As the sun beat down over New York on Thursday, September the 9th, fire was heating up inside Pier 59 Studios as Jerome Lamaar presented his Spring 2017 collection to a select few of industry people.
With high expectations set after an interesting, funkadelic and Bronx street-style party Fall 2016 showing in February, Jerome met all expectations and then some as he assembled his models that bordered on the lines of ethnic blurring, cultural blending, a rich and diverse casting reminiscent of what the fashion industry CAN look like.
Feathers, furs, and flip-flops abounded in a collection consisting of sweet layering pieces. Drapped silhouetted tops and non-form configuring dresses doused in sparkles elegantly coated the models, while cameo and olive greens splashed in with the otherwise neutral collection. 
There were intricate details that made the collection stand out, including a floral embedded white kimono with written words detailed on the back ( I need this in my life). Shoes were fabulously upgraded from simple last-minute decisions to conscious fashion statements; following along with a beach theme of corals and shells, the shoes were woven with crystals and shells that made them pop. Magically, might I add.
Details details details was the clear answer to the question of Jerome’s presentation. With sea-emblazend shoes, other notable accessories included ringed earrings that fell on top of the ears (perhaps his avant-garde nature is the very reason people like Beyonce and Tina Knowles constantly seek out the designer), embellished pants and accessories, and of course his own new spin on the classic 90s choker. 
Jerome’s collection breathed not only freshness and fun into a sometimes dreary showing of presentations during Fashion Week, but his exuding of confidence with attention to detail, blending and meshing of multiple trends that seemingly never go out of style, and his fearlessness to tackling and being unique in his own right are things perhaps we all can and will learn from.
I am so elated to see up and coming talent continue to blossom in a way that breathes live into fashion and makes it enjoyable to view and be a part of. So proud of Jerome and all he has accomplished and all he’s working to do! What do you guys think of the collection? 
