Byron Lars Beauty Mark 2011 Fall Fashion Presentation at Lincoln Center

\

On the evening of Friday, February 11, 2011 Byron Lars Beauty Mark once again reinvent the perception of classic Americana by presenting the fall 2011 fashion collection in a luxe Stanley H. Kaplan penthouse turned lush forest overlooking Lincoln Center. The celebration of “Native Americana”, set in a surreal recreation of the great outdoors (indoors) as featured in a collection's photo-essay. A slide show projection of these images was prominently featured on one wall of the space. One image captured the wilds of the 120th floor of an office building where Buffalo run free on its' expansive square footage against a backdrop of big sky framed in pane glass.

Guests were transported to a forest in the sky brimming with trees and all manner of greenery. While standing on brown leaves, 20 models showcased feminine and chic outerwear like silver glazed cocoon coats, tweed jackets and even belted trenches.

Refined and feminine, the daytime separates ranged from peplum sheaths to mock turtlenecks and brocade mix panel skirts. Lace was used creatively as a print livening up the front of flared dresses and trench coats the entire collection was graceful presented all at once. Dramatic makeup and accessories juxtaposed the wearable ready-to-wear pieces. Headpieces with brightly hued feathers and elaborate beaded necklaces added personality to each look.

The makeup look, created by L’Oreal, resembled traditional tribal paint with a white line across the face and colorful lips. Hair by Mizani USA was soft in loose undos and braided ponytails.

At the southern end of this wood land oasis facing a wall of glass was a flood of natural light, offering sanctuary from the darkness of the tents below as well as a beautiful setting for (show weary) guests to have a relaxed and interactive experience with the clothes and each other while milling about and viewing it at there own pace. Photo: Anika Noni Rose & Byron Lars

The event took place over a span of three hours, so guests could come and go as they please within that window of time and enjoyed the bar that served mineral water and featured Moet & Chandon Champagne. The event was produced by MEGA Management Inc.

Inspired musical hybrids of native ceremonial chants and electronica rhythms charged the room with melodic verve, only to be heightened by the primal beats of a live Native Drummer. To review the entire fall 2011 collection got to www.ByronLarsBeautyMark.com and follow us on Facebook at Byron Lars Beauty Mark.

Nicki Minaj’s Branding Power Decoded

By BlackEnterprise.com

Most may view Nicki Minaj as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much more than that, she’s a bankable brand that’s only just begun to blossom. In a few short years, Nicki has influenced trends through her music and unmistakable fashion sense, and her involvement in cosmetics, television, hair and even the floral industry (Nicki has exclusive pink collection bouquets available on flowers.com for Valentine’s Day) has helped spike sales and visibility for a number of ancillary brands. Whether her detractors like it or not, Ms. Minaj is a one-woman marketing guru. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at some of the brands the young starlet has—directly or indirectly—helped bolster by association.

KELIS - Sums It All Up for Us, SO JUST SCREAM

Been running in place for such a long time
Stuck in a race in the wrong line
When it all came down on me.
And I haven’t had faith for such a long time
Am I outta place or out of my mind
Should it all fall down on me

Its not enough to live, so just dream
Its not enough to sing, so just scream

You’ll never know
If you don’t let it out
You've had enough
They’ll call your bluff
You cant back down lost in a crowd
You’ve won the right to scream and shout
They'll talk about you lost your cool
There is no point who makes the rules
So lets get to it
Now you’ll prove it
Break out

Scream and shout

Sound the alarm
Raise your arms
Your on your own
Your not alone
Big city got you on the ground
Afraid to fight don’t make a sound
So lets get to it
Now you’ll prove it
Push back

Scream and shout

Been running in place for such a long time
Stuck in a race in the wrong line
When it all came down on me.
And I haven’t had faith for such a long time
Am I outta place or out of my mind
Should it all fall down on me

Its not enough to live, so just dream
Its not enough to sing, so just scream

Personal Inspiration: Byron Lars

Walking into a room where everything is beautiful and the astonishing fashion that is transpiring my mood was created by someone who started like us all. Today I want to introduce you to a very talented individual who I had the opportunity to experience first hand his beautiful work on last Friday as New York City kicked off Fashion Week. Byron Lars has been mentioned in many fashion schools and magazines; however he has fallen under many of our radars. On today I would like to allow you to learn a little more about the man who has dressed our very own first lady Michelle Obama, Disney’s first black princess Anika Noni Rose, Dakota Fanning, and many others.

Byron Lars started designing under his own label in 1991 with a small collection of sportswear focusing on what Lars refers to as "twisted American classics." Taking inspiration from such unlikely sources as his grandfather's hunting jacket, Byron crossbreeds it with a "Dior New Look" proportion to create a Dutchess of Windsor meets Field and Stream hybrid.

Juxtapositions such as above, or as in taking a men's cotton dress shirt and then distorting it to the point of resembling a Dorothy Lamour sarong, have become Byron Lars' trademark. "When edgy fashion is steeped in something familiar, it becomes far less alienating to the consuming public," says Lars.

After only his second season in business, Women's Wear Daily hailed Byron as "Rookie of the Year." His line was immediately snapped up by such prestigious retailers as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's as well as one hundred other specialty stores throughout the U.S. along with some distribution in the U.K. and France.

"I saw it a few days ago and was blown out of the water," exclaims Kal Ruttenstein, senior vice president and fashion director of Bloomingdale's referring to the premier fall collection of Lars. "He has the freshest point of view of all the young American designers."

Byron's range of designs became most apparent in his Seventh on Sixth runway presentations in which he created accessories as mere fashion show props, only to attract the attention of licensees in handbags, furs and hats. His notoriety also led to his designing a limited edition of designer Barbie dolls for Mattel.

By the contractual end of his licensees, Byron chose to direct his energy away from the designer collection and focus on a contemporary line and pricing structure. "I wanted it to be more about the clothes and less about the 'hype'," says Lars. This redirection was the beginning of "Byron Lars Beauty Mark." Initially a cotton Lycra shirting based offering, Beauty Mark took its cue from the shirts and shirt dresses of the previous collection that put the designer on the map (only this time, without the lofty price point). Since its inception, Beauty Mark has enjoyed eight years of success and is now expanding its product line to include knits, sportswear and dresses in addition to the chic and sexy shirts for which the line is highly sought after.