I thought I was going to be nervous walking into the largest and oldest spanish language radio station in New York City. But truth be told, JI Starr, radio announcer and DJ of La Mega 97.9, was so incredibly gracious to me that the interview between us just flowed like a regular conversation between two friends. JI Starr opened up to me about his life and career, remembering the challenges and successes of his many years in the media industry. He talks specifically to how he overcame his challenge to rise to the top despite the fact that spanish was his second language. He also shared some special secrets with me that he personally uses to keep his vocal performance in tip top shape!
Overall, I found my time with JI to be incredibly insightful, entertaining, and just down right fun! JI's huge heart shines through his eyes and he comes across as someone who is not only passionate about what he does, but passionate about his "cultura". I think this man would do great on TV! Look out for more to come with me, Leticia, and JI Starr of La Mega 97.9, on En La Escena!
Last night I was "En La Escena" with Frankie Negron at the Canal Room in NYC. Frankie was debuting his latest album which was --get this--a ROCK album! No one was more surprised than me. I had the pleasure of interviewing Frankie one on one before he took the stage to perform. He confided in me that it took him two years to invent his english sound. He spoke of having a strong salsa fan base but was hoping that his fans would embrace this side of him that he had been yearning to express. This Puerto Rican New Jersey native did not disappoint with a standing room only performance that had everyone bopping their heads in unison. His melodic lyrics and sultry vocals gave the intimate audience a rare view of himself. He seemed almost liberated which is in harmony with the title of his album, Independence Day. Lucky for me, I got to go home with a copy of his new CD and a memory to last me for years to come. =o) Hasta la proxima mi gente! This is Leticia Reyes, special reporter for En La Escena.
DVF by Diane Von Furstenberg. Much anticipated show, Diane became an empire. Fashion Designer Diane von Furstenberg was born in Brussels, Belgium. She studied Economics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where she met Austro-Italian Prince Egon von Furstenberg.Diane Von Furstenberg wanted to become a career woman and ...she made it. She has ever since created a brand largely respected. Splitting her time between homes in Connecticut, New York, Paris, and the Bahamas, von Furstenberg is always on the go, gathering inspiration for ventures as eclectic as she is. She is best known for her hallmark: " The knit jersey wrap dress. "
Well known and loved in Greece, fashion designer Vassilios Kostetsos has been a leader in the fashion industry for the past 15 years. He is known for his divine designs. For the 1st time, Vassilios Kostetso showed during New York Fashion week and he has proven that his talent has no boundaries.
In the heart of NYC, on September 13th 2009 at Bryant Park in the Salon, Vassilios Kostetsos presented his much anticipated Spring/Summer 2010 collection themed PHIDIAS, an ancient Greek Sculptor.
The men's and woman's collection was simply beautiful, fresh and very distinct. The women's designs were very much haute couture and perfectly tailored to say the least meanwhile the men's designs were outstandingly sharp yet wearable.
The entire collection was mainly composed of fitted bodices, reminiscing of the proportions of the ancient Greek Statues. The perfect silk forms were very often ornated with sequins, embroideries, semi-precious stones while the strong puffy cap sleeves were a characteristic of the lines of the Greek Kore Statues.
Models strutted down the runway with a clean polishes look. The women had their hair pulled back in a bun with a very natural yet contoured makeup meanwhile the men had their hair parted on the side to accentuate the European feel.
The shapes varied from a short and fitted strapless bodice, to a full-length version flaring out at the hip level, some great structure short jackets with the intense shoulders lines, crispy jackets for men often paired with a scarf and straight-legged pants. The women's pieces were perfect red carpet pieces as they exuded glamor, elegance and freshness. The beauty of the entire line resided in the simplicity of the shapes with attention to details, the combination of fabrics, the appliques and cutouts and the juxtaposition of solid next to or topped with sheer. Though the men's pieces presented nothing new in terms of shapes, the freshness came from the alluring cuts of the jackets and the fresh colors. The whole collection featured a strict color palette consisting of timeless colors such as nude, white, tan, black with some accents of Salmon...colors that played with the theme of the brightness of the sun.
Vassilios has once again proven that his craft can bring men's and women's to their utmost elegance with clean lines, lavish details and rich fabrics. To some, the line was restricted and perhaps very inclined towards the young and thin bodies but to most, the collection was cohesive, fresh and simply dazzling!
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By:
To-Tam & To-Nya Ton-Nu AKA "THE SACHIKA TWINS" Founders/Designers of www.SACHIKA.com
This season she took it to the next level by partnering with Stylecaster to live stream her show. Vivienne Tam was the last show after the much anticipated show of Chado Ralph Rucci on Saturday September 12th. Vivienne Tam chose fun an attractive colors for her Spring 2010: tans, purples, turquoise, greens, yellows using suede, silk and chiffon as her main fabrics. She tastefully chose her colors and the collection definitely breathed 70's and Rock & Roll. Pants were flare legs and she opted for an array of large and colorful butterfly prints light either long or knee-length dresses. Huge fringed-handbags were one of the main accessories and sandals were either flat or very high platforms with straps. The collection which was very young and jovial failed to display originality. It has already been done before and this is expected from a Spring/Summer collection. Fortunately for Vivienne Tam, she has already long established herself and this is only one of many more collections to come. Designer Vivienne Tam is known for her digital savvy - after all, she partnered with HP to create the most stylish computer ever last year, the Digital Clutch!
By:
To-Tam & To-Nya Ton-Nu AKA "THE SACHIKA TWINS" Founders/Designers of www.SACHIKA.com
