My Top 5: 2013 Moments

Top 5: Nicaragua Diseña 2013

so much work, drama, talent, and fun. one of my favorite projects and a growing design incubator that will surely keep getting bigger and better each year. 

Top 4: Shantall Lacayo

this year we participated in events and meetings in Panama, Dominican Republic, New York, Mexico and obviously Nicaragua. it will take many more years to get to where we want to go...we are constantly inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's insatiable drive of ever changing work and in my case, women like Jenna Lyons and Aliza Licht inspire me to stay focused.

Top 3: Pre-Fall 2014 - Chanel

Honestly, I don't understand the negative hoopla around this collection. I don't identify myself as a potential Chanel customer but I appreciate the Cowboy/Indian inspiration and their outrageous set. I'm sure I can find a budget friendly high neck prairie blouse somewhere...

Top 2: Queen B

All hail 'Yonce and her dope album.
'Nuf said.




TOP 1: Me, Myself, and I

Despite losing my best friend to a drunk driver in New York in July. I returned to NY with a heavy heart in August after ND13 for SL's first NY show. While my bff's mom and brother wished me well, they also wished me safety. I was afraid and felt alone. But I kept my head up and worked hard - because I know she would have wanted that. She never wanted me to give up - more over, be happy. And NY in some twisted way made me happy. The hustle & lights motivate me to keep going and shine on - from the quick steps New Yorkers take everyday to and from work in chilling weather, to running along the Hudson and leaving it all behind for a drink or two at happy hour at the irish pub next to the office building. I have no doubt I'm built to make it in NY but I can't stop to think, Family First. Although, I was offered a temp job late Sept. and was given the chance to experience food, wine and spirits public relations - I'll be taking my talents to South Beach to be closer to home & family. I live and love my life but I love my family even more. 2013 gave me strength .... I wonder what I'll get in 2014.

Mis Top 5: Momentos ND 2013

Top #1 Momento en Nicaragua Diseña 2013

- todo el publico nacional e internacional y diseñadores enamorados de la ex-participante a Miss Teen, Tishany Brown - en especial para la pasarela de Olman Castillo -

Top #2 Momento en Nicaragua Diseña 2013

- WTF!? ese bolso es una replica directa de los bolsos hula-hoop de la colección Spring Summer 2013 de Chanel :/ pero si ame la mayoria de la colección. no sabia que este diseñador de misses era bueno. los detalles de bordado hecho en Masaya eran hermosos. Colección: Carlos Rene Cruz -

Top #3 Momento en Nicaragua Diseña 2013

- se cae o no se cae el detalle? esta y otra modelo un poco estresada que se cayera el detalle en oro del busto - por cierto 1 de mis favoritos looks de los diseñadores emergentes. Colección: Engel Valle -

Top #4 Momento en Nicaragua Diseña 2013

- amoooooooooooo el look completo de la diseñadora! are you wearing THE Valentino studded pumps? Colección: ESTEFAN de Estefania Lacayo -

Top #5 Momento en Nicaragua Diseña 2013

- esta modelo no sabe modelar con bolsos. el pobre bolso estaba volando por todos lados. q mal porque el bolso HC por Haydee Callejas esta precioso. Colección: MISS B de Claudia Bolt

Fotografia: Jorge Mejia
Fotografia: Julio Rosales

Update: Life of PR Girl

sorry, i've been mad busy since like june. i moved to nicaragua for a few months to help out for nicaragua disena and the project was a hit! lots of drama, new designers, new press and designer friends and much more. nd13 was probably one of the most exhausting but satisfying projects i've ever been a part of. handling ever single contact for general info to late designer arrivals hours before their show and model cancellations. no one has a clue but nicaragua HAS design and model talent. dear buyers, you need to plan a trip to nicaragua, perhaps for nd14.

i've also been meaning to share a little shopping. nd13 was the place to be for unique pieces. my mom snagged a geo designs necklace by Georgina Vargas and i picked up these earrings by Karla Castillo. KC presented a small collection titled Oceanica. the details of my earrings are beyond real - they were created with the beach sand and stones found on the pacific shoreline..to be specific at Poneloya beach. another favorite (but not a purchase) was the turtle bracelet; check it out on her fan page and look book album. her oceanica collection was inspired by the ocean's depth, animals, textures and coral reef colors.

felicidades KC! sigue adelante!!

