Crashing Fashion Weekend

Our writer walks the walk for Nettie Tiso

By Eavvon O'Neal
Published: February 25th, 2009 | 4:45pm

Every industry that claims New York City as a source of inspiration is very inclusive. Those super sexy socialites are so bomb, and it’s hard to get into that whole scene … or whatever. But while the arms of Manhattan are folded in disdain, Brooklyn’s are always open and welcoming. Believe that. Which brings us to the fabulous extension of NYC’s Fashion Week — Wiliamsburg Fashion Weekend.

The first night of the weekend, Friday, saw the presentations of three designers from the BK in the Glasslands Warehouse gallery. Nettie Tiso’s Nettie & Racecar! Apparel lines, Mandate of Heaven, SDN, Sodafine, and Papusza Couture were the main events, if you can have more than one main event. We’ll say you can for the sake of argument.

I managed to catch the Nettie’s collections from a close, personal vantage point. And by that, I mean I — mere fashion journalist — was asked to walk for Nettie’s line (pauper to prince style, ya’lls). Mandate is the onesie for the bold, Lady Gaga-inspired woman, and worked in a light pallet of pale greens and yellows, but also flipped our expectations with some feather-inspired pieces. Nettie’s male line, Racecar! Apparel is a new interpretation of a classic, earthy American male. Western shirts, with floral patchwork, coupled with rugged worn and comfortable jeans. The pieces, all hand sown, complemented the delicate pieces of Nettie Tiso’s very-RTW line. These lines, in comparison to the more flamboyant Papusza Coutrue, provided function and form for the sometimes vibrantly out of control Williamsburg scene.

As for my own walking experience, I suck at wardrobe changes — props to multi-piece wearing models — because I couldn’t get transitions for the life of me. Not to mention I’m told that I looked like the angriest model on earth. My first piece, a floral western shirt, was my favorite, because it managed to make man-cleavage look unforced. As for my second piece, that’s the reason for my distaste for transitions. ‘Nuff said.

While not necessarily a haute couture extravaganza, Williamsburg Fashion Weekend was comfortable and outrageous and also welcoming, with elements of celebration that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Big Tent show. I don’t wanna sound like I’m turning my back on high fashion, because that will never be the case, but it is a relief to know that grassroots style can grow in Brooklyn — which seems worlds away from the hallowed soil of Bryant Park.