Syracuse Fashion Week brings sin to runway
Syracuse Fashion Week brings sin to runway
The semiannual event highlights local creatives and raises money for the Food Bank of Central New York.
Rows of chairs faced inward to establish a runway at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse on Friday night. On the outskirts of the venue, marbled columns flared into detailed gold capitals. Fresco-esque paintings resided in semicircles near the opulent ceiling. The scene was appropriate for the “celebration of style and fashion in Syracuse and Central New York,” as stated on the Syracuse Fashion Week (SFW) website.
The models for Styles by Bellamy commenced Syracuse Style, the first show of the semiannual Syracuse Fashion Week, with all the finesse of the ’90s supers. An instrumental R&B track served as a backdrop for a collection that featured wide-brim fedoras, striped sequin palazzo pants and a jumpsuit with flowing, dramatically long sleeves.
The first SFW took place in 2014. Lisa Marie Butler, founder and executive director, said she originally hosted fashion shows for her line Inspired Designs, which launched in 2004. Over the years, the event grew as more people were were eager to get involved.
“We started doing really large fashion shows in downtown Syracuse under the umbrella of ‘Syracuse Style,’” Butler said. “At the end of 2013, I said ‘Syracuse needs a fashion week like all of the other upstate cities.’”
A total of 13 collections were displayed at Friday’s Syracuse Style in a show split into two acts. Bliss Bridal and Formal Wear presented wedding dresses along with gowns appropriate for bridesmaids, proms and pageants. Sunshadow Design, owned by “Forged in Fire” champion Page Steinhardt, used black clothing as a backdrop for Steinhardt’s jewelry. OueenRi’s Boutique had large, colorful prints in flattering silhouettes.
SFW was not just about fashion and fellowship; the event supported the Food Bank of Central New York. Emcee Jamie Ann Owens ensured guests did not forget the cause, taking a moment to ask for donations. The guests of Syracuse Style raised $740, not including the donations from ticket purchases. As every $1 helps purchase three meals, Syracuse Style’s cash donations equate to 2,220 meals.
When Devonte, a model for Kamikaze Workshop, emerged from behind the black curtain shielding “backstage,” there was immediate excitement. He wore a burgundy gradient zip-up hoodie with “KAMI” emblazoned on the left chest. Devonte’s sunglasses did little to hide a spark in his eyes as he high-fived a fellow model in passing. At the end of the runway, he squatted into a pose. “I had a great time,” Devonte said.
“I’m so proud of my son,” T Obrien, Devonte’s mother, said. “He looked so good. I’m just happy, I don’t know what else to say. I’m proud of him, and I’m here to support my son tonight.”
Flower Skate Shop opened with a model performing skateboard tricks down the runway to “Candy Rain” by Soul for Real. Seemingly inspired by ’90s streetwear, the show included pairs of oversized Bermuda shorts, an evergreen tracksuit and an Australian Shepherd named Drizzy rocking a dog-sized logo T-shirt.
Michelle DaRin, a Syracuse University alum, unveiled her latest collection of Michelle DaRin Jewelry at Syracuse Style. She’s been designing unique jewelry, jackets, bags and more for 18 years. As a longtime participant of SFW, DaRin said there are a lot of great things about participating, including the pressure to “come up with new things” and the aspect of “building community.”
“Because it’s all these people that come together in hair and makeup and even other designers and the models,” she said. “So I’ve gotten to know a lot of really good people.”
DaRin’s latest collection was inspired by full-circle moments dedicated to her family and communities of women. She draws inspiration from vintage fashion or items that evoke nostalgia. Many of the pieces she crafted from pre-loved “quilts and blankets and things” from her late mother-in-law, DaRin said.
The collection included a patchwork set, bucket hats and ankle-length patterned duster jackets. An “afghan” sweater — worn sans shirt — was composed of crochet granny squares with three-dimensional flowers. DaRin’s accessories, including necklaces and purses, complemented the ’70s and Bohemian vibes.
While Friday’s event mirrored a traditional fashion show, Saturday’s was theatrical. With a theme of “the seven deadly sins,” Syracuse Snarl kicked off spooky season appropriately.
