The Sobe Look

Ultimate Guide to Swim Week

Health and Beauty in the fashion industry

Rachael RusselMiami's IT girl talks saving style

Fashion Weekspring ready to wear 2016

The Sobe Look

Rachael RussellMiami's IT girl


An interview with one of the top stylists in Miami. Her non-profit, Style Saves, puts on a fashion show every year during Miami Swim week.

A feature that serves as a guide as to what to wear during Swim Week in Miami.

Fashion Weekspring RTW 2016Three collection reviews that cover the Versace, Chloe, & Elie Saab Spring RTW shows.

Miami Swim Weeka week of fashion under the sunA Miami Swim Week 2016 feature focused on three of the top designers: Mara Hoffman, Maaji Swimwear, and Maxim Magazine.

Health and Beauty in the fashion industryA Miami Swim Week 2016 feature focused on three of the top designers: Mara Hoffman, Maaji Swimwear, and Maxim Magazine.

Editors NoteIf you plan your year around Miami Swim week then this magazine is for you. When I first began planning out my ideas for The Sobe Look, I knew that there lacked a magazine that zeroed in on all things Miami fashion. The Sobe Look exists primarily to give women the ability to get straight to the source of Miami fashion coverage.

Some people go crazy for color changing leaves and snow covered roofs, but for us its all about sunny South Florida. For the Miami fashion woman, The Soh Look exists, as a guide for your everyday fashion needs. From Miami Swim week to what to wear to Art Basel Miami, we will give you all the 411 you need.

In this issue, we are featuring all things Miami Swim week. As the rest of the world is approaching fall, it is still in the 90s in Miami and that means we can still get away with wearing summer fashion. You will find trend reports, reviews of designer’s collections, and a special feature of one of our top Miami stylists, Rachael Russell. Discover Swim week 2016’s most exciting new pieces within our pages. Allow us to be your inspiration for fashion on and off the runway.

Alexis Silverberg

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Health &

Beautyin t he fa s h i o n i ndu s t r y

It’s no secret how controversial fashion models’ figures have become. Some people aspire to look the way models look, thin and “bikini ready”, and others are shaking their fingers at the negative message skinny models are sending to women and young girls. Interestingly enough, I can understand both sides of the argument. On one hand, you can’t assume that a model is “unhealthy” just because they are skinny. However, at what point does it take a person to notice that the frail looking model clearly shouldn’t be walking the runway? With so many new models representing what a real woman’s body looks like, there shouldn’t continue to be models like Isabella Caro walking the runway. She was a French model who died at the age of 28 from anorexia. It wasn’t her fault that she has this disorder, but she still wasn’t somebody that young girls should’ve been looking up to. Models like Gigi Hadid should be the model that girls are aspiring to be. She sends the message that not all women have to be scary skinny to be considered runway ready.

We should be taking steps towards saving models’ lives instead of using them for fashion despite the health risks. Many questions arise when this topic comes to attention. What makes somebody healthy? Is it their BMI or their weight? Can you tell if somebody is healthy just by looking at them? These are questions that might have answers, but they aren’t as black and white as you might think. The controversial uproar is one that will probably never die down. Ultimately, underweight and overweight models shouldn’t be walking the runway because it doesn’t send a message that promotes health. Models are role models to many women and young girls even if they don’t intend to be. In my opinion, it isn’t correct to say that the way a beautiful model looks will contribute to eating disorders. However, it is true that how a model looks will affect how a young girl feels about herself, which could later lead to an eating disorder.

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With so many companies and brands continuing to hire underweight models, how can we bring about change? We need to change the idea that a certain image needs to be upheld. Models are supposed to be a certain size to be considered runway ready, however, if this was true how are more and more regular size models being signed? Do models have to suffer for us to get the message across? We need to be on board with the message, “Health over fashion” even if this means banning models from the runway who are under or over a certain BMI or weight. A model can be beautiful thin and plus size, what ultimately matters is their health on the inside. We should be looking to models that represent real women in the world. For those who cannot provide this inspiration, we need to give them the chance by getting them help. It is a difficult thing to accept, but if we don’t bring about change, models will continue to suffer which in turn will affect the fashion industry and their followers.

