Less than a week after I’d posted on this blog that ALICAT Avril Lemieux was destined for Lincoln Center we found out that she’d been invited to show at New York’s Couture Fashion Week at the Waldorf Astoria. Okay – so it wasn’t Lincoln Center (yet – that’s next year) but DAMN! Couture Fashion Week?!!? This was definitely unexpected and I think the news left all of us on team ALICAT nervous and excited and well … all those things you’d expect to feel when you can see your hard work paying off. When I arrived at the Waldorf Astoria I found everyone working for the event to be courteous and well-organized. Immediately entering the Grand Ballroom I was shown how to access the backstage area where I’d find ALICAT and crew. Though things were moving at the usual faster than fast pace I managed to capture a few shots though I was really saving myself for the runway show. The lighting in the Grand Ballroom was, uh sigh, just unbelievable. I’ve tried to show in a few images the beauty and saturation of the colors though I don’t think my pictures do it justice. But I digress. First up on the runway was ALICAT Avril Lemieux From The Gods Rise Of The Beetle Collection followed by Romero Bryan who ended up closing Couture Fashion Week with his line. I wish I could say more about Romero’s collection but I don’t know much about it. Hopefully he’ll accept my friend request on FB so he can tell me more about his work.

How do you do? One of many introductions.

It's like looking into a mirror

Jared Cameron prepping for the show

Lev Khon before the show

Model from previous show whose make-up rocks

Erica Marta looks away as Daneyah Nixon has her belt fastened

Smile! You're on camera

Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria

Ladies & Gentlemen ... meet the press

Showtime!

Sherri Nichole on the runway

Daneyah Nixon wearing ALICAT dress and headpiece by Nailah Lymus for Amirah Creations

Lev Khon on the runway

Jaimi Alexander on the runway

Laury Elize leaving the runway

Diarra Dosset on the runway

Jaylynn Muse on the runway

Stephanie LaCapra working the collection

Enter Jared Cameron

Jared Cameron embodying the god Anubis

Anubis' headpiece in motion

Jared Cameron and ALICAT Avril Lemieux

Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

Model in piece by Romero Bryan

A quiet moment on the runway

Model and Romero Bryan

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.