Marchesa Luisa Casati was the strong inspiration and muse behind Bibhu Mohapatra’s spring summer 27 collection at New York Fashion Week. Bibhu, an Indian-American couturier with vast and rich heritage tapped into the feminine power and resilience to put together one of his most romantic and cohesive collection yet. Set in the grand ballroom of the swanky and iconic Pierre Hotel in New York City, the venue adorned with walls of fresh rose bush as the runway background, the atmosphere carried a soft romantic tone. The bloomed roses perfumed the air with its scent ever so gently. Models clad in classic Bibhu Mohapatra silhouettes streamed through, the wall of roses created a remarkable picture frame that complemented the garments to perfection. Our very own Josh Raiffe, featured in Shoeholics magazine summer issue, supplied the brand some of his highly coveted decorative art blown glass handbags for the models to carry. Bibhu has long become synonymous with elegant and classy attires. The current collection stayed very true to his trademark, which included delicate handbeaded works and feathers on chiffon, satin crafted into dainty ball gowns for black ties and cocktail dresses for garden parties. A few sharp tailored suits made an appearance in pastel hues, making for a perfect transition from office to a night out on the town during spring season. I could easily see some of the garments transform into ethereal bridal gowns if white or ivory colorways are made available for the bride.
New York Fashion Week had a taste of “Arabian Night” flair with the help of visual artist turned fashion designer Maya Mosteghanemi under the auspices of theatrical and dramatic expression fashion label Arabesque Boudoir Maison.
Maya, an École des Beaux-Arts alunmi from Paris, has a long and seasoned history in fashion, along side her visual artistic vocation. After having worked with notable brands such as Nina Ricci, Saint Laurent, Versace, she embarked on launching Arabesque Boudoir Maison in 2023, a brand now synonymous with theatrical attributes. Some of which came to life on the runway during New York Fashion Week where she showcased varieties of bold cuts and silhouettes crafted from rich textiles such as brocades, jacades, satin, flowing chiffon, adorned with rich intricate embroideries and hand beaded details. The brand encourages its wearer to feel uninhibited, filled with unlimited imaginations as far as the Renaissance period, Ottoman Empire and dare I say, Aladdin!
Arabesque Boudoir show, curated by the Global Fashion Collective closed the 2 day show line up at the Glass House with Enlique White setting the tone by opening the runway show with powerful rift on electric Keytar in New York before over 35 models strutted out embodying the theatrical flare of the brand, showcasing a wide variety of handcrafted, artisanal pieces. For the wearer, the imagination can run wild, setting off an alter ego when clad in any Arabesque Boudoir Maison creation. I know this first hand having had the pleasure of trying on some of Maya’s exceptional masterpiece myself.
Looking for sharp tailored suit that could rival the best from Savile Row? Look no further than the world renowned and award winning creative genius Malan Breton! Under the auspices of the fashion group Runway 7, the contemporary self taught designer showcased his Spring Summer 27 collection during New York Fashion Week. Many of which included his world famous classic structured tailored suits, impeccably crafted and detailed couture creations of entrance making evening gowns and cocktail dresses. Models which included stars such as Peppermint, and supermodel Elton Ilirjani, streamed out like rock stars, delicate fairies and fiercely confident, independent personalities. Some could be seen wearing dazzling jeweled diamonds by LeViev, glistening Seiko watches and sublime fascinators by Mimi Monroe. Malan is not one to produce a traditional runway show, he prides himself on rolling out theatrical presentation and performance, the kind that leaves his guests wanting an encore. The classically trained musician and film producer is far more versatile and equipped for this task than most of his counterparts, clever incorporating music, motion picture, technology art and fashion elements. It was no surprise when disco Queen Crystal Waters dressed in Malan’s creation accompanied by her dancers, came out to belt some of her classic hits and dance moves to close the show! Suffice to say, Malan Breton is well ahead of his time.
Malan Breton’s collection embodies powerful elegance, assertiveness, confidence, and class.
Make up was provided by Odilis Trinidad’s team, while Joseph DiMaggio made sure the model’s tresses completed the look. Celebrity stylist Montgomery Frazier expertedly styled the collection effortlessly. Photographs below are by Danny Chin for Omega Studios.
A thundering round of applause are in order for Cesar Galindo! He’s done it again and again, repeatedly being consistent with youthful, exhilarating and elegant collection each season during New York Fashion Week. Galindo’s esthetic of light, fun, feminine silhouettes crafted from organza, chiffon, taffeta, intricate lace, etc are visibly present in the DNA of his brand. The spring summer 2027 collection shown during fashion week last night adhered very much to what many of his dedicated followers have come to expect from his collection. Many of such dedicated followers made the trek off the beaten path to see the show in Queens! Silhouettes ranged from cocktail length dresses, rompers, blouse and short set, bright and colorful gowns, shift dresses and capes with fringes, body hugging lace dresses, to light as feather flowing empire waist gowns, perfectly suitable for black tie affairs or a garden party.
