Check out my article on this years Halloween costume trends in Hollywood Glam magazine!

I covered the Starlight children's charity annual Dream Halloween event in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday and got the scoop on all the hottest Halloween trends from the red carpet! Read my article here http://www.hollywoodglammagazine.com/2016/10/24/starlight-childrens-foundation-presents-annual-dream-halloween-costume-party-in-downtown-los-angeles/

Check Out My Article on Wiz Khalifa's New Clothing Line for Hollywood Glam Magazine

Check out my article at the link below!

So #cool seeing @wizkhalifa #debut his #new #clothing line @jfclothingco in #venicebeach #today #fashion #wizkhalifa #bashbyjunkfood #fashionblogger #fblogger #losangeles #abbotkinney #blackandyellow #rapper #music #california #cerisesdumatin #fashiondesign

A post shared by SierraClair (@cerisesdumatin) on Oct 15, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT

http://www.hollywoodglammagazine.com/2016/10/17/wiz-khalifa-launches-new-clothing-line-bash-by-junkfood-in-venice-beach/

Metropolitan Fashion Week LA: Closing Gala and Awards at Warner Bros studios

On Saturday night I prepared to cover the closing gala of Metropolitan fashion week in Los Angeles. I loved getting to dress up in my floor length dress for the event and decided to do an Old Hollywood look.

I arrived at the Warner brothers lot and was picked up by a studio cart and driven to their brownstone set where the gala was being held. We definitely got the star treatment! The set was adorned with whimsical decorations and lit up to make it feel like a real live New York street. The party decorations were in the same taste as the cirque du soleil fashion show. The blue carpet was set up against the beautiful backdrop making for great photos of all the guests. One of the first to arrive was Tommy Lei who was nominated for their fashion influencer of the year award. I interviewed Tommy about his Los Angeles based unisex fashion blog.  He talked about how excited he was to be nominated for the award saying he felt he was "Really representing LA for the first time going to all the events of Los Angeles fashion week! It's always been more international for me so it's great to represent the home turf!" Tommy was also a featured influencer at LAFW this season. It is great to see such a successful blogger from Los Angeles bringing awareness to the industry in California. Other red carpet guests included the director of Geneva fashion week who was also walking in the fashion show as a model as well as the Executive producer of Metropolitan Fashion Week. You can read about my exclusive interview with him here. The crowd went crazy when former Miss Universe Alicia Machado arrived looking amazing in a figure hugging gold gown.

 She was one of the hosts for the awards ceremony and has received a lot of media attention lately due to the controversial comments Presidential Candidate Donald Trump made about her body. She was rushed through the event to get ready to help host the awards backstage while crowds rushed to get a picture of her.
The event continued while more guests arrived and enjoyed the delicious desserts and drinks provided. There was even popcorn available to go along with the movie studio theme of the event. Young designers got the chance to showcase their designs from a contest where the challenge was to design an entire look out of candy. Models walked around in the fanciful and tasty looking designs and the crowd loved it.

Eventually everyone took their seats and the runway show began. The collections featured creative costumes and evening wear all in the Cirque du Soleil theme that the event advertised for the fashion show. At the end of the night the awards were presented and the event closed with a final fashion show filled with outlandish creations. It was an exciting night and I loved the chance to get dressed up for this event!

LA: The window to fashion CdM Exclusive Interview with Executive producer for Metropolitan Fashion Week

Tonight I attended the closing night gala of Metropolitan Fashion week Los Angeles held at Warner Brother studios. I got an exclusive interview on the red carpet with the Executive Producer of Metropolitan fashion week on the future of the event and his take on the Los Angeles fashion industry. First we talked about Metropolitan fashion week and the future of the event.

According to the Executive Producer, he wants to make Metropolitan fashion week a global brand and to help promote the fashion industry. Metropolitan fashion week started in Seattle back in 2009 and has now expanded to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. hopes to expand the event to more cities in the US including New York and eventually he sees Metropolitan Fashion Week as a global brand. According to him they are already in talks with China and Mexico to see how they can bring the event to even more places. He also said they have some exciting changes coming up that he will be revealing later. I can't wait to hear what announcements he will be making.

