DressedbyDuvale here ,

Sorry for my inactive period on here. But I’m back. And better. My blog posts will precede the type of person I am and that is being blunt and expressing my opinion. So I will give nothing more, and nothing less so, expect it all.

Saturday March 7, 2020 I attended SUNY New Paltz’s very own fashion show called R.E.A.L. It stands for Realistically Embracing All Ladies. But, did it do it’s justice? Or did it flop? Was it even fashion? R.E.A.L is a fashion show to showcase woman, no matter their size, orientation, sexual identity, race etc. Their message for this year 2020 was all about showcasing women and even men in their own element. As a freshman here at SUNY New Paltz first impressions are everything. I had prior knowledge that this is the organization’s 7th annual fashion show so, that told me that this would be a great fashion show. But was it really?

The fashion show had 6 scenes. In each scene they showcased a designer’s collection symbolizing an element. First, was the scene Air. They opened up the show with a man’s look, if I was wrong I thought it was a ladies show. The air collection showcased a lingerie line filled with white lace and white silk. The looks were completely beautiful, they flowed nicely and the execution of the looks were perfect. However, it was just lingerie and sleepwear, and to be candid it was putting me to sleep. I personally would’ve loved more variety of looks. The white lace was beautiful, the silk was gorgeous but, there was too much of it. The lingerie was played out. I wish I would’ve seen more types of execution with the white lace and silk. The thought process behind this air scene was magical and I loved it, and they did a good job showing what they wanted to show. But showcasing a gown couldn’t hurt though? Right? But here on DressedByDuvale we love to finish on a good note so like the element air, the scene was overall gone with the wind fabulous.

As we move to the next scene which is Earth, I’m going to start off with the places that I thought could need some improvement and in fact I found rocky. The Earth scene was nice , and yes that’s all I can I say about it. It showcased urban street wear, and it makes sense that it was paired with element: Earth. Like the earth, we go green and that’s exactly what they did. I loved the shade of green that they decided to focus the pieces of clothing in. But, come on it’s 2020 this a fashion show and they delivered ;but they delivered looks that everyone has in their closet. If I’m wrong but the point of this collection was to network the brand, and I’m here and support it and love the brand and logo. But the actual looks and clothing itself was like the Earth’s surface, it fell flat. I do though have to give credit where credit is due, they did what it was supposed to do, and that was showcase urban street wear and they did give looks that us millennials wear now a days. I just wanted to see something new when it comes to street wear. That’s all. Earth stood it’s ground with it’s bold solid color, and it made sense with the street wear approach. I didn’t hate it, I just see the potential in the brand and where they could take street wear.

Now we wash in with the element and scene: Water. Where do I start? I absolutely loved the collection for the water scene. It was beautiful and majestic. Now, I can be bias since I’m a scorpio which is a water sign, but I already knew water wasn’t coming to play. The collection for the water scene showed me that this was a fashion show, to the executions and new ideas for the pieces. It was different. It was new. The color palette was beautiful, and the styling and design of the garments were flawless. The collection even showcased different types of jewelry pieces, with pearls. It took “Under the Sea,” and made it elegant. The looks were as strong as the element, it was fierce and nobody could or even try to tell the models any different. So props, to the stylist and designer for water’s collection, it was pretty as the sea.

Moving stern and fast onto the next just like the could touch of metal. Metal is another element that isn’t traditionally an element, but the collection matched that perfectly with it’s business street attire. I won’t lie when I first heard the idea behind the scene of metal, I didn’t know what was going to come out at me. But when this scene started, it came to me. It’s business casual. Just like business it can either meet it’s margin or not. And for metal it did both. The pieces and garments of this element focused on the shade: dark grey. Now for a color like dark grey it can be either very bland or somehow catch everyone’s attention and for this scene it did both and I think it’s because of the execution and styling of the looks. I do wish that the metal scene gave me more of the metallic fabric. But it didn’t ,the grey made the collection sly and stern. The color didn’t help certain looks though it actually made it boring to watch. The business casual was a different direction than I was expecting for metal and I had a love/hate relationship with it. Some looks were very been there done that but ,some looks had a different flair and I appreciated that. Now metal was mainly dominated by male models but, I loved that they styled the women models in garments that were appeasing to their bodies but, still kept it edgy and business as usual. So metal hit and missed it’s margin, but if they keep it up and do better and deliver every look as something edgy and, not like I just threw on a blazer and shirt then I can for see some profits. But I did like it overall so stay stern like metal and be a boss of business.

Then came in the blazing scene: Fire. But was this fire a little damp? This fire scene was in fact fire but, it wasn’t fuego. Let me tell you why. This scene could’ve been so much better, the garments were amazing but, the color scheme is what made the fire dim. I loved the burnt orange color so much, it was stunning and eye catching but there was so much of it, it burnt out the rest of the colors that all I remember is orange. I wish I could’ve seen some shades of red to symbolize the fire element, it would’ve been so much more. Then there came to an issue of cohesiveness, there was a hot pink garment. The hot pink garment was beautifully made and executed well, but it would’ve been so much better as the last look of the scene as it’s “show stopper” or “finale.” Instead, it was in between looks, there it got lost in translation. Yes, it was a wow moment, but for me personally it didn’t do anything since it was back to regularly scheduled programming with the burnt orange. That being said, I wish there was more incorporation of the hot pink color, it would’ve tied the collection as whole but, not making that look the final look; the rhythm of the beauty was chunked. But the execution and the designing of these garments and dresses saved this collection and showcased why fire is not be touched or played with. From the fringe, to the cut outs, the sparkles, and sequin fire was torching the stage. I absolutely loved these looks, the models looked fabulous in these garments and it was a standing O worthy collection. We asked for fire and we got it, the designs were beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for a better executed fashion looks.

Just when I thought the show was done, R.E.A.L showed me that the show must go on and end with a bang. For this scene it showcased all the elements together as whole in the representation of body art. The body art was so beautifully done, as an artist myself I was amazed by this work and knew I could never do what the artist did. It was a perfect masterpiece. The art on the models were exquisite. Yes, it might’ve not been typical fashion, but who cares. They showcased the element that was not seen in the show and in today’s society and that’s: Unity. R.EA.L did it’s justice, it embraced ladies and men and showed to me that it doesn’t matter where you come from and they did that all through looks and fashion. And as I like to say “Fashion is everyone’s bestie.”

There you have it. DressedByDuvale’s raw and honest review. Like I said nothing more, nothing less…

DressedByDuvale writing off, love ya’ll and hope you guys come back for more. You didn’t really think I was finished? No, this was only the beginning.