nolafw

a post in which i rant about my hectic life

If you couldn't already tell from the title, this past week has been the week from hell. (Cue the round of applause for me making it through relatively intact.) From fashion shows to concerts to lots and lots of school, I wanted to share with you some of the stuff I've been up to outside of the kitchen.

In some strange turn of events, Mondays have turned out to be one of the easiest days of the week this semester and math has become my favorite class. Seriously, wtf? I hope that puts into perspective how backwards my life is right now.

I have a not-so-secret confession: I'm 600% obsessed with Miley Cyrus. I know, I know — I'm sure that many of you probably think differently, but I adore her (pun totally intended). With that said, it should come as no surprise how excited I was to attend her Bangerz Tour concert in New Orleans on Tuesday night.

After replicating her signature pigtail buns and indulging in one too many slices of pizza, my friends and I headed downtown for the concert. The show was essentially a huge two-hour party that began with balloons dropping from the sky and ended with a giant shower of confetti. Naturally, the in-between was full of flying hot dogs and lots of twerking. Too much fun. 
 


On Wednesday morning, I was awoken way too early by my alarm to head to school. As if a full day of classes and copy editing sessions for the National Student Advertising Competition weren't enough for laggy brain to handle, I was off to my next destination: New Orleans Fashion Week.

Me, Noel, and my nipples. 

Me, Noel, and my nipples. 

A polaroid with Becca of Style Crossings. 

A polaroid with Becca of Style Crossings

I've mentioned this before, but I've been photographing the runway shows and fashion presentations for New Orleans Fashion Week since 2011. On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of shooting backstage at my dearest, fiercest, and most talented friend Noël Martin's A/W showcase. Per usual, Noël's presentation was stitched and sewn for the gods. Below are some peeks into her amazing collection. (That pink vinyl getup gets a resounding "yasss" from me.)

And if that wasn't enough for the night, I had to head back to campus to finish up editing our team's NSAC plans book. Somehow, I managed to not fall asleep behind the wheel on my commute back home at 4:30 a.m.

Considering how busy I've been, my weekend was largely consumed by more schoolwork and a mental state located somewhere between being asleep and awake. Definitely skewed way more towards asleep; that seems to be the general trend this semester. I am so stoked that this semester is finally almost over. Until then, I'll just be dreaming of summer.

New Orleans Fashion Week SS 2014

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending and shooting backstage at New Orleans Fashion Week. I've been attending NOLA FW on and off for the past two years. Since 2011, the production has grown tremendously. This year, the runway shows were at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

H&M Blazer  / Hawkings McGill Heart Shirt / Cheap Monday Denim  / Zara Chelsea Boots

H&M Blazer  / Hawkings McGill Heart Shirt / Cheap Monday Denim  / Zara Chelsea Boots

I arrived at the New Orleans Museum of Art just in time to catch Matt Arthur's SS 2014 showcase. The Project Runway alum has become a staple of New Orleans Fashion Week over the years, consistently delivering amazing garments with a New Orleans flare. 

Matt's menswear-heavy collection effortlessly mixed religious imagery, florals, and tribal prints. In a town largely dominated by department store brands, Matt offers a fresh and invigorating approach to men's fashion. My favorite pieces included a pair of tribal overalls and a collared black mesh-bottom crop top (I'm gonna need that one ASAP).  


Closing out Thursday's fashion exhibition was my dear friend and sexy mermaid, Noel Martin. Since debuting at NOLAFW in March, Noel has been dominating New Orleans' catwalks with her eccentric and eclectic designs. I had the pleasure to shoot Noel's collection backstage and on the runway. 

 Noel's sophomore effort blew my mind. Can you say melancholy pastel goth bondage party? The collection's white leather jackets, overalls, and pink & blue furs were paired with floral crowns, white veils, and lucite O-ring collars. The 90's-infused designs were paired with a dark and morose soundtrack from the likes of Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey. In a season domination by sweet and summery designs, Noel stayed true to her form and offered a delightfully macabre spring collection. 


 On Friday night, I returned to NOMA to support emerging designer Christopher Rogers. A native of Baton Rouge, Christopher first showed at New Orleans Fashion Week in October 2011 as half of teen design-duo Rogersliu. Since his first effort, Chris has been pursuing fashion design at Savannah College of Art and Design.  

Chris' show was nothing short of amazing. The collection — complete with sequined collars, iridescent dresses, and glittering pasties — exuded femininity and finesse. 


Until next time, 

graham