BLODEGA BY THE PERALTA PROJECT — FITOFTHEWEEK

It seems as if it is the 90’s again and the brand to see and be seen in is Gucci!  In addition to “House of Gucci” being one of 2021’s most anticipated movies starring Lady Gaga, the luxury brand took over Hollywood for their first in person show since 2020, “Gucci’s Love Parade”. On November 3rd one block on Hollywood Boulevard showcased not only stars like Jared Leto or Salma Hayek but an array of styles to satisfy whatever your imagination desired. From old Hollywood glam, to cowboy boots, to shorts in the infamous Gucci logo - designer Alessandro Michele did away with the rules of fashion and hit the mark of the current trend of self expression. 

Corsets may be a thing of the past but Netherlands costume designer and makeup artist Joyce Spakman may be able to single handedly bring them back in style. These intricate one of a kind pieces are so strikingly beautiful that without question can be set along side Marie Antoinette’s gowns in a historical museum. These masterpieces came to life during the pandemic when Joyce had the time to create a lightweight version of porcelain and stained glass material. “Porcelain 2.0” as she refers to it, gave her the ability to bring her visions of these glamorous corsets to life and to be wearable. We can already picture our modern day royalty Beyoncé or Lady Gaga adorned in one of her pieces. 

As inclusivity is taking over the fashion industry more and more campaigns, runway shows, and magazine covers are being filled with women with REAL bodies. A London based model from Saint Lucia who is using this and her heavenly looks to her advantage is Skye Lukowski-Standley who was recently featured in “The Muses - A Celebration of Black Women”. This series of portraits by Linda Blacker showcase how black culture, black women, and black femmes have influenced music, art, and fashion but are often not given credit for it. An advocate for self expression, Skye also took part in a Refinery29 article on formulating ones own identity. Look out for this beauty as she is here to make waves. 

Fit of the week goes out to someone who definitely hit it out of the ballpark with our Amazing Corduroy Hat, Alex Cohen, owner of the NY Mets! Thank you for your support Alex! 

There is something magical that happens when art and fashion collide. Living in a time of disposable fashion, where trends are instantly replicated and overdone in a blink of an eye the avant-garde designs of Beate Karlsson are a breath of fresh air. Like the “Tim Burton of fashion”, Beate is the true definition of letting your imagination run wild. Growing up in Stockholm, Beate always liked to create numerous artistic objects with her hands tying in her use of clay for her garment constructions. Moving to N.Y. brought her into the world of fashion setting her apart with her hybrid style of art and design. Her use of extreme proportions and materials, such as silicone and latex, allow her to bring to life pieces like “The Bloody Feet” and “The Claws”. As of most recent, she was part of the team of designers of the iconic looks from the Pyer Moss Fall 2021 Couture show and is the Creative Director of the fashion line based in Florence, AVAVAV. As lovers of people who against the “what’s popular” flow, we’re excited to see what other worlds and designs Beate’s imagination has in store. 

Self expression is in our nature and along with the outfits we choose to wear, our hairstyles are another form of introducing ourselves without saying a word. Gone are the days where colorful hairstyles are looked at as unprofessional and many are embracing this new wave! Two hair salons that are killing the game right now when it comes to artistic hair dyes and styles are The Cut Gallery by Mona Lisa in Brooklyn and Rara Studios NYC in Queens. These hairstylist treat their customers hair like a blank canvas and bring the requested designs to life strand by strand. Styling the heads of celebrities such as Cordae and Lewis Hamilton, you know you will leave The Cut Gallery feeling like a star. Over at Rara Studios NYC, the expertise of hair coloring is so precise that the owner, Dorian Valasquez, created his own dye line, Take Home Color. Go book an appointment, get ready to stand out, and live in color! 

Fit of the week goes out to @adoseofcio giving us all the “Chula” vibes in the BX. If you want to be part of the “Chula” gang yourself, check out two of our latest versions, “La Chula Hoodie” & “Chula (Rhinestone) Crewneck Sweater” available for you to purchase. 

There is nothing like a fresh set to complete a fit. Like the cherry on top of a “fashion” sundae, they are the ultimate accessory to a well put together ensemble. Even though nail art is the current wave, becoming so popular that it is breaking gender barriers, this trend is nothing new. Black & Brown women have been showing off their colorful nails since the 80’s & 90’s (and were criticized for it). Fast forward to 2021 and we all have nail inspos saved on our digital boards. An Afro-Latina killing the nail art game is Ami Vega, manicurist and press on nail artist, who’s creations are not only fashion forward but socially conscience. She also just so happen to have a pop up at our very own Taller Peralta. Her press on nail line, aminails, has a variety of designs inspired by artists, foliage, florals, and pop culture. With sets displaying Victoria Santa Cruz, Selena, and the personal favorite - Latino household staple Agua Florida, Ami truly represents for her cultura through her art.  

