Miami Fashion Week’s first runway show by Silvia Tcherassi was a relaxed affair showcasing resort wear in flowing dresses in earth tones and silky fabrics, high waisted pants and shorts combined with off-the-shoulder cotton blouses. Prints mixed with stripes and pops of black and white.

Nicaragua’s rising stars and a finalist of “Project Runway Latin America,” designer Shantall Lacayo presented her first runway show, The Jaguar and the Moon, taking inspiration from one of the works of Nicaraguan poet Pablo Antonio Cuadra, a central figure of the Latin American avantgarde.

Whilst Custo Barcelona presented his line of resort-wear, which was heavy on metallic fabrics, embroidery, color blocked prints and tribal printed dresses.

For students in Academy of Art University’s School of Fashion, annual Graduation Fashion Show, brings together faculty, family, friends and industry such as retail executives, fashion and accessory designers, interior designers and recruiters to celebrate the accomplishments of each graduate, and honour their creative vision.

Kick starting the event,President Stephens presented an honorary doctorate to Sarah Mower, chief critic for Vogue.com and the British Fashion Council’s Ambassador for Emerging Talent. In her professional capacity, Mower has championed some of fashion’s brightest debuts of the last decade: Christopher Kane, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, JW Anderson, Roksanda, among others.

Moving further, President Stephens announced, let the show begin, the first collection to hit the runway was an intriguing collaboration between Thao Thai (B.F.A. fashion design) and NazKhorram (B.F.A. jewelry& metal arts). Rooted in Vietnamese and Iranian cultures, respectively, their partnership was inspired by the fluidity of selfhood. The looks explored the concept by covering, exposing, or making certain elements transparent.

Harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature is today’s newsfeed mainstay and a fitting theme for collaboration between Jiran Xia (B.F.A. fashion design) and Pei-Ling “Ann” Tsai (B.F.A. jewelry& metal arts) who explored the fragile balances of ecosystems in natural fabrics and acrylic jewelry.

Portland, Oregon has earned a reputation as one of America’s reuse and recycle pioneering communities. Erika Tompkins (B.F.A. fashion design) celebrates her hometown with clothes created from molds of vintage garments and silicone-coated fabrics.

The closing looks of the 2017 Graduate Fashion Show appeared on the runway courtesy of Laura Hidaka (B.F.A. fashion design) who was inspired by the Hawaiian culture of hospitality and the traditional Kahiko hula skirts. The garments in sunbrella canvas and kona cotton were beautifully embroidered by Claudia Zoh-Hung Tan and Virginia Yue (B.F.A. fashion design).

Monisha Jaising, propose couture but differently this summer with her stunning contouring ball tops. Fashion’s obsession with shoulders rages on, manifesting itself in strategically placed cut-outs for maximum impact.

Inspired by magnificent traditional ballroom gowns, Monisha Jaising’s SS 17 collection consists of a variety of structured ball tops infused with pop colours like fuschia, laptev blue, citronella & flaming red.

One can make a statement by styling them with high slit skirts, distressed denims or leather pants. Monisha Jaising states,” My goal is extreme desirability! I do not normalize couture. I want people to feel excited to wear my garments.”