Fotografia: Silvio Balladares

Collection: Oceanica

Designer: Karla Castillo

Nationality: Nicaragua

and now i am back in ny. hustlin and trying to get a new pr / social media gig. thank God, i found an apartment in record time - 3 days. and was able to dedicate myself to the 2nd august project, shantall's debut in ny. shout out to latina magazine, iman cosmetics and my friends for supporting the event we were a part of. and now its post event time. pitching day n night, trying to get editors to see shantall's ss14 work for future stories. dear editors, why don't we try something new...like supporting real emerging designers. designers who are struggling and trying to make a name for themselves. i don't think prada or versace need more covers or spreads. perhaps, your research team should scout undiscovered talent so these designers can keep things going for a possible buyer meeting. it's not easy to meet with buyers if you are 'no one', pay to be a part of trade shows and produce mass production especially with this new 'buyer/consignment' trend. small boutiques and online stores aren't buying but they want to change our collections fabric for their potential clients and for us to have merchandise. how is a designer going to have merchandise, if NO money is coming in. so, help these designers land opportunities with your "Must Have" or "Get to Know this Emerging Designer" features. press gets the word out to stylists, celebs, and potential real buyers. i'm sure LV will continue to buy ad space, so i'm sure you can manage to include emerging designers. just sayin.

- anyways - the ss14 look book we created is by far the best we have ever created. it's a little booklet that opens up like a train map (however not as gigantic as the nyc mta map). props to the model, miss teen, rebecca and our photographer, erick monterrosa; who made it happen. check out the ss14 look book on the shantall lacayo facebook fan page.

Modelo: Rebecca Bonilla
Fotografia: Erick Monterrosa
Cabello y Maquillaje: Carlos Corrales
Estilista: Gabriel Moncayo
Asistente: Magdalena Navarro
Direccion Artisitica: Shantall Lacayo
Local: Hotel Dario, Granada, Nicaragua

Fab Friday: ESTEFAN "Dark Romance" look book

from accessories designer to fashion designer, Estefania Lacayo names her latest ESTEFAN collection "Dark Romance" and brings forth intriguing elegance with sheer black lace cocktailwear and effortless seduction with attention seeking tulle cut-outs. the palette, the edgy black and white looks, and the black leather all capture the concept of faint love. 

however, what confuses me are the colorful candy striped pieces from her May show?

if you missed her "Dark Romance" collection debut back in May, be sure not to miss it at Nicaragua Diseña 2013.

ESTEFAN Lookbook Colection I-13 ''Dark Romance''

Models: Megan Abbott, Cherry Cherrita
Hair: Max Salon | carlos corrales
MakeUp: Alejandro Ayon
Photography: Carlos Berríos
Location: Hotel Granada Nicaragua

NewsWorthy: Nicaragua Diseña 2013

i gotta give it to my assistant last year, Andrea. working ND really does kick your ass and we are at 3 weeks from the event. from press release writing, casting models, tv interviews, designer meetings, updating social media, answering 200 emails a day from prospective models, artists, sponsors - all while making sure my other clients and main boss, Shantall are also being taken care of. 

still don't know what Nicaragua Diseña is? in short, it is a design incubator sponsored by the Nicaraguan Tourism Board (INTUR) that showcases emerging designers. The Shantall Lacayo team works along INTUR as consultants. 

how does it work? it's a mix of CFDA Fashion Fund except we don't give awards or 100K - Trade Shows except you don't pay for an exhibition space - and MILK MADE NYC, you don't pay for runway, beauty, model production and at the end of the day it all starts with a designer application. Creative Artists (fashion, photographers, architects, culinary, interior design, accessories, innovative objects, etc etc) send their portfolios and the ND team selects the most innovative and fresh talent in Nicaragua. Not only can Nicaraguans apply but Nicaraguan residents as well.

last year, I worked ND12 (pilot event) from NYC but this year, I decided to come back home since it was such a hit and an incredible experience.

so far, the highlight of ND13 has been calling the applicants and telling them they were selected. their happiness melted my heart.

don't miss Nicaragua Diseña 2013 this Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, 4th!

