. Socially Inspired, designer #3, came out with a strong showing of very eclectic pieces, that ranged from camo to bright pops of color.
Brittany May, by contrasted, presented us with a very conservative, albeit elevated, collection of what I would consider to be office attire. One in particular reminded me of something you would see in a classic 1930’s film, with a ¾ pencil skirt and nearly matching silk top, both in shades of beige / burnt orange. I appreciate the pieces presented a coherent collection; honestly some of the other offerings felt a little erratic, with less consistency between looks.
Generation Typo offered some interesting pieces in a very consistent red-and-black theme, many a variation on basic black suits with red piping. My favorite look was a red body suit with a black leather skirt overtop paired with tall black high-heeled boots. The Eye Am Collection reimagined knitwear, fashioning handspun pieces into skirts, jackets and vests, sometimes as stand-alone material or paired with denim or, in one case, a sports jersey. For Etta Groove Footwear, all the models dressed identically…denim jackets with the brand’s logo emblazoned on the back, paired with black leather pleated skirts. Most models carried a shoe in their hands, while others just wore the shoes on themselves.
Following the intermission, we moved from streetwear styles to more couture collections.
Kavin Todd impressed me with his playful mix of gold, black, and animal print, mixing fabrics as well as palettes. Pairing leather with “fur” and/or jersey knit added to the interest level of this collection. Perhaps my favorite look featured a skinny black leather pant with a balloon-sleeved, pirate-style top paired with a wide black leather belt and a black fedora. Nawara Kamara stole the show in her opening look, a dramatic floral ensemble featuring a skirt that billowed behind the model in the back while revealing quite a bit of leg in front, paired with an asymmetrical bandeau-style top with one sleeve. The next look featured the same pattern but styled into a tight-fitting skirt and corset-style top a la Dolce & Gabbana. Zoe’s African Fashion featured elevated swimwear paired with flowing, gauzy capes. I was impressed that contrary to a typical swimwear show, the models represented a diversity in size as well as skin tone. Svelte Couture rounded out the first night with a Moroccan vibe, showcasing their skill with fabric, impressive draping, cut, and color.
Night Two on Sunday February 26th celebrated International Couture and Menswear. AR Couture opened, with an intriguing music selection – the theme from “The Pink Panther.” The following collection was equally intriguing, featuring primarily male models in exquisite suits trailed by long, flowing capes. My favorite was an all-pink look with a matching cape made with roses. Eileen L then came out with a line of magnificent, Derby-worthy hats, designed by the daughter of the original “Eileen” after her passing. I noticed that in this case, while every model wore black, they did not all wear identical black looks – some of the pieces were quite striking in themselves, especially one whispy number with a criss-cross pattern in the back. Andrew Nowell gave a strong showing of menswear, mostly comprised of suits paired with oversized puffer jackets, the most striking one in metallic gold. XYZ’s collection, designed by an 18-year-old who originates from China, featured mostly menswear in a very elevated style, such as silk patterned shirts paired with dress pants or jeans, as well as a black and white moto jacket and a white suit with a Zebra stripe-ish pattern. A few female models presented in very similar attire. The Debonair Club showed what I would consider to be a capsule collection of only 5 or 6 pieces, yet each very elevated and stylish, set against a running video of a black gentleman sipping whiskey, boarding a train, etc. as the backdrop. Very elegant indeed.
Rounding out the 1st half of the 2nd show, we had Black who, somewhat ironically, favored blue & white designs, mostly stripes applied to oversized boxy silhouettes. A few of the women’s pieces really stood out, particularly this one electric blue number. Free Design also favored a rectangular silhouette that I would describe as tunic-style suits, even on most of the women, although again a few of the dress designs stood out in my mind, such as a beautiful green, flowing creation.
Sadly, at this time of the evening I was due to return back to the hearthstone of my loving family so I had to bid adieu to my fashion friends. Overall it was another amazing experience from the fashion-minded elite of the DC metropolitan area. I can’t wait to see what the fall show will bring!
D.C. Fashion Week is in its 18th year, and is still organized by the original founder, Ean aka “Mr. D.C. Fashion Week.” He is easy to recognize, from his build and stature, and from the fur wrap that he appears to always be wearing. Ean is always impeccably dressed, whether in a neutral-colored suit or one of vibrant rainbow colors. You can also spot him by the crowd that inevitably gathers around him from the moment he enters the room.
It's easy to see why D.C. needed a fashion week. We have a community of fashion-forward residents who are thirsty for an opportunity to drink in the latest fashion trends and to show off their own looks. In fact, watching the audience is arguably the best part of attending DCFW! This year I saw a glitter mesh top, a glitter mesh headpiece, sparkling purple pants, zebra striped “fur” coats, cheetah print anything, and a pair of ladies in the front row popping with color!
