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Header Image: Sanders Nevejan

Ashley Garner: How would you describe the modern woman you are designing for?

Valentina Shah: My customer is an ageless woman. She has an opulent level of taste, and is seeking out for impeccable quality, attention to detail and designer innovation. She is an intelligent consumer, embracing herself into a brand that she can fulfill her wardrobe with designer pieces for a value price point. She has a very busy life style: she travels, she works, has events to attend, so she looks for versatility on the styles she wants. She is feminine and sophisticated. All our pieces are designed so that she can wear dresses and outfits day to night and we make her sensuality effortless.

AG: What made you decide to switch from being on the business side of the industry to the creative side?

VS: I did not make a career change. I am ever so involved on the business side but incorporating my creative vision to the company.  I engineered this brand by using the knowledge and information I gathered during the past 10 years of business and merchandising experience.

AG: You site your grandmother as being a huge inspiration for your style and collections. Can you describe further how she has influenced you and your work?

VS: My grandmother is a big inspiration because she had all the elements that make a woman powerful: regal beauty, class, independent character, knowledge, wisdom, and killer legs

AG: On your website it states “Shah’s designs share her unique point of view about the context of feminine fashion in the modern world.” Can you describe your point of view on this issue further or do you believe it is something that can only be expressed visually?

VS: Women have become more powerful and independent today; I have noticed around me that it has become hard for women to express power without losing a part their femininity. I see many designers that offer designs that are inspired by menswear, minimizing women femininity. I think being feminine, wearing a feminine dress that highlights a sophisticated sensuality, is more powerful than wearing “a boyfriend pant”. I also feel women need to wear clothes that are effortless, that can frame around their lifestyle. For instance, wearing an outfit that is chic and easily transition from day to night is appropriate for all occasions.

AG: In your spring collection it feels like you were extremely inspired by the Miami woman based on your use of color and thin fabrics. Do you agree or did you have something else in mind?

VS: The inspiration was inspired by marine life. The fabric and colors were inspired by textures and colors of the seas. I was leaning more towards the Mediterranean waters…

AG: Many designers today are accused of ignoring the brand and philosophy of thehouse and focusing more on their sales. Your fall and spring collection are extremely different but similar in the use of cuts, tailoring and symmetry.  As a new designer do you already know what the DNA of your brand will be?

VS: I launched this brand with a specific vision: “offering the luxury consumer a brand that offers designer details, quality, lifestyle versatility for a value price point”. The DNA is clear. However, when you make a new car to become a winning car, you need to test drive it and make the proper adjustments before the race. We are at the third season, and every season we are challenged on “how to make it better”.

AG: What do you see in the future of Valentina Shah?

VS: My goal is to grow the brand into a lifestyle brand. Eventually, become a company that will be able to support charitable causes around the world.

To see more or inquire on purchases from Valentina Shah you can go to her website by clicking here.

Photo Credits:

Photographer/Stylist: Ashley Garner

Model: Lydia Ramos

Hair/MUA: Orestes de la Paz

I recently had the opportunity to interview one of the most influential  down to earth, and truly passionate designers. Nicolas Felizola is a true inspiration both as a designer & person. I was amazed by his articulate, sophisticated, & ingenius designs. Team FASHIFY & I had too much fun with Nicolas! And yes, this happened to be pre-cosmo’s.

StilettoKat: “What was your inspiration for this line?”

Felizola: “WOMEN!

“Beautiful women that love to enjoy the passion, the color & designs.  The latin passion, & the beautiful life that we have here in  Miami to help celebrate this resort collection”

StilettoKat: “When you are in Miami, what do you do or recommend for fun?”

Felizola: Absolutely NOTHING! When I’m in Miami I love to relax.

StilettoKat: “What advice do you give your fans, & young people whom aspire to be designers?”

Felizola: Stay true to who you are. Do not copy or imitate anything or anyone! There is not enough originality!

Be true to yourself, & your ideas and you will succeed.

A red-carpet must-have for Miami Beach.

A polished and sophisticated look.

From left to right: Fashion designer Nicolas Felizola, fashion editor Stiletto Kat.