Next I asked him what he thought about the Los Angeles fashion industry since the closing gala also included an awards ceremony for costume designers in Film and Television. He responded saying, "Los Angeles is certainly the window to the fashion industry." According to LA is an important city in the industry because Hollywood allows the fashion to reach people all around the world. He brought up the unique aspect of the costume design industry in Los Angeles, which the event highlighted with the Cirque de Soleil themed fashion show. Costume designers in Los Angeles are known all over the world as some of the best in the industry and their work can influence trends across the country. Some of the most innovative and creative designs have started with costume designers in LA and we even saw some tonight as designers showcased dresses and costumes they had made using candy. He also pointed out that LA's ready to wear industry sets trends and predictions for RTW across the country. He told me "Fashion is an important industry to LA and Metropolitan fashion week wants to promote fashion around the world and especially on the West Coast." I am definitely excited to see what else Metropolitan Fashion Week will do in the future and enjoyed hearing about their goals to celebrate the LA fashion industry. They did an amazing job showcasing the unique and creative talent that LA brings to fashion at this event. To read more about the awards and the Cirque de Soleil fashion show click here. 

Art Hearts fashion week closes in color: Luxury by Xandra

Tonight was the closing night of Art Hearts fashion week in their brand new venue at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The night opened with a cocktail reception for guests in the Wiltshire ballroom where everyone enjoyed watching the red carpet guests arrive and commented on the interesting and stylish outfits of the night. Afterwards everyone headed to the runway where a large group of press had already gathered at the end of the runway. The announcer welcomed guests and thanked everyone for another great season and then turned the runway over to the models. The first designer to present was luxury by Xandra. This collection featured brightly colored outfits ranging form monochromatic suits in electric blue to this rainbow dress. The designer herself has said that she loves to focus on color in her designs because while she has poor eyesight she has always loved the way colors mix. I love the idea of creating a collection from a different perspective like this! The show was a great end to the fashionable week in Beverly Hills.

Art Hearts Fashion Week Los Angeles: Opening Mixer at Pump lounge in West Hollywood

Last night I attended the opening mixer of Art Hearts fashion Week at Lisa Vanderpump's West Hollywood restaurant and lounge Pump. The garden themed restaurant was perfect for the mixer where some of the Art Hearts designers and artists were introduced to the crowd.

The night was full of fun and everyone had a good time mingling and taking photos on the red carpet.

The crowd was excited for teh kick off of another round of Art Hearts fashion week in Los Angeles. Designers as well as models attended the event and got the chance to talk with press. The Los Angeles team that put on the fashion week were there to host the party as well.

Closing Night of LAFW on Hollywood boulevard

This Sunday night I headed back over to the Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunset boulevard to cover the closing night of LAFW which started on Thursday last week. You can read my post about the opening night show here. First I checked out the lounge which was filled with some more amazing art installations form the artists at Sur le Mur. I headed over to the booth by cnd world a nail polish brand and after taking a selfie with their poster received an awesome free gift bag full of my favorite nail colors! I grabbed a cherry flavored Bai my favorite flavor and then headed over to the show.

I sat down in my front row spot for the first show of the night.

The opening designer was Danielle Bozza a young self taught Chilean designer who presented at
LAFW for the first time on Sunday. Her collection consisted of black and white pieces and included everything from gowns to stylish work wear. Each silhouette was fitted immaculately. Some of the designs floated down the runway while others hugged the models tightly. The show kept the audience on their toes until the very end with many surprising twists and turns. I had the chance to interview this talented young designer after the show. I asked Bozza about her inspiration for the collection with the help of a translator and she told me that her color pallet was inspired by her meditation. She meditates every day and wanted to explore the balance between black and white. Her silhouettes were inspired by the 30s and the 50s. I loved the way she adapted the long slender silhouettes of the 30s into a more modern maxi dress. I also loved the attention to detail she showed with her complimenting use of headpieces and collars on her designs. I will definitely be following this breakout designer closely and am excited to see what she will come up with next!

Next we saw the collection of Oscar Lawalata which played with color blocking in a very innovative way. The collection focused mostly on work wear with a few dressy pieces sprinkled throughout. A crowd favorite was this reversible jacket look which had the crowd cheering when the model showcased the look. I loved the tech inspired color pallet this designer chose with cyan blue and lemon yellow accents on many of the looks. I also loved the distinct lines he used in his silhouettes. 

The last show was a unique and inspiring collection. Bezgraniz couture designs clothes for the handicapped and disabled and presented an amazing collection to an impressed audience. It was a great end to the night as well as an inspiring finale for fashion week. 

