Photos: Cathy OBrien/Bay Area Fashionista 2015©

Carmen Marc Valvo showed his fall / winter 2015 / 2016 collection at New York Fashion Week on February 15, 2015 in The Theatre at Lincoln Center. The collection was filled with shades of black, red, white and grey. There were school-yard plaids on gala gowns, bright and cozy furs, and a vibe reminiscent of childhood.

I was fortunate enough to be sitting in the second row for Carmen Marc Valvo’s show at New York Fashion Week; I was especially fortunate since my DSLR wasn’t working at the time and I had to rely on my iPhone to capture these photos. The texture on the fabrics and fur was amazing. Carmen Marc Valvo used the finest cashmere, organza, taffeta, mink, flannel, and wool gauze on his clothing. The details were beautiful and included silver with Shadowplay diamonds, white sapphires, white agate, white quartz, black spinel, bead-work, and more. It was a feast for the eyes, and the collection instantly transported you to a red carpet event, or gala event, where you could wear such finery. 

Carmen Marc Valvo was inspired by school-yard memories for his fall/winter 2015/2016 collection. He included the following poem as part of his inspiration for the show:

“Lasses and Lads

Intartan plaids

Dressed up in the latest fads

Hoping one day to be grads

Lads and lasses

In schoolyard glasses

Skipping rops and

skipping classes

Memories of playground retorts

Being lousy at sports

and too many reports

Mmeories of cheering stadium bleachers

Mean-spirited teachers

And Sunday school preachers

Memories of apples

And school-marms

Mother’s loving arms

And long lost innocent charms”

We will definitely be seeing many of Carmen Marc Valvo’s gowns on the red carpet later this year. To learn more about Carmen Marc Valvo and his work, please visit CarmenMarcValvo.com