Mathieu Mirano Fall 2013

Craig discovers Mathieu Mirano at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

How do I gush about a collection without seeming like I'm just paying lip service to the designer? This post will be an exercise in exactly that.

I had to actively remind myself to take photos when I wasn't gawking

Full disclosure: I had no idea who Mathieu Mirano was before this presentation. There's something exciting about going into a presentation blind. You have no pre-conceived prejudices or expectations. Fortunately, I was floored the minute I entered the room.

Mirano played it relatively safe when it came to silhouette but the devil was in the details. This was not a collection for PETA members as almost every piece featured fur. For the most part, the fur detail was executed perfectly. The only misstep with the fur (and with the collection in general) was a sheer maxi skirt with a panel of black fox fur running down the side. 

I still don't understand this. 

For me, the absolute highlight was a nude gown embroidered with neoprene cubes. In text, it sounds positively moronic but I couldn't stop staring at it.

Days later and I'm still thinking about this gown.

How can you not love that? I feel pretentious using the word "juxtaposition" but the juxtaposition of such a classic silhouette with the use of such a quirky detail like neoprene cubes is just the perfect representation of Mirano Fall 2013.

Overall, this collection was an A+ for me.

34th Street Weekend Sale Pick: Jim Hanley's Universe

Craig recommends Jim Hanley's Universe for your holiday weekend shopping

As an under-employed college graduate, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands last summer. Since it was too warm to take up knitting, I decided to get into comics. I had no idea where to start and I found most comic book stores to be really intimidating. That was until I found a nice little comic book oasis behind the Empire State Building called Jim Hanley's Universe.

There are a lot of reasons I love Jim Hanley's Universe so let me just bullet point so I don't write a novel.

So much breathing room

• Size: JHU is huge. There are plenty of comic book stores in Manhattan, some more famous than others, but they require a Xanax before even walking through the door. I love that I can walk around the store freely even when it's pretty busy.

• Staff: Everyone who works at JHU is so incredibly nice and helpful. I had to buy a gift for a friend who avidly read comics and at the time knew little to nothing about what to get him. After speaking with someone at the store, we decided on Batman: Year One (which everyone should read). 

• The Members Program: Comics aren't that expensive individually but the cost can certainly add up. Many comic retailers will discount bulk purchases but JHU has a free members program that discounts new books every week. For comic readers on a budget, this is a godsend. 

This week's sales.

I love Jim Hanley's Universe so if you're in the area, you should definitely stop in. You can find JHU on Twitter at @JHUniverse, on Facebook, or on their blog. 

Jim Hanley's Universe
4 West 33rd Street (across from the Empire State Building) 


Store Hours

Wednesday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday - Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Rita Vinieris Fall 2013

Craig Held starts off fashion week with Rita Vinieris' debut rtw collection.

Rita Vinieris isn't a name that's familiar to most outside of the bridal world, but with the debut of her first ready-to-wear collection this week, Vinieris is looking to change that.

Inspired by American architect Louis Kahn and his 20th century modernism, Vinieris made a respectable showing for a debut evening wear collection.

Vinieris' bridal flair was incredibly palpable in her liberal use of beading. At times, it bordered on gaudy, but her dedication to detail should be commended. Someone said that one of the dresses took 500 hours to construct. I'm not sure which one but the mystery is just part of the fun.

My guess for the 500 hour dress

In terms of color, Vinieris stayed relatively muted except for a very random pink gown that stood out for all the wrong reasons in this collection. Her black gowns were by far her best work.

That pink still bothers me. It screams "prom" in a room full of  "gala."

The standout for me was definitely the long sleeve cream/metallic silver gown that worked beautifully. I'm a sucker for minimalist design, and set against the other overly detailed gowns that Vinieris showed, this dress sang to me.

Photos courtesy of RitaVinieris.com

Overall, Vinieris shows great potential for a designer transitioning out of the bridal niche. While most of these pieces just didn't appeal to me, there is definitely a market for them.