'New York Fashion Week at RS Pop Up Shop'

The mood at the Lab Gallery on Lexington was one of expectation Monday as buyers, stylists and fashion insiders Monday waited for the start of the fashion show with Tribal Couture and Modalistas.com.

The Lexington Avenue venue was quaint, but ingenious. Encased in glass at the corners, passersby could also catch all the show and tourists en route to their hotels were able to get a glimpse of New York Fashion Week at its best.

Being that the same two designers would be selling some of their new designs at a pop-up store next door this week, the idea was fitting. RS Pop Co-founder Melissa Gonzalez, which promotes emerging designers, introduced both the jewelry brand and online boutique.

According to Gonzalez, the emphasis on this week’s lineup of rising designers will be styles that incorporate “versatility, sensuality and the true spirit of fostering entrepreneurship."

What followed after was a modern collection of lace blazers, leggings and LBDs from a clothing site that specializes in designers such as Luminaa, Dasgupta and Omar Eduardo. Headed by Monica Phromsavanh, the modalistas.com boutique is unique in that each ordered piece is specially made by the designers under its “Made to Order” program.

Statement jewelry pieces from Tribal Couture consisted of clover-leaf drop earrings and large pendant necklaces with precious stones. Tribal Couture was founded by husband-and-wife team Veronica and David Zhou, with Veronica largely in charge of designing the hand-crafted pieces and David as the business mastermind.

One model with her hair teased and piled high on her head, like the others, wore a fitted brown leather blazer lined and silk organza jodhpur pants with amber accessories. Another model clad in what appeared to be a sporty navy blue jumper wore a swinging circle-shaped necklace with sapphires. She looked like a modern, fashion revival of the eighties rapper with only a boom box missing from her shoulders.

After the show (which surprisingly numbered from 10 to 15 looks), Zhou and Phromsavanh posed with the models and fielded questions from the media. Those who were able to survive the downpour headed to the Roger Smith Hotel for a cocktail reception with signature apple martinis.

And just like the well-executed show, the cocktails were delish.

Catch some of the video footage at http://www.rspopshop.com/designers

-S. Gonzalez

*Images courtesy of S. Gonzalez