Photos by Elizabeth Coleman
Guests entered Silver Street Event Center and descended into a dazzling basement venue. Owens posed at the front of the room, leaning against a pillar wrapped in orange and purple fairy lights. She held a bright red apple precariously in one hand and donned a snakeskin skirt with a brown leather crossbody holding Tootsie Caramel Apple Pops. To her far right hung a crimson photo backdrop displaying the seven deadly sins in messy black ink: pride, lust, gluttony, wrath, greed, envy, sloth.
The show started with a Greek mythology-inspired collection from Ezmira Neshawait. The models’ hair and makeup complemented the ethereal garments beautifully: Golden hues and glitter framed faces as flowers and delicate chains hung from intricate braids.
Inspired Designs, Butler’s aforementioned brand, told a story to the emotional “Last Resort (Reimagined)” by Falling in Reverse. A child model dressed as an angel remained at the end of the runway after her walk, and every following model had a transformation upon the wave of her light-up wand.
While walking down the runway, a model represented one of the seven deadly sins. After encountering the angel, there was healing and hope.
“Politics got me in that gear a little bit,” Butler said. With SFW’s mission to raise money for the local food bank in mind, envisioning a representation of “gluttony” springboarded “thinking about the other deadly sins and how we could make it modern, but also transformative,” she explained.
Wearing a juniper green, long-sleeve boat neck dress, one Inspired Designs model walked down the runway enamored with the smartphone in her hand. When the angel waved her wand, the model threw the phone forcefully to the ground, smashing it.
Butler started her collection in May and said grappling with the sins was “kind of difficult” because she didn’t want her rendition to appear cliché or offensive.
“I wanted to just make it relevant and interesting,” Butler said. “Somewhat funny, but somewhat poignant at the same time.”
Advertisements for Syracuse Snarl noted the concept of “seven designers for seven sins.” Along with the seven collections presented, model Marguerite Mitchell gave a dramatic reading of the classic Edgar Allan Poe poem, “The Raven.”
Wearing a high-low tutu and devil horns, dancer Erin Graff’s performance of “Dance Macabre” showed both strength and flexibility with contemporary movements that drew a roaring applause.
Members of Candy Cult Burlesque interacted with the audience by tossing play money, asking for snacks, and sleepily resting a messy bed head on someone’s lap. Right Mind Syracuse offered both body paint looks and patterned outfits.
The Altered Eco, with a mission to combat fashion pollution, had its models wearing upcycled lingerie designs. Styled to resemble dolls, they posed as if hinged at the joints. Slit Weave’s collection included hand-cut and woven pieces and a dazzling runway transformation of a blanket into a skirt and headpiece.
The first look for Lucky Mae’s Closet portrayed the sin of sloth. A corset laced with twine displayed the words “SLOW” and “LAZY” in black lettering. The corset was crafted out of recycled milk jugs that were heated and pressed to size. The model wore a lopsided gold crown atop a messy bun and loudly dragged a trash bag. A train of rumpled newspapers and various textiles billowed off the back of the outfit. The skirt was also made entirely out of recycled materials.
Mildadrea Starr and Kimberly Johnson joined creative forces to collaborate on the designs from Lucky Mae, a seven-year participant in SFW. The deadly-sins-inspired collection took about six months to complete. Starr created the look of envy — an embellished emerald two-piece suit. The oversized, single-button vest hung open, revealing the model’s sternum tattoo. Red-tinted sunglasses, a fascinator hat, and knee-high black heels completed the outfit.
Emilie Hayes, “Envy” herself, had only been modeling for a few months, despite walking the floor like a seasoned professional. “It was a lot of fun just to see everybody progress into their character,” Hayes said.
Syracuse Snarl’s cash donation interlude raised $179, equivalent to 537 meals. In total, this Syracuse Fashion Week garnered $919 in cash donations for the Food Bank of Central New York, which will fund 2,757 meals for people in need.
As of April 19, SFW raised “nearly $20,000 by sharing a portion of all the fashion show ticket sales with the food bank,” Yolanda Stewart wrote for the Central Current.