It's Happening: Catching up with Dee Collins Allevato Following NYC Fashion Week
By Julie Perine on February 27, 2022 from It’s Happening
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about local designer Dee Collins Allevato as she was about to take her Little Black Designs to be featured at Fashion Week in New York City.
I'm not going to lie.
I was on the edge of my seat, hearing all about the adventure she was about to embark upon. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she envisioned pieces of attire - at one time just a product of her imagination - being seen at the nation's biggest fashion event.
The other day, I got to follow up with Dee and hear how it all went down. Her tone was just as contagious as it had been the first time we talked. And I have a feeling that her matte jersey-crafted designs - suitable for weekday casual, cocktail hour and everything in between - are going to become contagious, too.
The trip to New York City was a whirlwind; a blend of excitement and pride, anxiety and surrealismm all wrapped into a single experience.
Picture this:
In their two-bedroom suite at World Center Hotel, Dee Collins Allevato and her seamstress Missy Tyler set up their makeshift alteration workshop.
"My room was the staging room and cutting area and Missy's room was the sewing area," Dee said.
The day before - just hours after arriving in The Big Apple - Dee and Missy met the models being provided to them by CDCD Productions. There were 10 of them in various shapes and sizes, a true representation of women who would potentially be wearing Little Black Designs.
"I had already had a spreadsheet of my models and their measurements, so I knew what sizes they were going into it," Dee said. "I was throwing pieces on people - and they were fitting them pretty well. Hallelujah! That's the beauty of this fabric. It's so complimentary."
The fittings were taken place at CDCD's homebase - a townhouse located at SoHo. It was pretty sweet and Dee - surrounded by fashions and notions, accessories and energy - said she was living the dream.
After a pre-party held at the same 8th Avenue venue, Dee and Missy went to their hotel and the next day, attended to those last-minute alterations, a tuck, hem or other adjustment here and there.
"Sunday morning, we were at the venue in SoHo by 9 a.m. and it was just hit the ground running," Dee said. "We didn't stop until we got back to our room around 6 p.m. so it was a full day. Busy, but a great busy."
Little Black Designs was featured in a show at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre during the 1 p.m. time slot. Her models sported her featured designs - including sheath and A-line dresses in square, and assymetrical necklines, belted jumpsuits, classic and fringe-accented tank dresses, accessorized with pashminas, jewelry and versatile footwear.
"I felt great about every single model I inspected before they went out on the runway and I even felt comfortable myself, walking out there and saying thank you," Dee said. "The models did a great job and I was just so thankful and blessed that I had a diverse showing for my first Fashion Week. I had girls from 5' 2 to 5'9, plus size and everyone in between. It was great to see a variety of women and their body types with these clothes on. That was very fulfilling."
Did you catch that? Her first Fashion Week? That's because she already is making plans for the September show. This time, she will be working with a larger production company, The Society Fashion Week.
It was the February show which gave Dee opportunity to approach the company. Following the event, she checked out social media posts of a friend and fellow designer, Janelle Funari.
"She was thanking the production company she worked with at Fashion Week, so I researched them and sent them a message," Dee said. "...This guy, Brady King, emails me back and says, 'First of all, I love your brand' - exactly what I wanted to hear. Boom! It was an instant magnet. I thought, 'Ok. They get me.'"
After a virtual Google meeting, it was evident that they were all on the same page and plans began moving forward for the Spring show in September. She's so looking forward to it, but will forever treasure her Fashion Week debut.
"I'm grateful for the experience I had and have nothing bad to say about any of the people I worked with," Dee said. "I just feel that I could grow with this company plus they livestream all over the world - in 100-plus countries and during the (September Fashion Week) show, people watching can order items right then and there."
Though the next show will feature Spring/Summer fashions, Dee said her pieces can be worn yearround. She is already working on fashions to be debuted in September.
"I get 15 models and I'll show 15 different looks," she said.
This time, Dee will work with "industry standard" models as is protocol for The Society Fashion Week and many other production companies.
"The girls are more uniform in size and weight and for the most part - the taller the better - providing a visual," she said.
It comes as no surprise that she already has a lineup planned. I, for one, cannot wait to see it!
Read more about Dee Collins Allevato and Little Black Designs HERE. Stay up to date at littleblackdesigns.com.
