Most people in the United States get excited about picking apples and making fresh cider as soon as October hits. For me, I get excited about Phoenix Fashion Week (PHXFW). It’s typically the first time since May that Arizonians can go outside after the sun goes down and enjoy the weather. What better place to do it at than Talking Stick Resort. The runway is right next to the pools where Release summer pool parties happen for almost half of the year.
This year for PHXFW the shows were organized slightly different. Each night had a category or mutual theme that each of the designers fell under. For Thursday, October 1st the category was Lifestyle. The first designer to take the runway was Neide Hall of Charmosa, which is handcrafted Brazilian swimwear. The pieces are hand-painted and hand-embroidered making each item “uniquely exotic.” 
I was impressed by Charmosa since seeing the four pieces walk down the runway at the Shop Garment District event back in August and this runway show did not fall short. To start off her collection, called “fire ball”, she had someone walk down the entire runway actually breathing fire. Following that were some beautifully constructed Brazilian cut bikinis, one pieces and a couple mens pieces too. I loved the color story, which started out with blues, teals and grays and slowly transitioned into whites, golds, purples and eventually to a peachy/burnt orange color with yellow accents. The swimsuits offer a refreshing take on one-pieces with a unique use of crochet that connects a top and bottom to make it look like a one-piece as well as cut-outs. Plus I loved the long fridge top that was used on both sides of the bikini top. She had an ultra high-waisted bottom that looked so fresh and different to me than anything else I’ve seen. Although her bikinis are amazing, the cover-ups are what stole the show for me. I kept picturing beach vacations in my future just so I have a place to wear all of them. I loved the flowiness of the long open vests and long skirts, especially the ones with the high slits. She also has a long skirt that is made with long strings of fabric, which is so unique from anything I’ve seen before. Neide won Designer of the Year for the Lifestyle group and will have her collection sold on EVINE Live! Keep an eye out for her work and if you’re impatient like me, go to her online store to purchase now. For a video of the runway finale, visit my YouTube channel here.
Next up was Haute Body, which is an activewear brand designed by Raquel McMorrow. Active Runway Life is exactly what this brand stands for. It’s the perfect combination of fashion and performance. She takes today’s trends and kicks it up a notch, while still thinking about the athlete in all of us. Come to think of it, she even takes into account the non-athlete days when we want to look cute, but feel comfortable while running our errands. I was so pleased to see that each piece is a transformation from the next. It’s almost like Raquel is in my head and understands that I want options from the basic sports bra and crop pant (including different lengths of crop pants and different heights in waist band options.) Plus she uses the richest of fabrics that include UPF50, quick dry compression nylon, and mesh. The best part besides the fabrics is that she knows where to put seams to make it not only comfortable, but also flattering. 
I talked about her collection preview at Shop Garment District and one of the most interesting things that I saw was her use of white fabrics. I typically don’t think to work out in white, but it looks so sharp and clean when worn together. I’m really loving the hooded look too. You can add a tank over the hooded sports bra and the hood still peeks through. She also incorporated a sweet floral print, a sparkley silver fabric that was my favorite (and is surprisingly very soft), and a black fabric that almost looks like leather. I have a ton of favorites in this collection, but let me list a couple items that I must have in my closet now: The mesh top, which is perfect to wear over a sports bra. All of her sports bras because each one is so uniquely different from the next and you can never have too many sport bras. Some were longer than a typical sports bra, almost like a cropped cami/tank. Another one had a deep-v, which is a fun change from the scoop neck bras. The slouchy pants, especially how the pockets were cut straight down and almost on top of the thigh instead of to the side. The little shorts, and the leotard/pant one-piece in the final look. Although Raquel did not win emerging designer of the year and won’t have her items sold on EVINE Live (just yet), you can go to her website to purchase them directly from her. Click here for the Haute Body runway video.
Other emerging designers of the night were Lily V, Do More, Feel More, Be More (runway video here), which had a beautiful array of prints and fun looks, and Medium Apparel Co., We’re the Worst! (runway video here), which is a cool street wear menswear line. I thought both of these designers had great runway shows. Medium Apparel Co. started off with animation dancers, which was awesome. I could definitely picture the person who would wear both of these lines. Lily V won the fan-favorite vote and will have her items sold on EVINE Live too. All four of the designers did an amazing job of creating a lifestyle brand and telling a story of who the person is that wears their clothes. It was a very successful first day of Fashion Week!
For more information on what I wore to the first day of Phoenix Fashion Week, scroll through the items below. Accompanying me on the red carpet is blogger Nicole Denton of Violet & Vine.
All professional photography by Jam Sani Photography. More images here. Facebook | Instagram
Be you, bravely.
The Foxy Kat
1 Comment
Great recap!