As I navigated the shows at New York Fashion Week this year, I was stunned by the lack of excitement that seems to plague so many in the fashion industry. Every season, I overhear editors and bloggers complaining about the crowds, their schedules, and their seats. I often see scowls and frowns on the faces of the fashion press where I should see joy. It is an honor to be able to attend Fashion Week and witness the magnificence of the shows: Every second is a privilege.
So as I made my way through Fashion Week, I felt grateful for every second of it and thought of the special day I spent at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Costume Institute this summer. There, 125 incredible teenagers showed me just how inspiring, exciting, and empowering fashion can be!
This summer, GLAM4GOOD partnered with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute to create a punk-themed fashion event as part of the museum's outreach to underserved youth in the greater New York City area.
The teens were led through a tour of the Costume Institute's groundbreaking "Punk: Chaos to Couture" exhibition and then into a punk-themed style workshop I led with an incredible group of volunteer stylists and beauty teams from Ted Gibson and Dior Beauty. My GLAM4GOOD stylists helped the kids create their own #PUNKFASHION look from racks filled with clothing donated by iconic fashion brands like Calvin Klein, J. Crew, H&M, Ohne Titel, Robert Rodriguez, Topman, Trina Turk, Forever 21, and Uniqlo. Punk-inspired accessories--over-the-top shoes from Daddy's Money as well as safety pins, tape, paint, and studs--were also on hand. The students were encouraged to "punk out" the clothes as they embraced the D.I.Y. themes explored in the exhibition. My friend Erica Domesek, design and style expert and founder of the D.I.Y. brand P.S.-I made this..., was by my side to help the students craft their punk looks, which they were eager to take home.
"It was overwhelmingly generous and inspiring to see the transformation that many of the students underwent," said Publicolor's Melissa Rioux. "Their GLAM4GOOD experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art changed the way they thought about fashion and themselves. I had more than one student say with a smile on their face: 'This is the best trip we have ever taken and one of the best days of my life!' This fashion event helped our young people express themselves and showed them how creative and empowering fashion can be."
When I watch this video and see the pictures from our inspiring GLAM4GOOD day at the Costume Institute, I can't help but think how great it would be to sit front row at New York Fashion Week with these kids by my side!
GLAM4GOOD #PUNKFASHION
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