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RussellRachaelBuilding conf idence

through style

“Miami style is resort wear all year around. Here in South F lorida, anything is acceptable. From bright colors during fall to prints during the winter,

anything goes in Miami.”

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RussellRachael

The fifth anniversary of Style Saves’ Swim Week fashion show aimed to raise money for back to school clothing for underprivileged children.

At 28, the Miami local is the most talked about stylist and philanthropist in Miami Beach. As found-er of non-profit, Style Saves, Rachael Russell is the fashion’s IT girl everybody aspires to be.

“Miami style is resort wear all year around. Here in South Florida, anything is acceptable. From bright colors during fall to prints during the winter, any-

thing goes in Miami.” –Rachael Russell

She started her career in New York City working for Vogue and Tatler magazines, as a Styling Assistant. Soon after, she moved to Miami and began working as a local and international stylist. Soon after, she became Ford Models’ Talent artist better known as their Fashion Stylist.

We had a unique opportunity to sit down with Rachael Russell for a small Q and A to learn more about her background, inspiration, and how she manages to balance it all.

Who is Rachael Russell?I am a Talent Artist signed with Ford Models. I have always had a creative eye for styling and hope to continue this as my career in the future. I have styled many celebs for cover shoots with Plum magazine, Miami Magazine, and Indulge. Along with these ventures, I do lifestyle and wardrobe styling, which I primarily enjoy. Along with this I manage my non-profit, Style Saves, which provides back to school clothes for underprivileged children.

Current title/company: Founder of Style Saves & Ford Models’ Fashion StylistEducational background (school, training, majors, degrees, etc.): Fashion Merchandising BA from MIU of Art and Design, an A.S. in Business Administration from Johnson and Wales and a B.A. in Marketing from Johnson & Wales. She also studied at the prestigious Domus Academy in Milan.

Does what you studied in school apply to your current job? If not, where did you learn the skills you use at work?

With the help of her team, Style Saves became a reality. Every year during Miami Swim Week they put together a fashion show to raise funds. Just this past July, during their fifth anniversary show, they were able to raise enough money to clothe and accessorize 2,000 children for back to school. Rachael’s success has been an uphill climb from the beginning. She continues to achieve everything she has aspired to have. Known as Miami’s “Stylist Extraordinaire,” Rachael is the girl everybody is talking about.

I am around clothes all day long with Style Saves and in my career as a stylist. I studied Fashion Merchandising so it helped me learn a lot about planning, visual merchandising, and the business side of the fashion industry. I am able to manage my own non-profit because of my marketing and business background.

How do you balance your day job and your non-profit?I have learned to balance my calendar with styling shoots and non-profit meetings and events. Most of the year with Style Saves we are brainstorming and working in office so it doesn’t interfere with my daily job.

How did you go about starting Style Saves?It wasn’t until I took my two little brothers back to

As a “stylist extraordinaire” why did you leave Vogue to come work in Miami?Working for Vogue was a great experience and one that I will never forget, but NYC was not for me. Growing up in Jersey, I always thought that my fashion career would be in New York. However, the weather, the small apartment, and the “barely making minimum wage job” was not enough to keep me there. I knew it was my moment to make a change and I haven’t looked back.

How would you like to see your career/business evolve over the next five years? In the next five years, I hope to grow as a stylist internationally and to expand Style Saves to many more countries. I would like to see myself styling A-list celebs from all around the world and branding myself similar to the likes of Rachel Zoe.

As a wardrobe and lifestyle stylist, she styles for various advertising campaigns, magazine covers, and magazine features. She has worked with clients among the likes of Indulge Magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Russell is not only a stylist, she is also a philanthropist at heart. She founded her own non-profit organization, Style Saves. Style Saves exists to provide new clothing, shoes, accessories, and prescription glasses to underprivileged children locally and internationally. In July of 2011, Style Saves was born. The organization began as a local organization that was only able to clothe 100 children. Now four years later, they were able to clothe 2,000 children and Style Saves has become a local and international organization. Rachael Russell was inspired to start this non-profit organization after taking her younger brothers back to school shopping. school shopping that I realized not every little kid has

the opportunity to do that. Therefore, I wanted to start a non-profit that would provide children with the ability to get new clothes, accessories, and even eyewear.

