I'm proud to admit that Latino designers were the ones to watch during this season's spring 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Featuring everything from bright rich colors and dramatic hems to feminine patterns and lines, the shows were all quite inspiring. We all grew up hearing about the incredible designs from esteemed designers like Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera, but there was an array of other up-and-coming Latin designers steaming up the Lincoln Center tents and other venues this week. Check out some of the best of the well-known and emerging Latino designers that inspired us this season!
Readmore ¿Qué más? NYFW: Our favorite celeb shoes at this year's Fashion Week!
Oscar de la Renta
About the Designer: De la Renta has become one of the world’s leading fashion icons. Known for his use of color, embroidery, and lady-like garments, the designer draws inspiration from international cultures and captures the natural grace of a woman.
Country of Origin: Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Collection: The collection was filled with soft silhouettes in bright, vivid colors and classic textures. It’s going to be all about bold, bright colors this spring!
Carolina Herrera
About the Designer: Herrera has been recognized for her delicate use of quality materials, unique style and innovative design. Carolina’s feminine pieces are known for being exquisitely elegant and refined.
Country of Origin: Born in Caracas, Venezuela
Collection: Herrera’s spring collection was all about color: everything from dusky blues and cayenne reds to neon greens and yellows. While her garments were modern and bold, they still retained an effortless elegance and sophistication the designer is so well known for. So for those of you who were rocking the neon trend this year, don’t worry, because this look isn’t going anywhere!
Rafael Cennamo
About the Designer: Cennamo launched his fashion label back in 2006 and since then has been recognized for his elegant couture designs and luxurious eveningwear. The designer likes to combine bold colors, delicate fabrics, and edgy structures to reinterpret classic couture silhouettes.
Country of Origin: Born into an Italian-Venezuelan family
Collection: His Spring 2013 collection consisted of a high fashion esthetic inspired by Japanase culture. He worked with soft textures and beautiful pastel colors. So watch out for more pastels this upcoming spring!
Juan Carlos Obando
About the Designer: Obando launched his privately-held fashion company, Bureau Beauté, which houses the Juan Carlos Obando label back in 2004. His innovative styles contain modern and an unassuming elegant balance.
Country of Origin: Born in Baranquilla, Colombia
Collection: The L.A.-based designer’s collection took a graphic take on prints. The gowns were filled with floral, animal, and fauna prints, some covered in tiny swarosvski crystals. I loved the color palettes he worked with which included black, white, and nude with pops of bold green and blues.
Carlos Miele
About the Designer: Miele has become renowned for his use of highly structured, bold color combinations and exuberant and classic silhouettes.
Country of Origin: Born in Sao Paul, Brazil
Collection: Carlos delivered a rich collection full of wild animal prints and vibrant colors. It looks like the animal print trend is here for good!
Cesar Galindo
About the Designer: Galindo is known for his impeccable dresses with skilled drapping, innovative textures, and easy colors. He became well-known when his washed silk kimono dress made the cover of Elle magazine on July 1993.
Country of Origin: He is of Mexican American descent
Collection: Galindo rolled out a colorful spring collection during Fashion Week that wowed everyone in the crowd. His resort-like collection included bright print halter dresses, drapped tank dresses, and silk chiffon garments. My favorite in the collection was definitely this bright green romper!
Daisy Fuentes
About the Designer: Fuentes, who started off her career as a model and then went into television hosting and acting (she's even broken barriers as MTV’s first Latina VJ!) launched her Kohl’s fashion empire back in 2004 and has become one of the first celebrities to launch a successful line.
Country of Origin: Born in Havana, Cuba
Collection: Fuentes__'__ spring/summer collection for Kohl’s drew inspiration from a summer spent in Spain. Touching on her idea of the modern gypsy, models walked the runway in earth-toned garments and bold hues. She also had delicate summery dresses with lace and fringe detailing like this one.
Angel Sanchez
About the designer: After working as an architect for two years, Sanchez founded his eponymous eveningwear label. He then moved his corporate headquarters to New York City in 1997 and launched a popular bridal collection in 1999. The designer is known for his exquisite architectural contemporary silhouettes and brightly colored cocktail dresses and evening gowns.
Country of Origin: Born in Caracas, Venezuela
Collection: I was ecstatic to see the designer take his work outside of bridal wear. His collection consisted of architecturally structured dresses that were modern but still delicate. A perfect balance between bold and soft makes this collection wearable for every woman.
Rolando Santana
About the Designer: After a successful career designing for well-known dress companies, in 2009 Santana decided to create his own collection. Since then the talented designer has successfully created garments with the primary focus of always making women feel beautiful.
Country of Origin: Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Collection: Santanas’s Spring 2013 collection was inspired by the designer’s many travels and consisted of sea foam greens, metallic pastel blues, and flowy fabrics. I’m in love with this green maxi dress!
Raul Peñaranda
About the Designer: Peñaranda’s stunning collection consists of lavish fabrics and simple cuts that are as much elegant are they are modern. His clothes are fashion-forward but extremely wearable.
Country of Origin: Born in Cali, Colombia and raised in Caracas, Venezuela.
Collection: The designer debuted a magnificent collection full of floral feminine fabrics, modern neon dresses and highly-structured silhouettes. I loved the way he combined different textures and colors.