If you happen to find yourself in London between this summer and Nov 8, 2026 with £25 to spare, be sure to secure a ticket to explore the archives of the house of Schiaparelli on display at the Victoria And Albert Museum in London, UK, the Schiaparell: Fashion Becomes Art exhibition. This is a must see, especially if you’re a die hard Schiaparelli or Daniel Roseberry creations. The vast collection ranges from designs made by the iconic and legendary Elsa Schiaparelli herself to the current innovative designs by Daniel Roseberry. Some never before seen gowns includes those worn by Marlene Dietrich, Gina Lollobrigida and so many other silver screen, Hollywood stars to celebrities of today, which includes the most recent ivory fringe draped strapless gown worn by Ariana Grande to the Academy Awards earlier this year.
The craftmanship of the jewels on display could almost rival the Royal crown jewels on display just a few miles away at the Tower of London! The intricate designs, sparkle, richness of the luster, texture and detailing could be seen upclose without the need for a magnifying glass! One forgets instantly that they’re costumes!
Most, if not all of the gowns and accessories have been seen on major red carpets and high profile events at one point or another. Seeing them on dress forms and Museum props upclose gives them the true definition of wearable art, now carefully curated and maintained for generations to come!
After the warm reception that our comeback issue received in the spring, we are here with a brand-new edition of the Shoeholics Magazine.
On the front cover is Jessica Pimentel, that absolute powerhouse of talent with the tremendous success of the hit Netflix show Orange is the New Black added to her notch. She shares her story about moving from the States and how show business was such a natural progression for her. Jessica is a classically trained musician, the lead singer in a metal band and a Tibetan Buddhist.
We also caught up with fashion illustrator Denise Fike, someone who is known for her trademark hats almost as much as her unique customized fashion illustrations. Denise’s mother told her, “Dress above the situation, you never know what will happen when you step outside or who you will meet” – advice she still values. Also in this edition is a shoe designer Ying Ou who designs shoes that are in fact fantastical – and fantastic! They are as much shoes as they are sculpture.
Christopher Griffin aka Plant Kween is another personality on our back cover– a fashionista, plant nurturer. While we are impressed with how he rocks a pair of red heels, we also appreciate his keen insight into growing greens – because there is no such thing as a green thumb; it is more a sort of green muscle that one can build and develop over time.
When it comes to bags, Joshua Raiffe is someone who really thinks outside the box bag. Glass bags are what he creates – bags that double as sculptures. You will also meet Malik Afegbua, someone who uses AI to reimagine fashion for seniors – something that is hardly ever explored within the glamorous world of fashion.
Get to know Sunita Meena from India, an engineer turned artist who draws on the rich folk-art traditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat as well as the robust recycling tradition of her home country to create décor items.
Discover The Image Guru, aka Montgomery Frazier, who spoke to us about styling and running his e-commerce boutique Ben-Mo-2.0. Montgomery is the surviving half of Ben and Mo. He is the man who was caregiver for his husband Ben Mindich for years before Ben succumbed to the terrible disease known as Lewy Body Dementia.
Also among these pages are the usual lineup of useful and informative articles. For instance, what are your views about knockoffs? We know that knockoffs and passing off actions are illegal in the eyes of the law – but what about the ethical implications of this? Can there be any reason at all to look upon knockoffs more benignly? Also, what are super fakes?!
In addition, we have a bunch of useful summer shoe ideas for guys – because why should girls have all the fun! All this and more in this issue of the Shoeholics Magazine!
Whoever thought Christian Louboutin men’s wear in the footwear department couldn’t be more fun, eclectic and flamboyant as the female counterparts is in for a wakeup call. The iconic luxury footwear company recently debuted one of the biggest surprises in fashion history by appointing Jaden Smith as their first ever Creative Director! The collaboration includes edgy, bold, and futuristic updates to the esthetics of the brand’s classic silhouettes and range of designs. Many on display to be seen upclose at the launch party appeared to be versatile, wearable and make for a practical collectible worthy piece of art to be coveted. Imagine a trademark men’s ankle boots with dripped red paint, loafers featuring Swiss cheese appearance with enlarged perforated holes all over it, sturdy leather mountaineering size backpack accented with 12 detachable pouches and pockets. A perfect option as a carry-on luggage if trying to avoid excess overweight fees in checked bags. You can simply attach the pouches/pockets to the exteriors of the backpack and stuff your essentials in it and be on your merry way, in style! Looking for Rockstar high energy grand entrance thigh high boots? Jaden had that covered by pushing boundaries in a glitzy silver leather with matching silver metal accents, a design that’ll rival any women’s collection and ahead of its time when it comes to menswear. The multi talented and hyphenated singer-singwriter turned shoe designer Jaden Smith, is currently busy making a whirlwind press circuit at Christian Louboutin’s luxurious boutiques in Beverly Hills where his proud parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith were in attendance to support, Atlanta, New York, Paris and London. The New York branch had a ritzy star studded reception yesterday at the swanky men’s boutiques in Meatpacking District area where several celebrities alike stepped out in full support dressed in the brand’s latest collection to celebrate the launch. Jaden Smith received and greeted every guests and made himself available for photographs as he navigates the room without much fanfare and humbly accepted greetings from well wishers. If you’re a die hard collector of wearable art and appreciate well made accessories that’ll last the ages, don’t sleep on this. Check out the collection now in stores and online. Mute out the naysayers and secure yours now before you find yourself battling for a piece of history at second hand market!