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Tassle dress, Roses & Dreams, price upon request, visitrosesanddreams.com.

Our Ultimate Guide to Swim Week is filled with fashion tips, recommended destinations, and different

pieces to take on the beach, swim week events, and days out on the pier. These women are ready to take on the most fashionable week of the year and they cannot wait

to share all their favorites!


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Maxi dress, Rue La La,Jewelry, Misc.,Sandals, Lucky Brand,price upon request.

Swimsuit bottoms, Zingara Swimwear, swimsuit top, Body Glove, cover up,Jessica Simpson, Jewelry, Misc.,Beach Bag, Needsupply.com, price upon request.

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Swimsuit top, Billabong,Maxi skirt, Rue La La, Sunglasses, Dior,Wedges, Jessica Simpson

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Top, Nordstrom,Printed shorts, Rue La La, Sunglasses, Dior,Wedges, Jessica Simpson

Miami Swim Week

spring 2016ready to wear

Every year during Miami Swim Week, Miami resembles a one of a kind swimsuit editorial. Tanned models in barely-there bathing suits make their way from fashion shows to parties throughout Miami Beach. Designers launch their 2016 beachwear collections through Swim Show, Funkshion and Swim Miami. Despite IMG dropping out of the week’s events this year, Swim Week came in with a bang and was as successful as ever before. There were different shows in various locations throughout South Beach and they were actually more relaxed and laid-back like a tropical vacation should be. Designers prepped for Swim Week just the same as any other year. Veteran designer, Mara Hoffman, delivered an anticipated outrageous swimwear line for spring 2016, Maaji Swimwear, decided upon a boho theme that included trunks, vests, caps, just to name a few, and some newbies also played the field. Maxim Magazine, showed its first ever swimwear collection inspired by Briggite Bardot. From the veteran to the brand new, it’s time to review our favorite designers of the season. This season designers focused on exotic and sexy to retro and embellished. All were appropriate for a tropical vacation considering the setting of South Florida. The hair and makeup looks were also warm weather ready with high ponies, soft waves, and braids. Some of the top trends seen on the runway were, high wasted suits, jewelry sewn into beachwear, retro, and embellished one pieces; just to name a few. With so many designers and themes, some of our favorites were, Mara Hoffman, Maaji Swimwear, and Maxim magazine. The setting for the Mara Hoffman show was Casa Casuarina, which used to be the Versace mansion. Considering the veteran status of Hoffman, this was one of the most anticipated shows of Swim Week. Guests were transported to the country of Morocco with inspiration from the materials, art, and culture of Morocco. Hoffman said, “I was just so in love with the time that Yves Saint Laurent spent at the Majorelle Gardens; it was the most beautiful garden in Marrakesh and he eventually bought it in 1980. I just loved that aesthetic and style,” Many of the pieces in her collection contained graphic prints and chevron. There were banana leaf prints, black and white chevron, as well as pastel covered kaftans and harem pants. Peacock prints and desert flowers also embellished high-waisted bikinis. While the models walked the runway, guests sipped on Moroccan rum iced tea enjoying the show under the stars and Moorish inspired lights. With a much different theme, the Maaji show delivered a mix of athleisure wear and swimwear. The show entitled, Rhapsody Road, was inspired by the idea of a road trip without a destination. The designer’s for the Maaji show were Juliana Londoño, Nani Valenzuela, and Andrea Gomez. The show had a lot of attention to detail, which is one thing that made it so successful. The collection was filled with various different colors such as, lime green, sapphire, grey, neon and bubblegum pink, lilac, violet, yellow and orange. The swimwear was worn with floppy hats and flower crowns giving a nod to the laidback, road trip vibe. The summer road trip wouldn’t be complete without fringe, booties, and a mix of patterned swimwear.