Equipo casting de modelos Nicaragua Diseña 2013!

Gracias a todos los talentos Nicas que llegaron e hicieron su mejor esfuerzo, NUNCA dejen de seguir sus suenos.

Karla Cuadra eventos #CMC #INTUR Shantall Lacayo - Diseño, Moda y Arte Textil team!

Gracias por la foto Diego! — with Silvio Rodriguez Chamorro, Alicia Beatrice, Gabriel Ruiz, Karla Cuadra, Alex Miller and Kelvik Pineda.

Producción: Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo INTUR y Shantall Lacayo - Diseño, Moda y Arte Textil
Modelos: Jonieth O'Neill & Andres Molina
Fotografía: Erick Monterrosa Fotografía
Maquillaje: Alejandro Ayon
Peinado: Max Salon | carlos corrales
Diseño Gráfico: Gabriel Ruiz

Behind the Scenes:

Parallel Universe: Gucci and Vicente Castellon

before there was Vicente Castellon (Nicaraguan designer) there was Frida Giannini of Gucci - but before anyone saw the RTW 2013 collection by Gucci at Milan, we saw Vicente Castellon's SS13 collection debut at Nicaragua Diseña back in October 2012. great designers, think alike! no copyright issues here. #JustSayin

VC's subtle palette ss13 collection was inspired by an 70's Nicaraguan socialite (whom he rather not name) and Giannini's collection featured brighter Spring colors paging Marella Agnelli and Marisa Berenson. however, they both seemed to be inspired by the late 60s and early 70s and closed their collections with white provocative V-neck gowns and dramatic sleeves.

which ss13 collection do you like?

Models:

Gucci, Anja Rubik and Yulia Kharlapanova

Vicente Castellon, Nancy Lopez and Xiomara Blandino

Photos: 

Gucci, Style.com

Vicente Castellon, Jorge Mejia Peralta and Silvio Balladares

Get to Know: Alejandro Ayon

de donde salio Alejandro Ayon? bueno yo lo conoci por Andrea (mi super asistente para Nicaragua Diseña) - bueno no nos hemos conocido porque no estoy en nicaragua pero igual que todos los otros, estoy obsesionada e impresionada y soy una nueva fan de su trabajo. he's exactly what nicaragua needs, Bold Androgyny. and he's our up and coming blogger, make up artist, model, and what next? well we will have to wait and see ;)

his work is impeccable and i can't wait to meet him personally. so who is Alejandro Ayon?

Cual Make Up Artist profesional / internacional te inspira?

Ahorita, una de mis inspiraciones mas grandes es Val Garland. Es una de esas personas que si estas en el mismo cuarto que ella, you just shut up and listen hahaha. Aparte de eso me fascina que trabaja de una manera impecable desde beauty hasta avant garde, y su trabajo siempre es crisp e imposiblemente simetrico.

La ultima cancion que bajastes para el Ipod?

Lo ultimo que baje fue Lotus de Christina Aguilera (el album completo) that leaked like 2 days ago! Cuando salga oficialmente lo voy a comprar si, lo prometo!!!

Si no fueras Make Up Artist, serias?

Si no fuera Makeup Artist probablemente habria seguido trabajando en fotografia o hubiera estudiado Psicologia.

Cual fuerza de naturaleza te consideras: Agua, Fuego, Tierra o Aire?

Es muy dificl escoger solo uno, diria que una combinacion entre agua, fuego y aire (is that even possible?). Como un pokemon legendario, Mew para ser mas especifico.

Tu revista de moda favorito?

Tengo que confesar que no sigo revistas de moda especificas, no me gusta estar caught up in trends. En mi RSS Feed tengo a todas las revistas de moda mas grandes y a unas cuantas independientes, y leo muchos Fashion Blogs. Prefiero poder ver y disfrutar diferentes perspectivas, me da una imagen mas grande y no tan segmentada de lo que esta pasando en la industria.