Shoeholics magazine: The Aficionados of the Finest Shoes, Lifestyle, Fashion, Arts & More… Yes we’re back! After few years of hiatus thanks to the lockdown, we’re back in the saddle with our brilliant relaunch issue of Shoeholics Magazine. We’ve decided to dive back into what gives us joy and a sense of community: shoes, fashion, lifestyle, art, glamor, et.al. We may have featured on the hit Television shows Jimmy Fallon and The View, and having all-time greats like Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Jessica Parker, 50 Cent, Cyndi Lauper featured in Shoeholics — but that doesn’t mean we’re resting on our laurels.
The publication is now available in PRINT and DIGITAL editions.Get yours now!
On the relaunch cover is iconic fashion editor Marilyn Kirschner: the Senior Market Editor for Harper’s Bazaar for 21 years and currently the head honcho at lookonline.com. The back cover features the one and only, Malan Breton a designer-performer British Vogue referred to as “The most influential designer you’ve never heard of”. Read all about the self-taught designer who has styled celebrities such as, Emma Thompson, Martha Plimpton, Priyanka Chopra, Kylie Minogue, Michael Buble and many more. We got in a room with Freddie Leiba and had a long conversation with the 80-year-old stylist legend. He has had the privilege of working with Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Iman, Gwen Stefani, etc.. He had some fascinating stories to share with us about his journey. You do not want to miss reading his feature.
We also caught up with New York–based commercial photographer Robbie Quinn who does environmental portraits and explores themes including race, immigration, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We found out all about his life, his love for shoes, sense of fashion and the way in which he promotes diversity and inclusion via his work. He’s truly a remarkable gentleman. Get to know Leaf Armm, a 12-year-old artist who transforms shoes and other everyday objects into art you can use, wear and treasure. He counts Jon Bon Jovi, baseball player Cal Ripken, NFL player Jalen Coker, rapper Soulja Boy in his list of celebrities sporting his creative work.
Also featured is Yemi Alade, a Nigerian global superstar, singer and songwriter. The woman known as “Mama Africa’ is a Grammy nominee and has her own very spectacular and unique sense of style. Find out all about the musician activist who has collaborated with the likes of Beyonce, Ziggy Marley and many more in this edition. Discover the intricate works of Jesse and Tay of“Free Maison”, the young dynamic duo who painstakingly create wearable art fashion items from chainmail – yes the same stuff those knights in shining armor used to wear back in the dim and dark past. Also included is former bodybuilder and creator of the “world’s largest closet” Theresa Roemer. Her massive closet isn’t just about owning beautiful things, but also a way to raise funds for causes like the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As always, we also throw in some useful information about shoe care and some prosaic, but useful information about dealing with foot pain. Hope you enjoy this issue of the Shoeholics Magazine as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. Thank you so much for your continued support and dedication to Shoeholics. Cheers!
Purchase the PRINT edition or the DIGITAL edition here.
Shoeholics magazine week long relaunch celebration on Times Square!
Forget worshiping at the gym to be a Victoria Secret angel. The real challenge was keeping the body tight and buffed (or not for some) to make the cut as a Chris Habana bodycon model, which I dare say is not for the faint of heart. Chris kept guests ten toes down, flabbergasted by every turn out of his edgy seductive streetwear couture Spring Summer 26 collection at New York Fashion Week. It was nothing like I’d ever seen before, at least not at major events such as fashion week.
The collection ranged from minimal coverage, intimate cosplay creations to minimalist futuristic space age couture, wearable art. It takes an art minded and uninhibited mindset individual to wear a Chris Habana. Make no mistake, these are essentially head Turning, grand entrance making works of art, worthy of a spot in costume Museums dedicated to fashion and visual art. Get ready to be remembered for decades to come wearing a Chris Habana.
Musical artist JT made an appearance walking the show, and the legendary and iconic Connie Fleming aka ConnieGirl and Irina Pantaeva showed the kids how it’s done by modeling the collection! The atmosphere was euphoric! Bravo Chris! It was a spectacular!
All hail Cesar! A well-deserved round of applause is in order for Cesar Galindo! His spring summer 26 collection embodied the true definition of summer bliss. Models turned out in sweet smelling (in my head) various creations crafted out of satin, silks, chiffon, lace, et.al in vivid shades of spring summer color schemes. Sharp tailored shorts with matching jackets in textured satin opened the show, the very same set recently seen on award winning television talk show host Tamron Hall. What soon followed transformed the rose filled venue into a Garden of Eden scented atmosphere. Guests got into the act sporting rose adorned floral wreaths on their heads and encouraged to take free standing
Galindo, world renowned for his exquisite use of colors and textures, came in handy for this collection. The collection presented during the New York Fashion Week was fresh, youthful and breathtaking.
Join Us Socially