The accessorizes were what really finished all the looks. Each model carried down what looked like camping materials and sports equipment. Some of the accessories included, camping knapsacks and canteens, backpacks, tennis rackets, and guitars. The sportswear included on the runway could be for activities like hiking, yoga, tennis, and all over athletic wear for the gym. This show was full of dancing and lots of nostalgia of your last summers as a kid. The show that kept us in anticipation all year was the Maxim Magazine runway show. A never before seen swimwear collection is one to be excited for. Maxim launched their collection at the SLS Hotel during Miami Swim Week. Wanting a fresh start in the brand evolution, Kate Lanphear, editor-in-chief of Maxim Magazine, is trying to lead the brand in a new direction. When many think Maxim they think “men’s magazine.” However, the point of this new collection was to include a design for a girl who would be on a trip with her man and wanted to be comfortable and ready to surf. The collection consisted of pieces that were shades of blue and navy. Mixed in patterns there were slight additions of white, brown, and warmer reds. This collection was inspired by a timeless woman who wants to feel sexy yet comfortable at the same time. There were three thematic elements throughout the show that translated through the clothing. It started with a Bardot inspiration, then a bohemian feel, and lastly, transitioned to a girl next-door style. Some of the girl next-door pieces included gingham prints as well as stripes and floral. The collection sent out the message of emphasizing a woman’s natural beauty. The collection created a style that combined boho chic with girl next-door. After this unexpected collection, Maxim will be and is the brand to follow for next year’s swim show. These three designers are just a small part of what was shown during Miami Swim Week. However, they created some of the largest buzz and shocked everybody with transformative runway shows. From Morocco to the Southwest, these three shows really turned up the heat on the runway. Along with these shows, there were many other events and collections revealed that got people talking. Escape Miami 3 Style Lounge was the most popular event of the week. Put together by the Fashion Poet, Annie Vazquez, the show was a hit. There were guests among the likes of NFL players to reality stars although anybody could attend with an RSVP to the invitation. There were sponsored booths that had attractions like lash extensions, henna tattoos, and even manicures. There is no doubt this is one of the most successful events of the year. Although we have to wait for next July to enjoy Swim’s eventful week, we think 2017 is going to be a year for the books. With IMG back in the Swim Week plans, there will be a greater variety of venues and shows than ever before. Bikini lovers everywhere get ready because Swim Week will be back bigger and better than ever before.

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Fashion Week

ChloeVersace

Elie Saab

Spring 2016

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Gaby Aghion, the founder of Chloé, wanted her brand to represent “luxury prêt-à-porter.” Prêt-à-porter is a French phrase that simply means ready-to-wear. The S/S 2016 runway show gave us a glimpse of how Claire Waight Keller is channel-ing Aghion’s original vision through a 90s lens. What was old is new again! Chloé is a brand known for its romantic and feminine pieces. This year they kept the romanticism alive, but instead of a softer looking runway, they paired romance with athleti-cism. Throughout this collection, Waight grasped the essence of spring in the 90s with simplicity. She explained at the show that, “she grew up around models, photographers, and performers. However, everything back then was much more simple.” Waight felt as though fashion had lost its innocence, which is why in this collection, she brought back the pleasure and simplicity that fashion can bring. Keeping the element of ease in this new collection, she in-troduced playful pieces in a very literal way. She introduced tracksuit separates, denim on denim, mini dresses, overalls, and Chloe’s signature white lace dress. Waight tried some-thing new this year while still keeping the signature of the Chloé brand. She did athleisure for this collection and she did it well. The familiarity of the show was in the festival pieces, the lacy miniskirts, but it never lost its 90s feel. The denim on denim pieces were oversize and distressed. The ultimate 90s looks were the overall pieces. Even MC hammer pants made an appearance, which is really different for Chloé. With every fashion era, the 90s are coming back and Waight excelled at bringing a bit of it into this new collection. The creative director, Clare Waight Keller, stripped the pieces of any over done styling. She made sure that each piece could stand on its own without added accessories except for a small clutch bag that accompanied some of the looks and the gladiator sandals. By making the show mainly about the clothes, attendees were able to focus on the construction and tailoring which was superb. The added design in the shoes was subtle enough to not be the main focus of the look. However, it added just what the looks needed to deliver a stronger all over look. Ultimately, the main focus was on the ease of the col-lection, which truly echoed through the clothes. Sometimes it is about having a keen eye for editing and deciding what it is about the piece that would stand out in a collection.

