By Bella Omar
Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Jazmany Reyes, Framingham State fashion design student, debuted his first collection “Passion,” for this NYFW (New York Fashion Week) season on Feb. 8 at the Copacabana nightclub.
His brand, Jazmany the Label, made quite the impression opening the three-act show produced by Kyla Geyer, Parsons student - sending 10 stunning pieces down the runway.
Designers Phoebe Dragseth and Nadia Hoskey also presented collections in affiliation with Geyer.
Reyes said, “The whole aim of the collection was to make women feel beautiful. … Pieces that women are going to feel great in.
“So, I went with a lot of sleeveless tops, skirts, and sleeveless dresses as well. I wanted to make something that was beautiful, but also very simplistic,” he said.
Reyes did not want to restrict these pieces to the runway, “This isn't just like runway stuff, you can pair this [‘Corkscrew Top’] with a casual look with jeans, you can style it however you want to,” he said.
And flattering wearability is exactly what Reyes achieved with versatile sets, dresses, and tops - all hand-fashioned out of visually interesting laces, sequined, and sheen fabrics.
My favorite gown of the night, the “Lilac Sunrise” strapless cocktail dress flounced down the runway with its purple asymmetrical bubble skirt catching the light, a refreshing approach to the popular silhouette.
The theme of asymmetry continued with the “Skin Kiss” white dress, featuring more exposed shoulders and a delicate lace skirt. The dropped waist and form-fitting bodice make this look undeniably flattering.
The final gown of the night, the “Galactic Girl Sequin Dress” was a floor-length, sequined vision on model Dani Simone (on Instagram @dani_simonee), featuring iridescent, almost Paco Rabanne-like sequins and a sweetheart neckline.
Even worn by Reyes himself, the “Peacock Top” was styled for the runway over a white, bodycon set. The plunging black lace framed by dramatic white ruffles gave this masterfully crafted blouse a level of drama and volume scarcely seen on the runway today.
The “Corkscrew Top” played multiple roles in this collection as the romantic lace-trimmed tube top was paired with ruffled skirts and even loose-fitting jeans.
Styled with the same ruffled skirts and denim was the highly-constructed “Baby Doll Top.” This versatile piece in navy, while mature with its peplum silhouette, still provided that signature allure with a faux exposed brassiere.
A white cheeky mini skirt, dubbed “Pleats and Thank You” added a sense of playfulness to balance the otherwise more elegant garments. The thin pleats and wide waistband made it pairable with essentially every other top in the collection.
This included more fun strapless going-out tops, utilizing the same sequined fabric from the “Galactic Girl Sequin Dress.”
Carrying over that statement-making black lace, a grungy bustier top in the same fabric was styled with a low-waisted mini skirt, featuring an undone asymmetrical train, called the “Party Star” look.
With only a month of notice to prepare this collection, Jazmany Reyes stood out as one to watch in the fashion world against the backdrop of a busy NYFW.