Fashion happenings are always buzzing in and around New York City. Yes, Fashion Week is officially over, but apart from the formal runway shows and fashion presentations, there were several `happenings’ that took place and are still going on as the city gets ready for warmer months and the spring bloom that is just around the corner (hopefully). Here’s a peek at some of the news and events that are creating a buzz in the fashion arena.

ELLE – THE NEW GUARD TAKES OVER

ELLE Magazine has a brand new look and a change of guard with fashion famous NINA GARCIA (Project Runway) taking over as Editor-in-Chief and STEPHAN GAN in the position of Creative Director. Nina was the former Creative Director of Marie Claire Magazine, and, will continue as the longtime judge on Project Runway, the vehicle that actually made her TV famous. She’s also penned four books on fashion. Stephen, on the other hand, is the founder of Visionaire Magazine and a staple in the fashion industry for years. The new team and look debuts in March, with actress/activist ANGELINA JOLIE on the cover. Now boasting forty-six International publications, Elle Magazine was first published in France in 1945. It was launched in the US in 1985. It’s lil-sister publication, Elle Girl; a teen version of the magazine was published from 2001 to 2006 in the USA. Legendary actress, CICELY TYSON was the magazine’s oldest cover girl at 92 years-old. She appeared on the cover of Elle in November of 2017

HOW TO SLAY
Journalist extraordinaire CONSTANCE C.R. WHITE seen on Good Morning America touting her new book `How To Slay – Inspiration from the Kings and Queens of Black Style.’ Earlier, at the start of fashion week, Constance was signing copies of her book at Bloomingdales, on the Designer floor, amidst cocktails and lite bites. The book, a luxurious offering from Rizzoli Books, features a dazzling cover of star-model GAYE McDonald, photographed by talented female photographer ITAYSHA JORDAN. As one of the first major surveys of Black Style ever published, `How to Slay – Inspiration from the Kings and Queens of Black Style,’ offers a lavishly illustrated overview of African American style through the twentieth century, focusing on the last thirty-five years.

STYLE, GIFTED & GLAMMED

ORS Olive Oil hosted a lavish Fashion Week presentation `Styled, Gifted & Glammed’ which featured complimentary hair care and styling, cocktails and eats at Sunwest Studios in New York City. A performance by `Kindred’ and a panel discussion chaired by Dreamleapers founder HARRIETTE COLE were among the day’s highlights. Panelists: BETHANN HARDISON, fashion activist and model; SHAWN K.TOLLERSON, CEO of Namaste Laboratories, LLC, parent company for ORS (formerly Organic Root Stimulator); ALLISON McGEVNA, editorial director for HelloBeautiful.com and madameNoir.com; and CLAIRE SULMERS founder and editor-in-chief of The Fashion Bomb, discussed various aspects of the fashion and beauty industry and took questions from the fashionable audience.

Fashion Icon and Vogue Contributing Editor ANDRE LEON TALLEY is the subject of a new documentary titled `The Gospel According To Andre’ on Magnolia Films, due for an April 27th release. FOREWARD FOOTWEAR celebrated their shoe launch at 201 Mulberry Street, downtown Manhattan during Fashion Week. XULY BET the French-based fashion line by Mali-born fashion designer LAMINE KAYOTE presented his new line at Industria Studios in the West Village among a selected group of fashion insiders. Meanwhile, at an Upper East Side location Victoria Secret star model, CHANEL IMAN was the model fronting a lavish handbag campaign just before fashion week started.