Persona quien deseas maquillar?

Hay muchas... Off the top of my head puedo decir que me fascinaria maquillar a Daphne Groeneveld, Stav Strashko, Lana del Rey y Valeria Lukyanova.

Stav Strashko

Daphne Groeneveld

Valeria Lukyanova

Que falta en Nicaragua para el desarollo de tu carrera?

Para el desarrollo de mi carrera en Nicaragua falta mucho y esa es una de las razones por las cuales decidi quedarme por un tiempo en el pais, para tratar de ayudar con el desarrollo de el campo. Lo primero que se necesita es que la gente en mi campo empiece a respetar su profesion, porque muchos no entienden la importancia de el trabajo de un Makeup Artist. Tambien mucha gente trabaja de gratis o por menos de lo justo, y sin dinero no puede haber educacion y otras cosas fundamentales. Lo ultimo es lo atrasada que esta la cultura del maquillaje en Nicaragua, es casi inexistente, se usan tecnicas de hace decadas y no hay innovacion.

LIKE and Get To Know Alejandro Ayon on his facebook fan page

Get to Know: Vicente Castellon

when i moved back to nicaragua last year, my mission was to create a new circle of fashionista friends - one of those new friends was (is) Vicente Castellon. in one word, CLASSIC. he evokes, defines, and designs Class. we have grown to be great friends and although i'm in nyc, we constantly chat via watsapp, twitter, facebook, and skype! so please meet, my dear friend, VC.

Cual diseñador internacional te inspira?

Muchos porque tengo un gusto variado por los estilos y las modas! Por su historia Gabrielle Chanel, por su estilo: Oscar de la Renta, por la propuesta: Cristóbal Balenciaga, por lo glamouroso y exquisito: Valentino, por lo vanguardista: Christian Dior, por lo atrevido: Versace, por muchas mas cosas: Etro, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Proenza Shouler, Narciso Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera, YSL, DVF...

La ultima cancion que bajastes para Ipod?
Acabo de bajar para mi música favorita: A girl like you, de Edwin Collins, me parece excéntrica, inspiradora y eléctrica!

Cual fuerza de naturaleza te consideras: Agua, Fuego, Tierra o Aire?
Me identifico con el elemento Tierra por la estabilidad, realidad y practicismo.

Favorito video en youtube?
Cualquiera que me llame la atención, tengo un amplio espacio en mi mente para disfrutar las películas, anuncios, vídeos musicales, vídeos humorísticos o documentales que podes encontrar en este portal electrónico.

Cual seria tu disfraz de Halloween?
Ammm spiderman, si tuviera esa tonificación en el cuerpo! Jajaja

Quien consideras un(a) revolucionario(a) en el mundo de la moda?
Revolucionario en la moda : muchas cosas! El uso no convencional de los textiles en la aplicación a la realidad de una prenda, las formas experimentales en el patronismo y molderia, el desapego al carácter comercial que hace dependiente a un creativo de la moda, la sensibilidad a los cambios sociales que acompañan y obligan a la moda a convertirse cada día en una opción reinventada de la humanidad, me parece extraordinario como los patrones y paradigmas de la sociedad se amoldan a las modas y viceversa, me llama mucho la atención como la música, la economía y la política se vuelven tan influyentes por medio de la moda en todos nosotros, tanto diseñadores como consumidores de las propuestas, revolucionario es romper las reglas establecidas y replantearse nuevas formas de creación que retan al mundo y lo exponen a la polémica, el debate y la critica.

Si no fueras diseñadora, serias? Psicólogo o bailarín de ballet... Amo el arte y en las dos es un arte desarrollarse.