Chloe

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Versace“This collection was made for International Women’s Day,” said Donatella Versace.

From a youthful pop runway last year to a more authoritative figure clad in military jackets and sequin mini dresses this year, her collections never cease to impress. Versace women for this collection remained urban, sophisticated, and fearless. She focused on female empowerment and its strong undercurrent was felt through the entire runway show. When you visualize Donatella Versace, an image comes to mind of a bold, confident, and sexual women. She is both a designer and an epitome. Versace’s Spring 2016 collection offered viewers the universal choice: self-confidence is always in vogue. The pieces were in-line with the brand’s identity, yet it is the practical pieces that really made it feel updated and modern. Out of all the pieces in this collection the top three stand out pieces were the belted army green blazer, the multicolored mini dress with overlapping straps and the high slit, cut out, one shoulder black dress. These three pieces really emulated the essence of a “Warrior Woman.” The first piece was a great representation of the military trend and its simplicity was apparent. Throughout the collection there was a cinching element to all the clothes. This is reiterated in this piece with the embellished belt that added a “wow” element to the look. The second piece was a standout because of the sky-high slit and the open cut out in the front of the gown. Being the only full-length black gown, it adds a certain elegance to the show. This is a piece you would put on and feel ready to conquer the night. The last piece is the mini dress that Gigi Hadid was sporting. Her multicolored minidress clung to her beautiful frame as she walked gracefully down the runway. This leggy piece had a definite empowering aesthetic for any woman. Donatella named some of the pieces similar to this one: Fierce. Legs for days is the perfect phrase to describe the Versace 2016 runway show. 7-inch platform heels and none other than the Versace luxury handbags walked down the runway. The platform sandals were a representation of strength and empowerment similar to the symbol of Versace that adorned all the handbags. The accessories were not necessarily the focal point of the show, but they pumped up all the garments emphasizing a literal form of female empowerment. The sequin/lace mini dresses with slits were at the forefront of the runway for me. They were balanced out though with animal print pant separates and military inspired jackets. The majority of these pieces are ready for a night out on the town. However, the military inspired jackets are perfect for day to night look. Perfect ensemble for a power lunch on the go with friends or colleagues. Donatella chose her models like you might choose a pair of Louboutins –strategically and with laser precision. The look (or the shoe) either fits or it doesn’t. She needed a group of models that could back up her message of female empowerment. Women like Gigi Hadid and Caroline Trentini felt at home on the Versace runway. Donatella’s show was different than most. Unlike most military collections, she didn’t just use army print and bomber jackets. Her pieces stood out with green and white animal print, military jacket dresses, and floral looks for spring. Her looks exuded power and allure. 24 25

Elie Saab Elie Saab achieved the perfect “day to night” collection with his spring/summer 2016 show. His collection featured pieces that resembled femininity with a bit of an edge. From the sights of Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, it looks like Saab is ready to approach the younger target market. With this he introduced flats with every look and many mature youthful looks throughout the collection. From floor length high low and maxi dresses, tailored jackets paired with separates, and mini sheer dresses, Saab delivered a spring collection that added a certain newness to his already A+ designs. Saab stayed true to his name with this collection. Al-though he strayed from sequins and red carpet ready designs, his pieces were “on the mark” representations of femininity and romance. From collar bows to sandals with long lace dresses, Saab perfected his take on ready to wear daytime. One of the standout looks was the black sheer chiffon and lace dress that Gigi Hadid donned on the runway. With its thin collar bow, deep plunging neckline and high slit, it truly brought the whole collec-tion together in one piece. The majority of Saab’s pieces were cut from different types of lace. A floral presence was prominent throughout; from floral lace and floral prints on some of the collar bows to prints embedded into black outlined high low dresses. Of course with spring comes floral prints, but Saab approached the design in a different way. He brought in black lace instead of pastel colored pieces and added abstract floral prints to many of his pieces. Flowers appeared in a way that had never been done previously. He allowed the floral prints to bleed into the black and white out-lines of the gowns/separates. The romantic elements of these pieces represented who he truly is as a designer.

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The Sobe Look

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