The weekend typically unfolds with an opening networking reception, followed by two nights of shows. This year both shows were hosted at the headquarters of the National Association of Home Builders (which is ironic, because I’ve made many a sales call there in my other life as a hotelier). The high, vaulted ceilings lend a dramatic effect and the columns, while obstructing sight lines, provide an opportunity for additional visual elements such as flora and uplighting.
The first night’s show on Saturday February 25th, featured Emerging Designers. Maison Nyanga treated us to a very colorful and exciting collection that was very clearly African-inspired…the patterns, the color palette, and even the background music gave a nod to the designer’s origins.
Luberta James showcased a beautiful collection of cocktail dresses, that I could easily see myself wearing on a night out. Mostly “bodycon” style, variations included ruching, capes, beaded fringe, and asymmetrical shoulders. Ironically, Luberta James specializes in footwear, but what I noticed most was the apparel.
Homage showcased a collection I can only describe as streetwear meets swimwear, with graffiti emblazoned across neon pastel-colored bikinis, bucket hats, and hoodies. I could see this style performing well in LA, or perhaps even in Virginia Beach. Socially Inspired, designer #3, came out with a strong showing of very eclectic pieces, that ranged from camo to bright pops of color.
Brittany May, by contrasted, presented us with a very conservative, albeit elevated, collection of what I would consider to be office attire. One in particular reminded me of something you would see in a classic 1930’s film, with a ¾ pencil skirt and nearly matching silk top, both in shades of beige / burnt orange. I appreciate the pieces presented a coherent collection; honestly some of the other offerings felt a little erratic, with less consistency between looks.
Generation Typo offered some interesting pieces in a very consistent red-and-black theme, many a variation on basic black suits with red piping. My favorite look was a red body suit with a black leather skirt overtop paired with tall black high-heeled boots. The Eye Am Collection reimagined knitwear, fashioning handspun pieces into skirts, jackets and vests, sometimes as stand-alone material or paired with denim or, in one case, a sports jersey. For Etta Groove Footwear, all the models dressed identically…denim jackets with the brand’s logo emblazoned on the back, paired with black leather pleated skirts. Most models carried a shoe in their hands, while others just wore the shoes on themselves.
Following the intermission, we moved from streetwear styles to more couture collections.
Kavin Todd impressed me with his playful mix of gold, black, and animal print, mixing fabrics as well as palettes. Pairing leather with “fur” and/or jersey knit added to the interest level of this collection. Perhaps my favorite look featured a skinny black leather pant with a balloon-sleeved, pirate-style top paired with a wide black leather belt and a black fedora. Nawara Kamara stole the show in her opening look, a dramatic floral ensemble featuring a skirt that billowed behind the model in the back while revealing quite a bit of leg in front, paired with an asymmetrical bandeau-style top with one sleeve. The next look featured the same pattern but styled into a tight-fitting skirt and corset-style top a la Dolce & Gabbana. Zoe’s African Fashion featured elevated swimwear paired with flowing, gauzy capes. I was impressed that contrary to a typical swimwear show, the models represented a diversity in size as well as skin tone. Svelte Couture rounded out the first night with a Moroccan vibe, showcasing their skill with fabric, impressive draping, cut, and color.
Night Two on Sunday February 26th celebrated International Couture and Menswear. AR Couture opened, with an intriguing music selection – the theme from “The Pink Panther.” The following collection was equally intriguing, featuring primarily male models in exquisite suits trailed by long, flowing capes. My favorite was an all-pink look with a matching cape made with roses. Eileen L then came out with a line of magnificent, Derby-worthy hats, designed by the daughter of the original “Eileen” after her passing. I noticed that in this case, while every model wore black, they did not all wear identical black looks – some of the pieces were quite striking in themselves, especially one whispy number with a criss-cross pattern in the back. Andrew Nowell gave a strong showing of menswear, mostly comprised of suits paired with oversized puffer jackets, the most striking one in metallic gold. XYZ’s collection, designed by an 18-year-old who originates from China, featured mostly menswear in a very elevated style, such as silk patterned shirts paired with dress pants or jeans, as well as a black and white moto jacket and a white suit with a Zebra stripe-ish pattern. A few female models presented in very similar attire. The Debonair Club showed what I would consider to be a capsule collection of only 5 or 6 pieces, yet each very elevated and stylish, set against a running video of a black gentleman sipping whiskey, boarding a train, etc. as the backdrop. Very elegant indeed.
Rounding out the 1st half of the 2nd show, we had Black who, somewhat ironically, favored blue & white designs, mostly stripes applied to oversized boxy silhouettes. A few of the women’s pieces really stood out, particularly this one electric blue number. Free Design also favored a rectangular silhouette that I would describe as tunic-style suits, even on most of the women, although again a few of the dress designs stood out in my mind, such as a beautiful green, flowing creation.
Sadly, at this time of the evening I was due to return back to the hearthstone of my loving family so I had to bid adieu to my fashion friends. Overall it was another amazing experience from the fashion-minded elite of the DC metropolitan area. I can’t wait to see what the fall show will bring!