Daisy Fuentes Hits NY Fashion Week
Models strutted down the runway sporting the Cuban beauty's latest designs.
A woman of many firsts, Cuban beauty Daisy Fuentes was the first Latina face of Revlon. She was the first Latina VJ on MTV and in 2004, she launched her clothing line for Kohl’s—which is quietly raking in over 300 million dollars in sales. Recently presenting her Spring/Summer 2013 line at the fashionable Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, New York this week, the folks who came out to see her newest apparel may not shop in Kohl’s, but the consumer who does better prepare themselves for a Spring/Summer clothing line with chic high-fashion at affordable prices.
Inspired by traditional Andalusia gypsies, meshed with Southern coastal Spanish cities like Ibiza, the line was fun, easy, bold, and most of all ageless – a lot like Fuentes herself. She says she’s able to easily design for the everyday woman, because, “I am that woman. We Latina women love to dress. No matter how much money we have or where we’re going, we like to be dressed and look our best.”
Offering earth-toned swimwear, laser cut leather dresses and skirts, Boho maxis, and lots and lots of lace and paisley, the gypsy-themed line felt fresh and sophisticated.
Care of make-up artist James Vincent, the models wore smoky eyes in golds, bronzes and metallics.
“I was influenced by Yves Saint Laurent’s look of the 1970s and, like Daisy, the period was sensual, sexy, romantic, and fashion forward,” says Vincent.
Many of the runway pieces will have to be modified a bit—slits on the skirts lowered and tops not as cropped, but almost everything shown on the runway will go directly into Kohl’s stores.
As for how the 46-year-old stays in tip top shape, she says she mixes up her workouts with Pilates, tennis, hiking, and walking.
“I don’t believe 50 is the new 20, but women are looking better today than ever. We have to keep ourselves looking great with preventative measures like taking care of our skin and keeping ourselves in good shape,” Fuentes says.
Fuentes is an entrepreneur who has managed to invent, and invent, and re-invent herself. From model, to VJ, to a celebrity fashion designer, her advice to budding businesswomen is to “Stay focused, but keep yourself open. Your destiny may have bigger plans for you than even you can imagine. Listen to the people who’ve gone before you and find a mentor.”
Uptown at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and inside Lincoln Center, couture is coveted. Downtown in Fuentes’ world, wearability reins queen. Reaching the masses and maintaining mogul status--all while looking amazing.
Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more.