What a time to be alive! I literally teleported my friends and I to the roaring 20s today on Governor’s Island in NYC… kids in tow! We all decked out in our finest 20s garb, sans the cigarette holder of course. We really felt the yesteryears the moment we set foot on the premises. Fellow revelers came prepared, complete with vintage picnic baskets, gloves, hats and other notable vintage fineries of the time. Everyone knew the assignment! The live bands had just about everyone swinging and clacking in the familiar dance steps of the decadent bygone era of the 20s.

Preview the video and images below. You won’t be disappointed. 😉

She said it best! Gloria Gaynor, at almost 80 years old can “never say goodbye”! The legendary disco queen is back with a vengeance! I had the pleasure of getting to know the legendary artist in-depth at a screening of her documentary at the Tribeca Film festival last night. Gloria took us through the journey of how she arrived at being the legend we now know today. There was not a dry eye in the audience when she talked about being sexually abused at the age of 12 by her mother’s boyfriend and again at 17 by her own boyfriend’s cousin. The lose of her mother, her backbone and role model growing up as a child and musically, was a turning point in her life.

After so many years of having a strong hold on disco and then vanishing, Gloria Gaynor regained the courage to embark on her life long dreams to switch to the gospel genre. An endeavor her manager and husband discouraged her from doing years ago. Once freed from the shackles of what she thought was a blissful marriage, she set her sight on her long forgotten mission. Now at a ripe age of 75, the brutal nature and mindset of the youth obsessed music industry, she was a relic! No one would work with her until super fan and artist in his own right, Chris Stevens came along. Much thanks to his beloved wife who reminded him of his fascination with the legend in his early music days, when he too tried to turn her down. Ditching her disco crown, collaborating with one of the best gospel artists such as Yolanda Adams and Jason Crabb, Gloria and Chris created one of the most profound gospel album “Testimony” in recent times! It went on to win a Grammy award! She’s a true testament to perservance and resilience!

I actually gave up on going to a Britney spears party for Gloria! I mean, how could I pass up on what could be a once in a life time opportunity when my dear sister and artist extraordinaire Renee Cox came calling! It was a no brainer! We both dance like 2 high school kids when Gloria took to the stage to sing a medley of her iconic hits! You guessed it, “I will Survive” had the entire room showing off and showing out! What a time to be alive! It certainly was a night to remember. Miss Gaynor, at 80 years old, it’s safe to say, is the hardest working woman in show business!

Words can not begin to describe what a whirlwind life it has been since Saturday! After dipping out of the Veuve Clicquot polo match event in the city, bright and early, I hot tailed it to East Hampton with my dearest Jonathan Marder! I was invited by LongHouse Reserve and given an opportunity to showcase my doll artistry hobby as art on the sprawling grounds of the property. The breathtaking environment, and it’s well preserved natural surroundings featuring various art sculptures & installations offered a great backdrop for my doll photography. More on that later in July, not to give anything away.

As if the day wasn’t perfect enough, shortly after the photoshoot wrapped, the museum director Carriere Bora Barratt, on behalf of LongHouse Reserve, hosted a sumptous dinner party in my honor! High esteemed guests included, Dianne Benson, Lysbeth A. Marigold, Candace Bushnell. Renee Cox, Jonathan Marder, Daphne Merkin, Naomi Marks, Wendy Moona, Toni Ross and Ray Rogers.

Jason Amis, a celebrated highly skilled vegetarian/vegan chef did not disappoint! Some of the meat eating guests couldn’t believe they were feasting on meatless meals! It was that good!

I’m forever grateful for the new friendship I’ve forged with these lovely ladies and gentlemen. I returned late Sunday night thanks to Daphne Merkin & her lovely daughter who drove Jonathan & I back to the city. My heart was full, humbled, grateful and thankful for everyone’s kind words, and appreciation for my artistic medium. I’m particularly thankful to my dear Jonathan Marder for connecting the museum and my art, effectively putting my little hobby on a bigger platform. I hope this colorful road of joyful artistry takes us further beyond our expectations. I can’t wait to share more in July. Stay tuned! 🙏

What better way to celebrate America’s heros than to call on your nearest and dearest friends and fellow designers to pitch in?! The legendary, trailblazing iconic designer Donna Karan did just that today, along with Cheri Kaufman. Donna reached out to some of the leading and fellow fashion designers in the industry to come up with innovative ways to upcycle, recreate and reimagine military attires as wearable fashion for citizens to wear. Items were on view at the star studded “Style for Strength” soiree yesterday where there were several frantic bidders vying for the one of a kind creations. Many of the unique designs were by Rebecca Moses, Frederick Anderson, Donna Karan, Terry Singh, Thom Browne, Michael Kors, Peter Dundas, Tommy Hilfiger, et.al. The affair was a smashing success! Proceeds from the sale will benefit US veterans in need of recovery from PTSD using the RTM Protocol. The event is expected to continue annually.

