Recapping NYFW: Couture Ink
New York, NY – Randi Rahm presented her latest Fall/WINTER Evolution Couture/INK for NYFW 2020 at the PUBLIC Arts space in the PUBLIC Hotel, 215 Chrystie Street, New York, NY, 10002.
Monday night looked like a Saturday at the Randi Rahm Couture/Ink Evolution, hosted in Ian Schrager’s cutting edge multipurpose PUBLIC Arts space at PUBLIC. All couture, part late-night happening, and full party, Couture/Ink showcased Rahm’s unrivaled uptown elegance cloaked in the edgy allure of downtown. “I consider my work part of a fashion evolution, not just in rotating ‘collections’,” has always been Rahm’s mantra. Couture/Ink was a nightlife infused reflection of her motto. The guests arrived through the garden entry and descended into the dimly-lit Studio 54 meets Moulin-Rouge inspired PUBLIC Arts space. Passing by the bar dressed in candelabras and ivy, the attendees were wowed by an opening presentation of tattoo design by Anthony Iannucci and starring Rachel Lindsay (ABC’s The Bachelorette). Rahm’s signature gowns, many inspired by the art of tattoo, dazzled party-goers in their sumptuous dark and gem tones that reflected the mood of the evening. The surprise couture standout was Rahm’s menswear: diamond embellished tailored shirts, billowing amorphous skirts, golden suits, and purple lined floor-length capes draped in chains and leather embellishments took centerstage. The runway show featured talent of all ages, sizes, and gender identities- with special appearances from guest-artists from the New York City nightlife scene. From black work to beadwork, Couture/Ink celebrated breathtaking individuality and exacting artist.
Images by Michelle Behre @MichelleBehrePhotography
Note-worthy attendees included: Rachel Lindsay (ABC’s The Bachelorette), Jill Zarin (Real Housewives of New York), Melanie Moore (SYTYCD Winner), Mary E Bassy (Singer), Cyn Santana (VH1’s Love and Hip Hop), influencer Tammy Hembrow, hair stylist to the stars Chaz Dean, and Broadway’s James Brown III. The eclectically chic audience – who kept the party going way past the custom tracks from Chew FU (Rihanna, Lady Gaga), stopped spinning- mirrored the variety that is the lifeblood of NYC itself. In an age where inclusivity teeters on trend, Rahm’s vision centered around self-expression. Couture/Ink reinforced an underlying, unifying message: Peace. Love. Rahm.
A special thanks to Spa Digital for imaging, graphics, and technical support. Contributing partners include: Shop Lasso, Bandelettes, Troll Beads, Fluide Makeup, and Liv PIF. Alcohol provided by LOVE Wines, Gin Lane 1751, Plush Vodka, and Sixpoint Brewery. Backstage Hair provided by Hair & Co Brooklyn. Makeup by Zuleika Viera Workshops. Production by PUBLIC Arts at PUBLIC downtown by Ian Schrager.
Sponsors Included:
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The story of Trollbeads began in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1976 when Søren "Silversmith" Nielsen created the first Trollbead. Today,Trollbeads jewelry has expanded from Denmark and now has several stores in the United States and worldwide. The brand creates handcrafted jewelry that's designed as a variety of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. Each piece is able to be fully customized with any beads/styles offered, and their pieces are made with high-quality materials such as sterling silver, 18k gold, and Italian murano glass that's guaranteed to last a lifetime. Find more information by visiting: Trollbeads.com or @trollbeadsusa & @trollbeadsnyc on Instagram.
Established in 1985, VIA SPIGA is named after the main street in one of the most famed shopping districts in Milan. At the time, Milan was gaining prominence as a fashion capital in the global market and there was a noticeable shift towards society and career in women's lives. VIA SPIGA captured this moment, appealing to a modern, on-the-go woman, and offered sophisticated Italian craftsmanship at an accessible price point. Find more information by visiting: ViaSpiga.com and @ViaSpiga
PIF creates high quality, organic plant-based products to promote happy and healthy lifestyles. PIF was founded in Harlem, NY by people of color. Our product is rooted in our historical and medicinal connection to plants, and our goal is to eliminate the stigma associated with it.
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Hair and Co:Hair & Co BKLYN is a one-of-a-kind Brooklyn hair salon that celebrates the beauty and diversity of all hair types. We’re a solution-based company where we train our stylists to master the art of the many hair textures that are as wonderfully unique as our community here in Brooklyn. We believe the woman comes before the hair, so your new style will suit every aspect of what makes you unique. We provide a personalized experience, delivering custom hair color, cuts, and styling with at-home maintenance lessons to be sure every guest is able to recreate their gorgeous new hairstyle every day of the week. For more info, follow: @hairandcobklyn or visit hairandcobklyn.com.
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Fluide is a collection of colorful, cruelty-free makeup for all gender expressions, gender identities and skin tones. The company was created to celebrate gender expansive identities and provide high quality, high-impact cosmetics for maximum self-expression and joy. Fluide understands that makeup is a tool of transformation and a powerful means of self-actualization. By naming lip and nail shades after queer spaces around the globe,Fluide seeks to pay tribute to the importance of safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. Co-founder and CEO and Laura Kraber created the company to amplify young, queer voices and to showcase LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming identities. Fluide launched online in January 2018. All Fluide products are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens and phthalates. For more info, visit fluidebeauty.us, or follow @fluidebeauty.
The Bloomsbury Club; a group of inquisitive drinks industry veterans with a passion to recreate a range of London Gins with historical accuracy and relevance to the Victorian era. To accomplish this, a partnership was forged with 8th generation London distiller, Charles Maxwell of Thames Distillers, based in Clapham, London. Gin Lane 1751 is the embodiment of a classic Victorian style gin in its taste profile, juxtaposed with accurate label recreation of the period to create a range of four crafted varietals. For more info, visit www.ginlane1751.com or follow @ginlane1751.
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Sixpoint was founded in 2004 (we like to say it was born at the dawn of civilization, though that’s a story for another time…) in the rough and tumble neighborhood of Red Hook, BKLYN. It was essentially a cult brewery. In 2010 we released our canned creations, and have been tweaking, improving, and releasing new formulations ever since. Then in May of 2017, we took our biggest step forward to date, releasing all of our ales raw and unfiltered, and simultaneously incorporating new and incredible raw materials obtained over years of sourcing. For more info, visit www.sixpoint.com, or follow them at @sixpoint.