CdM Exclusive: FWLA announces brand new location in downtown Los Angeles

FWLA is the next Los Angeles fashion week event I'll be attending this season from October 15-19 and I can't wait to see what amazing designers they will have lined up for this season. Check out my articles from last season to read exclusive interviews with designers such as Cynthia Rowley here. FWLA is a unique event during Los Angeles fashion week because this event not only focuses on showcasing talented designers but also holds panels and networking events for fashion industry professionals attracting everyone from buyers to startups. This industry focused event is a great place to hear about the exciting up and coming direction and opportunities of the Los Angeles fashion industry. I got an exclusive update on some exciting news for FWLA today. According to Executive Producer Gio Ferrigno FWLA will be announcing a new 4 year partnership with the Ratkovich company to host fashion week in the heart of the LA fashion district at 700 West 7th street in downtown Los Angeles on Monday. FWLA is looking forward to this exciting new deal because according to Ferrigno the street has just undergone several million dollars in remodeling and is establishing itself as a cross between world famous fashion destinations such as Le Bon Marche, Avenue Montaigne, and Calle Serrano. Ferrigno also shared that FWLA will be hosting over 30 designers in less than 4 hours at their new location on Monday October 17th and Tuesday October 18th making it the most efficient runway show format. I am looking forward to the event and can't wait to see what they will do with the new space! Don't forget to follow Cerisesdumatin on Instagram and Snapchat for live updates from the events!

Fashion Consciousness Magazine one year anniversary party in BeverlyHills

On Thursday September 22 Fashion Consciousness Magazine held their one year anniversary party at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. The magazine was celebrating the release of their upcoming green issue and the editor and founder Valeria von Leczycki Goncharova Barrett made a statement with her emerald green ensemble.

She has been working in the fashion industry for over 30 years as a celebrity stylist. She started Fashion Consciousness last year as a magazine that would bring fashion and social issues together. Each issue is centered around a color and theme because Valeria believes that colors have the power to influence our mood and she focuses on the colors that surround us. The upcoming green issue is all about intuition. Valeria also chooses influencers and professionals to feature in each issue that she feels represent the theme. Many of those who had been featured in past issues attended the event and were welcomed on the red carpet. The event was held at the Windows lounge in the four seasons and guests gathered around the red carpet set in front of the entrance before heading inside to the lounge decorated with glossy prints of past issues. Many guests wanted to take pictures in front of this colorful display of green giftbags which were presented to a few highlighted speakers at the end of the night.

Valeria spoke to the crowd thanking them for their support and talked about her vision for the magazine. She hopes to see the magazine continue to grow and hopes to expand our understanding of fashion and lifestyle. Next one of the editors spoke about working with Valeria and the women they had featured in the magazine as well as the success the magazine has had so far. They then invited one of these women to speak and thanked her for her support with a giftbag. Known as the "Queen of Joy" Denise O'Brien of Wings of Love international spoke about her charity work to help families affected by domestic violence as well as her love of fashion.
She took the stage in a brightly colored green sparkly gown in honor of the upcoming issue. She was so excited to have worked with Valeria and the magazine and recommended that everyone read the next issue because Valeria had such positive messages to share.

Next we heard from Tara a guest Valeria had chosen to feature inthe magazine for her work with Beyond the label an eco friendly clothing line. Keeping with the theme of the night she wore a sap green dress made out of recycled trees and spoke to the crowd about the important role that fashion can play in conservation.

Finally we heard from Trish Concannon who works with the magazine as a fashion advisor. She was featured in the gold issue for her work with Fashion Business Inc the non profit based in downtown Los Angeles that helps start up fashion designers.
All in all the party was a success and I had a great time seeing Valeria and am looking forward to the upcoming green issue!

Exclusive interview with Alex Bolen Executive Director of Oscar de la Renta

                                  Image courtesy http://www.oscardelarenta.com/runway/spring-2017/

On Monday September 12 Oscar de la Renta brightened NYFW with glamorous designs and intricate detailing. The dresses uphold the telltale fit and elegance of Oscar de la Renta; this uniqueness is something easy to see, but harder to define. Today I had the chance to interview Alex Bolen, executive director of Oscar de la Renta, just a few days after the company presented their SS17 collection at NYFW. I was able to ask Alex about the show as well as the announcement of their new co-creative directors. We also talked about his not so traditional route to Executive director of a major fashion house and his advice for young fashion industry hopefuls!