One of the highlights for me was getting kissed on the cheeks by Donna Karan herself the moment I walked into the venue. 🎉🥳😃❤️

Be sure to check out the video footage and images below…

The title almost looks like concert. Doesn’t it? Frederick Anderson raised the bar last night, effortlessly merging fashion into music…literally. The iconic Nebula nightlife temple converted into a mega power fashion venue with the legendary Natasha Bedingfield filling the vast room with her powerful vocals belting out some of her hits. Models clad in jaw dropping resort 2024 collection in detailed knits and lace by the super talented Frederick sashayed down the runway shortly after. Natasha (who had 2 changes wearing the collection) soon helped close the show by walking and dancing hand in hand with the designer.

As you know, if you’re a true New Yorker, no party is complete without the Mayor’s presence. Eric Adams showed up just in time for the after party to congratulate the designer. Fellow designer and close friend of Frederick Anderson Nicole Miller was on hand as well. The show was a smashing success, especially with DJ Young Paris at the after party turntable! Safe to say, Frederick Anderson outdid himself with this one and is fast becoming synonymous with top notch shows and parties in the big apple! When going to a Frederick Anderson event, you can expect nothing but the best!

Preview the video footage and images below.

Super fans of Bridgerton, the hit TV series by Netflix, had a chance to dip their millennial toes in the Regency London period by way of New York. The immersive celebration encouraged guests to dress up in period garbs, enabling some to get creative as their favorite characters from the series. The pomp and circumstance (complete with “portrait painting”) had no shortage of courtiers, Page Boys, Vallets, Ladies-in-waiting…and dare I say, the majestic Queen Charlotte herself. Her loyal subjects didn’t hesitate to curtsy and bow upon her entrance into the “throne room”. The affair was perfectly timed to promote the debut of the spin-off Queen Charlotte series on Netflix.

Lady Whistledown could be heard but unseen…filing the airways with the much needed and highly anticipated gossip… I mean agenda of the occasion.

The 90 minute soiree gave the guests their beloved love story of a young Queen Charlotte and Prince George, expertedly choreographed by actors of course. Even I almost forgot they weren’t the real thing!

Be sure to see it for yourself in the video footage below.

Click on images below for enlarged version.

Alas! I finally made it out to the much talked about annual Easter and Bonnet Festival in NYC. I must say, it far exceeded my expectation. What I thought would be a zip zap 30 min photo dumb, turned out to be at least 3 hours of jaw dropping staring at endless creativity moment. Apparently this used to be a festival once reserved for the upper class with fineries to show off amongst themselves shortly after attending Easter church service. Fast forward to the social media infused, free spirited age and you’ve got every upper to working class, every gender types mingling at one of the most highly anticipated festival in the city!

Without further ado, please preview the video footage below and click on images to enlarge them when desired.

Happy Easter! 🐰🌸🌹🐇😃

The 16th annual celebration of women at the Met Museum couldn’t have come at a better time! The world is in a political turmoil, advancement of global feminism and achievements are at the greatest risks than they’ve even been before. Look no further than the exploitation of women at such places as Afghanistan, at the helm of Talibans, where women are feared for their intelligence and existence than a tangible weapon of mass destruction. The Met Museum raised a high virtual roof tonight, to sing the praises of 4 influencial women shaping the world in their own special ways. Kathy Hochul, 57th Governor of New York State, H. M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Board Chair, New-York Historical Society, Nydia Velázquez, Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives, D-NY 7th District, and Jasmine Wahi, Founder and Co-director, Project for Empty Space.

Beaming with pride and joy were Jasmine Wahi’s parents who came from out of town to witness the affair. It’s every parents dream to see their offsprings in such regards. I can’t wait for my little ones to read this one day. Ahem….no pressure. 🙈

The soiree offered a live band, premium open bar and passed Hors D’oeuvre. The Met Museum spared no expense! The event was complimentary to the guest. A rarity for such an establishment in New York! All you had to do was secure an invitation, show up in your fineries and celebrate!

Until next year, cheers to all women around the world! 🥂🎉🥳

It’s not everyday that you get to witness history in the making when it comes to just about anything these days. I couldn’t pass up celebrating the launch of a new font by my dear sis, Shantell Martin, with the help of ArrowType founder Stephen Nixon at the NeueHouse in NewYork!

Shantell is famous for using words in her artwork in the Oculus at the World Trade Center, in New York City, and for her music and art collaboration with Kendrick Lamar at Art Basel in Miami. She’s turned her dyslexia into an artform, ensuring it doesn’t hinder but advance her vocation and livelihood, a successful one at that! The world renowned British-Nigerian visual artist and philosopher has now delved into a new territory, a new medium to share with the world her handwriting style by way of fonts. Already in use by over 3 million people within the first week of its debut! So next time you’re in dyre need of fresh new fonts, be sure to try out the “Shantell Sans”. They’re rather cute and definitely different, I must say. 😃🥳❤️

(Enlarge pictures below by clicking on it.)