(Nicaragua Diseña 2012)

(Nicaragua Diseña 2012)

my lastest, my favorite

piece from the VC spring summer 2013 collection

check out his fan page Vicente Castellon

follow him on twitter @VCdeVC

Get to Know: ESTEFAN

It's been weeks since I've truly dedicated some time to my dear ol' blog. So I emailed a few of my Nicaraguan designer friends some silly questions so we can get to know them a little better. first up, new bag lady designer, Estefania Lacayo. Lacayo's label ESTEFAN has been blowing up a storm in Nicaragua with her debut collection 'POP ART' which reminds me of lip-inspired pieces by DVF, Charlotte Olympia and specially Solange Azagury-Partridge. she is definitely one to watch for (as were all the designers/exhibitors of Nicaragua Diseña 2012). Like her stuff? then maybe you should LIKE her facebook fan page ;)

Cual diseñador internacional te inspira?
Me inspiran muchos por el estilo como Victoria Beckham, Chloé, Elie Saab, Raf Simons para Jil Sander y Dior, Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia para Valentino, J.Mendel, Giambattista Valli, Carven... y por la personalidad Coco Chanel 

La ultima cancion que bajastes para Ipod?
Video Games - Lana del Rey

Si no fueras diseñadora, serias?
Arquitecta o pintora, no puedo imaginar estar en otro ámbito que no sea el arte.

Cual fuerza de naturaleza te consideras: Agua, Fuego, Tierra o Aire?
A pesar de ser signo de tierra, me gusta mucho el agua, porque corre en todo, nutre y fluye sin presión.

Tu bloguero de moda favorito?
Me encanta tu blog, saber de tu mundo alla y siempre con un pie en Nicaragua, tambien me gusta el de Garance Dore.

Link: http://www.garancedore.fr/

Cual fue tu disfraz de Halloween?
No soy fan del Halloween pero si de los disfraces, y me encanta disfrazarme de los 50-60's o de gata.

Quien consideras un(a) revolucionario(a) en el mundo de la moda?
Definitivamente Coco Chanel, me encanta la seguridad en si misma, su coraje para seguir y su entrega al trabajo, ademas de que sin su estilo e ideas las mujeres de su época hubieran usado por mucho mas tiempo ropa incomoda.

 

 

(Nicaragua Diseña 2012)

(my favorite Raf Simons for Jil Sander collection

Spring Summer 2011 Milan)

Nicaragua Diseña

Visit the website for contact details, application process, requirements, and general info

http://nicaraguadisena.com/

Nicaragua Diseña 2012

The Nicaraguan Tourism Board and Nicaraguan designer, Shantall Lacayo join forces in search of Nicaraguan designers and artists to participate in the first official design fair dedicated to Nicaraguan innovative design, “Nicaragua Diseña 2012” which translates to Nicaragua Designs 2012. The fair’s objective is to offer new generations of artists and independent designers an opportunity to showcase their diverse innovations and trends at a cultural and creative incubator to a general and international public.

“NICARAGUA Diseña 2012” will be an event completely dedicated to the support and promotion of Nicaraguan creativity in order to attract potential international buyers. During these two days, the audience will be able to enjoy a design incubator that explores diverse stems of creativity while culturally indulging themselves with new ideas and trends in the fashion design, architecture, furniture, visual art, and much more. This event will be a platform for the top Nicaraguan emerging and independent artists, design institutes and businesses. The fair will encourage the consumption of designs labeled as “designed and made in Nicaragua” and showcase the best Nicaraguan workmanship quality as well as their artistic potential. The fair’s target market will extend to trend makers, business investors, press, design professionals, potential clients, celebrities, universities, buyers, and general public.  “NICARAGUA Diseña 2012” will set Nicaragua apart as a potential and multi-faceted country not only in Latin America but internationally through the exhibition of young and modern talented entrepreneurs.

“NICARAGUA Diseña 2012” has currently started and will conclude the reception of applications by August 30th, 2012. The following design categories are being summoned: Fashion design, Accessories, Shoes, Architecture, Gardening, Furniture, Contemporary design, Art, Textile design, and Digital design. 

This event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Convention Center in Managua on October 21 – 22, 2012. 

General questions can be addressed to the e-mail: info@shantalllacayo.com.

ARE YOU NICARAGUAN?

YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

EMAIL US!