The Oscar de la Renta SS17 collection debuted at the Morgan Library and Museum to an audience filled with the traditional fashion heavyweights as well as bloggers, influencers, and celebrities on Monday. I asked Alex how he thought social media has influenced their show in recent years. He explained that, while the collection itself wasn't necessarily influenced, the way they look at the room and the types of photographers and diversified types of media professionals they invite has definitely changed. Currently their shows include digital media reporters and bloggers, as well as the typical media representatives.  According to Alex, the company is cognizant of the power of social media and is always looking for intelligent ways to tell the world who they are. They believe it is important to know how other people perceive the brand and they adapt their message to each different platform.

Oscar de la Renta announced new co-creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia. I asked about the direction of the new creators and Alex expressed his excitement to see them take on this role. He knows them both extremely well and told me that they had worked closely alongside Oscar for many years. He said that while he likes to think he is a good business person, they were the dreamers.  He said that, while he doesn't know what this transition is going to look like yet, he is very excited to see how they will interpret Oscar's designs for their younger and more contemporary customer as well as their core customer. I am very excited to see what they will have in store for their younger customers!

After talking about all the new and exciting changes at the company I asked Alex if there was anything he felt that Oscar de la Renta had stayed true to over the years and today. He told me what Oscar himself used to say when asked about his inspiration for his current collection. Oscar de la Renta said that his inspiration was always to make women look and feel great with his designs. According to Alex this is something that the fashion house is sticking by.

Another thing that Alex believes is unique to the company and that they have stayed true to over the years is the company culture. Alex described that Oscar de la Renta ran his design studio so that anyone could express their opinion. According to Alex, while it's not a democracy, at Oscar de la Renta if you want to be an expert in something you can come to the company and do that with hard work and dedication. He also said that it is still a family owned business at its core and that even though not everyone is related many people have spent 30 or more years with the company and many had worked closely with Oscar for that time. They want to keep that spirit in the company.

Finally I asked Alex about his background in fashion and what his advice would be to someone looking to get into the industry. He explained that he came to Oscar de la Renta about 15 years ago from a background in finance.  He transitioned to the company since his wife Eliza is Oscar's daughter-in-law and has worked at the company for many years. He said that he believes there is no traditional career path in the fashion industry. He referenced Oscar de la Renta's background as an architectural student in Madrid who got into fashion after taking a job sketching to earn extra money. Oscar then got hired on at the design house as an entry level worker with a small job. Even though it was a small job Oscar became very good at it and was able to move up from there. That lesson is something he brought with him to his own design house and that the company still believes in today. Alex gave the example of Laura Kim who started out as an intern and quickly became a resident expert on buttons and trims. While seemingly a small part of the design process this important piece allowed Laura to work closely with Oscar and learn about his design process which will be valuable in her new position. Alex's advice is that if you are passionate about something no matter how small, you can make yourself indispensable and get noticed.

Oscar de la Renta has continued to honor the great designers legacy at the company and on the runway and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store for us next season!

Courtney Allegra Melrose launch party

Thursday night I headed over to the grand opening of the first ever Courtney Allegra flagship store on Melrose Avenue. The star studded event included appearances from young Hollywood celebrities who are some of the young designer’s clients as well as Los Angeles fashion industry professionals. The 19 year old fashion student and designer already has her own retail location. I interviewed her about her success and she was excited to realize this major step in her career. I asked Allegra about her designs and she told me that she wanted to design fashionable and sexy swimwear.

Her swimwear line has taken off and she has been able to show her collection at several Los Angeles fashion week events. Thursday she was eager to show me her new line of street wear which included graphic tees and some metallic pieces., which were a crowd favorite. After talking with Courtney I was able to interview a childhood friend who told me she had started hand sewing her first designs at 15. The hard work of this motivated young designer is definitely paying off. I can’t wait to see what else she will come up with!

The event was full of chic looks and emerging trends for Fall but don't worry I’ve done the hard work for you. Here is a breakdown of the latest Hollywood must haves.

Trench dress

I love the silhouette of this trench dress. It is the perfect basic to accessorize with all the bright colors we've seen on the runway for Fall.

Army green

Celebrities favored this muted color on the pink carpet at this event. The sexy lines mixed with street style makes this look a must have for Fall.

Metallics

The matching metallic set at the center of the Courtney Allegra store is a fun take on the 90s revival we've been seeing this season. A must have for anyone whose seen Clueless!

Leopard print

This Fall is all about bold statements and leopard print is the perfect way to make yours. I especially love the rainbow colors in the Courtney Allegra collection!