Somebody Save Fashion Week: Pamela Anderson and Sheree to Show at NYFW

Glamazons,

I'm calling in a S.O.S.! When I first heard She by Sheree was presenting at Fashion Week, I have to admit I was slightly perturbed. Fashion Week is notoriously elite and a drama-loving, reality star turned designer is as mainstream as it gets. Background info for the non-Bravo watcher: She by Sheree is the brain-child of reality diva, Sheree Whitfield, from Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. The problem---besides her obvious lack of experience---is that her first foray into fashion went famously awry on Season 1. After receiving poorly-crafted samples from her seamstress days before the debut of "She by Sheree," Sheree was forced to hold a "fashion show with no fashions," just sketches. I'm hoping her Fashion Week presentation fares better.



But even She by Sheree's presentation is acceptable compared to Pamela Anderson's. Yes, people, Pamela Anderson is showing her new collection, "MUSE," during Fashion Week. It hurts to even type that. Seriously, what qualifies celebrities without an ounce of fashion work experience to design and show during Fashion Week? Especially when there are so many bright-eyed, hard-working FIT/Parsons students who would give their left lung for a chance to participate in Fashion Week.

Pamela Anderson's MUSE does have some redeeming qualities that should not go ignored. The most important factor is that MUSE is a collaboration with Richie Rich (formerly of Heatherette), who is, for all intents and purposes, the love of my life (see our pic below). Their fondness for each other was evident at his Spring 2009 show, which I had the pleasure of attending, where she worked the catwalk in a hot, gold one-piece number from his first solo collection. Richie Rich spoke to New York Times Fashion about their past collaborations: “A few years ago in Vegas, she had a T-shirt line, so I styled her show. She sent me to Michael’s, a craft store, in a limousine, and she was like, ‘Doll up my line!’ And I did. Glitter, pom-poms, you name it.” Well, there's nothing wrong with a little glitter. With Richie Rich on board, there's hope for Pamela Anderson's line.

The Glamazons LOVE Richie Rich

The second factor that really sets her line apart is that it's an eco- and animal-friendly collection, which is an amazing, and commendable, feat. Not quite worthy of presenting at Fashion Week, but commendable nonetheless. What do you think? Are Pamela Anderson and Sheree qualified to design and present at NYFW? Is it unfair to other up-and-coming designers who have experience and education in the field? Is their participation in NYFW acceptable as long as they collaborate with established designers? Are you excited (for the right reasons) to see either of their shows? Discuss.

Check out She by Sheree's collection below:






Yawn.

Kisses,

Coutura

Photos: ybf.com. Starpulse.com.

NEW! i-D Magazine Spread: Chanel Iman, Arlenis Sosa, Jourdan Dunn, Sessilee Lopez

Hey Glamazons,

The magazine glamour continues! As a fashion assistant, I know how hard it is to nail an amazing shot with more than one model. When one model looks stunning, the other has a hair out of place or needs her eye make-up touched up or is too stiff to deliver a great pose. Furthermore, the energy and the model/photographer chemistry has to be perfect in order to arrive at that rare moment where everyone looks striking and flawless.

i-D Magazine accomplishes this with their September 2009 Cover spread and their success is a testament to the photographer, Emma Summerton, the fashion editor, Edward Enninful, and the phenomenal models, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn and Sessilee Lopez. These women prove why they are the best black models in the business. They are each a beauty in their own right and together, they are simply breathtaking.

By the way, after seeing the September issue yesterday, I have to say I lament the fact that supermodels no longer cover magazines. While celebrities aren't always the best posers (this clearly excludes Rihanna) and have outrageous demands like 400 white candles and separated M&Ms (true story), models come to do a job and just deliver incredible shots. Proof? Take a look at the spread below (courtesy of our friends at The Fashion Bomb).











Kisses,

Coutura