Speaking of fashion forward moments, Paris/Milan Fashion week 2021 just took place. Along with the styles and colorways that we will be wearing next year, there were some fresh faces included in the runway mix. One of them being new comer Scarlet Peguero, who is taking Europe by storm. This fellow Dominicana blessed us with her beautiful Afro-Latina features in top designer shows like Fendi, Dior, and MSGM. Walk that walk and show them how its done Scarlet! 

A Bronx native making waves and becoming a staple name in the industry is Dominican creative genius, Renell Medrano. When she is not shooting superstars like Will Smith, Mary J. Blidge, and Jay-Z or modeling herself with that to die for skin of hers, you can find her putting together exhibits that represent her heritage. Her last show in collaboration with WePresent, PAMPARA, was shown in London and displayed a series of photographs of her parents neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic. Via her work, she captured the vibrancy & diversity of the Dominican community. We cannot wait to continue to see Renell rise to the top. 

A recent headline that brought joy to our hearts was that of the newly crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2021, Michelle Marie Colon, who made history by being the one of the very few Afro-Latinas to win the title. The 21-year old pre-med student from Loiza has not only had a successful modeling career but she has also been recognized for her philanthropy receiving the L’Oreal “Woman of Courage” award in the competition. Although we are not for the unrealistic beauty standards set by beauty pageants we are happy to see someone like Michelle represent the marvelous island of Puerto Rico. 

Fit of the week goes out to this curly haired princesa, @nayaisabella, showing off our AFRO-LATINA t-shirt and AFRO-LATINA necklace in the BX. 

The most sought after thing when making a fashion statement is wearing something exclusive,  rare, and hard to find. The De’Alma jewelry line offers that and more. This Dominican owned elegant jewelry line by Brigitte Diaz is hand crafted with rare gemstones only found in the mountains of La Republica Dominicana such as Larimar - a crystal blue healing stones, Amber - an organic gemstone regarded as the stone of courage, and Black Coral - symbolic of regeneration. Wearing a piece of this jewelry is like walking around with a piece of mother nature’s healing powers. A personal favorite is the Dual sided Larimar x Amber Square ring because who doesn’t love a two for one? 

September is not only the beginning of Latin Heritage month but also the month in which Mexico celebrates its official Independence Day! In honor of this, Vogue Mexico’s released a special issue in September named “Iconos de Mexico”, of which the history making Oaxaqueña model, Karen Vega, was a part of. At just 18 years of age, this trail blazer became the fist Oaxaqueña model to make the cover of Vogue Mexico back in July. We love to see it and hope that Vogue and other mainstream editorial magazines follow suit. QUE VIVA MEXICO LINDO Y QUERIDO! 

 Pay no mind to that smoke coming out of your T.V. It’s only due to the hottest, sexiest, most anticipated fashion show that hit our screens on September 23rd, courtesy of our beloved Rihanna. That’s right, Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 is back! This years line up is full of Latino stars like transgender model, actress, dancer, and activist, also known as Wonder Woman, Leiomy Maldonado, Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, and our Boricua baddie BIA whose hit song “Whole Lotta Money” won’t stop playing in our heads. Just the distraction we needed for the fact that we still don’t have a new album from Riri. Our screens are not worthy of all this heat! 

FIT OF THE WEEK goes to this picture perfect drip put together by @mr.r.Ortiz wearing our “YO VISTO ASI” tee, inspired by one of our favorite songs and lines by Bad Bunny, "Me importan mucha' cosa' Pero tu opinión no está en esa lista”! 

The temperature is dropping & the streets are filled with models & influencers serving us looks! NYFW is back and there are a few emerging Latino designers hitting the runways. Dayana León from Venezuela virtually showcasing her sleek yet elegant collection ‘Attraction’, Dominican designer Giannina Azar who has dressed mega-stars like Thalia and Jennifer Lopez, and Samantha Telfair who’s Nuyorican roots are visible in her designs, are a few of the members of the Fashion Designers of Latin America representing our gente this year in NYFW, which ends on September 12th. Go to FDLA.CO for the full list of Latino designers showcased this year.

Speaking of style, we have to show some love to author and stylist Gisela Castillo, who dresses for the Gods! Her eccentric and artistic ensembles leave us floored every time she posts. Step aside Lady Gaga, a true fashion icon is making waves and is here to stay.

If you’re like rapper Bia, putting on all your jewelry just to go to the bodega, Oro De Miel by Fifi has got you covered. Created by Josefina Capellán a.k.a Fifi & partly influenced by 80’s Latino artists who were always decked out in gold jewelry, this gorgeous yet affordable collection will make you feel like a star & the hustler you are.

The Fit of The Week goes to this little cutie shared by rocioatrdcbrand.co killing the game in our New York Summer Snapback. You go girl!