For Rihanna’s World Tour this year, the singer has chosen Riccardo Tisci as her costumer designer, as he has created a number of unique and bespoke Givenchy outfits to wear on her Diamonds world tour. The collection of outfits are merged with haute couture and Tisci’s signature sportswear innovation, the designs showcases a graphic black and gold hooded parka as well as silk- satin shorts and white leather bra! Another strong outfit includes a floor- length silk- crepe cape, which is styled with a thigh- high boots, which Tisci stated is a symbol of “female empowerment and urban haute couture elegance.”

The fun kicks off Friday, March 8^th, with Miami Heat’s very own DJ Irie scoring the soundtrack for the evening’s hottest summer looks by celebrity designer, Nicolas Felizola, renown for having immortalized jet setters and celebrities internationally. His feature in various publications as one of the 100 Most Outstanding Artists of the 21st Century, Felizola’s total passion and devotion for the Haute Couture style has caused him to fall widely recognized and recipient of multiple prestigious awards, such as “Best Designer of Miami Fashion Week,” awarded twice by Tiffany & Co. for his Privé and Uomo collections, amongst others, such as the “Zanetti Murano Award” in Italy.

In the following evening of Saturday, March 9^th, onlookers will enjoy a high energy performance by multi-platinum American hip hop artist, Taboo, of the Black Eyed Peas, who has sold out across the world with his multi-talented skills as singer, rapper, dancer and DJ.

All-star performances and entertainment from around the world, the action doesn’t stop there. Local charities such as the Irie Foundation will be benefitting from Friday night’s fashion extravaganza to help improve the lives of South Florida’s youth through education and extracurricular opportunities that may otherwise fall outside their reach. Then on Saturday, the Little Dreams Foundation will be receiving proceeds with the aims of fulfilling and offering guidance for the dreams of young talent in their pursuit of music, sports, and the arts.

All those in attendance to the weeklong Cadillac Championship will be automatically invited to general admission of the weekend festivities, and enthusiasts are reminded that youth 18 years of age or younger will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Those not attending the Cadillac Championship may purchase separate VIP tickets for the end of the tournament “Live on the Green 2013 Charity Social Weekend”, to include access to the VIP Lounge Area sponsored by Miami Magazine and full open bar courtesy of Diplomático Rum, Ketel One Vodka, and Johnnie Walker. VIP tickets will also include exclusive access to the after-parties hosted at the Doral Golf & Resort Spa’s prestigious own Bossa Nova Lounge Bar.

About Cadillac

Cadillac, a leading luxury auto brand since 1902, having been responsible in recent years for a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. http://media.cadillac.com

 About the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship

The Cadillac Championship is one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.  In addition to the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, the other World Golf Championships include the Accenture Match Play Championship (Arizona, USA), the Bridgestone Invitational (Ohio, USA) and the HSBC Champions (China).  The Cadillac Championship is broadcast to approximately 800 million households in 224 countries and territories in 31 languages outside of the United States.  Proceeds from the Cadillac Championship primarily benefit The First Tee of Miami, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, and the City of Doral Parks and Police 4 Kids. The Cadillac Championship has generated more than $9 million for charity since its inception.  The World Golf Championships as a whole have generated more than $39.5 million for charitable causes since the series began in 1999.

For more information on the World Golf Championships—Cadillac Championship and “Live on The Green 2013 Charity Social Weekend”, visit: http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/cadillac-championship.html

VIP Tickets by Ticketmaster https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/pgamex/EN/buy/quickbuy/158

Lanvin

 Double leather is just the sexier version of denim on denim! You might think an outfit with more than one leather piece, isn’t that too much? Well Céline and Hermès proved it with their autumn/winter 2012 collection that it isn’t and it makes the whole look even more sensual!

Jason Wu

Bottega Veneta

Alexander Wang

Katie Eary, London- based designer, created this Spring/ Summer 2013 collection, inspired by Californian streetwear. The collection visually shows off a range of saturated high- impact prints in conjunction with an urban vibe, also summarizing her signature style of “street couture.” The use of black, turquoise, and rich gold in the palette creates for prints that are representative of baroque and ocean-inspired silhouettes. The key texture for the collection is silk, adding a luxe feeling to the season, with garments ranging from button- up shirts to maxi dresses and micro shorts.