Author Archives: Laura Rossi

A perfect mix between being a socialite event and a debut of her beautiful new Fall/Winter 2012 line, Charlotte Ronson’s show at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was nothing short of an elaborate spectacle. From The star-studded front row that included hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, his daughter Angela Simmons, Nicki Hilton, DJ’s Chelsea Layland, Becka Diamond and Johnathan Chaeban, to the collection itself that spoke volumes, it was easy to admire and swoon over every aspect of the entire show.

Front Row Photo by Laura Rossi

Music to set the Mood

The designer’s twin sister and DJ for the show Samantha Ronson provided awesome tunes for the runway. She reverently mixed quite the variety, ranging from “Sleigh Bells” to “M83”, to “the Kills”, to “M.I.A” in a seemingly effortless and entertaining fashion. Speaking of fashion, which is after all, the underlying theme of the event, the collection did not fall short to please.

Patterns Run Rampant

The Show Begins! Photo by Laura Rossi

The show boldly opened with a sleek camel and leather-blocked bomber jacket matched with a form fitting leather pencil skirt, which then transitioned into sheer blousy tribal prints, leather-striped tapered trousers, chiffon paneled skirts, thick knitted sweaters and tweedy separates.

Model Walking the Runway Photo By Laura Rossi

Leather and chiffon were major aspects throughout the collection. The colors stayed true to the typical fall-palate of beiges, dark greens, plums, and black. An interesting aspect to the collection would have to be the tight fitting hooded sweaters in two-toned cable knit patterns, which channeled a very ski-trip-in-Sweden vibe that worked well for the collection.

The Designer Herself! Photo by Jane Doe

Ronsons move toward a wholesome, more refined aesthetic worked very well in her favor. Ronson made pieces more form fitted while sharpening her silhouettes to accentuate the female body. The modern and versatile collection provides a great variety and is filled with cute staple pieces that every woman needs in her closet.

Advertisements constantly surround the lives of New Yorkers that after a while they aren’t even paid attention to. Ads can typically be found on buses, telephone booths, taxi cabs, subway cars and on gigantic billboards scattered around the city, particularly in Times Square where they seem almost blinding. They are everywhere you turn and yet no one ever spends time looking at them, really observing them and their meaning, unless you are watching one being painted on by a sign painter.

Painting in Progress, photo by Karen Horton

Competing with Posters

Concord Painting–a major sign painting corporation that works for the likes of Astroland (Cyclone Roller coaster), Cartier on 5^th Avenue, The Brooklyn Public Library, and the Marriot Marquis, just to name a few—have overcame their struggles from when the popularity of posters increased; “New York sign painting suffered in the seventies and eighties but is making a steady comeback thanks to public appreciation of its artistry and appeal.” It is apparent that major corporations are sticking to the individuality that sign painting offers to their buildings.

It would be hard to tell that this is painted on until you see the painters swing stage underneath.

The Creative Process

Sign painting was the original form of advertising in Manhattan in the 1950’s. Though it is seen as a lost art that has been overpowered by the simplicity and cost efficiency in the mass reproduction of posters, the diligence and attentiveness that is required to perform this tedious artistry is the strength that has kept it alive for so many years. As Concord Painting describes it, “The actual sign painter’s work is still meticulous and hand crafted. Using a grid pattern the painting itself is still done by hand. The color matching is done by eye and hand through experience in working with the paint and different surfaces. A sign painter can be catagorized as a commercial contractor, but in a finer sense, the sign painter is a true artist.”

Painting in progress on 23rd st, photo by Karen Horton

Hope for the Future

A handful of buildings throughout the city still stay committed to the artistry that is sign painting. The ads tend to give a sense of originality, uniqueness and add a beautiful aesthetic to the once common and dull brick building. It is with this maxim that sign painting companies still thrive in business throughout New York City and should continue to prosper for years to come.