by Joakim von Ditmar
FINALLY, the much anticipated line, FOOFI Faux Fur by Angela Simmons, launched on Monday night with a star studded presentation– likened by many, to a scene out of the hit TV series EMPIRE. The mood was set by DJ TJ Mizell (son of the late legendary DJ Jam Master Jay), on the 1’s and 2’s. The designer, Angela Simmons, looked amazing in one of her own designs–a black ensemble with charcoal grey accents. Her lips, nail polish, and Christian Louboutin stiletto heels were all a matching shade of bright pink. The affair was graced by the presence of Romeo Miller aka Maserati Rome (son of hip hop mogul Master P), Ty Hunter (Beyonce’s stylist) and Damon Dash, just to name a few. Needless to say, the gathering on the penthouse rooftop of the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking District in New York was packed.
The advertising campaign features top model Jasmine Tookes.
Fashion bloggers, as well as her loyal fans have been waiting with great anticipation for the launch. They patiently waited after having been teased with tweets and posts for months now– not only on her Instagram @angelasimmons but also on AngelaIAM.com which serves as both Angela’s personal blog– dedicated to fashion, music and beauty– and also an entire lifestyle brand, which provides a platform for new and emerging talent in the fashion industry.
Fur is HOT, real or faux! Yes it keeps you warm but it was also hot on the catwalks at the recent New York Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter 2015/16 season.
Predominantly, we saw real fur on the runways– but Angela Simmons, instead, offers a stylish and practical 100% animal cruelty free alternative. The designer herself having stopped wearing real fur years ago, after researching the way animals were treated. As the hang-tag in her garments proudly states “No Animals Were Harmed in the Making of This Garment.” Signed, “XO Angela Renee Simmons.”
The exciting collection consist of 23-pieces: outerwear, coats, jackets, ponchos, vests, hoodies and accessories made from acrylic and polyester faux fur blends that feel like the real fur– when most of what is being offered on the market-place both looks and feels fake and cheap.
With FOOFI we have an entire varied collection of simulated fabrications that pay realistic homage to mink, suede, lynx and shearling. The core color palette consists of canary yellow, royal blue, ebony, charcoal grey, aubergine, and olive, also white and of course black.
Styles include: vibrantly colored hoodies in acid yellow and turquoise blue, a floor length Princess coat in champagne, the moto-vest with faux fur trim, the functional two in one vest with cape, and the long faux fur vest in midnight black, among others. The garments have a fun, bold and colorful floral lining. The outerwear is complimented with equally enticing accessories. Earmuffs, hats, and cuffs are all detailed in the lux fabrics.
The line is super chic, sexy, elegant, versatile, stylish, fresh, great quality and, which might be the most fun fact, with prices ranging from $150 to $495, it is way more affordable than real fur. As most women also enjoy having a larger variety in their wardrobe, this is most welcomed, because who has an unlimited shopping budget?
Simmons, a vegetarian and PETA supporter– even having posed for one of their famous campaigns– says about creating this line: “It’s for the New York City girl on-the-go; chic but playful and fun.” She mentions that her line is “Something that can bring you to work, play, evening. My mother could wear it, going down to my younger sister… I made sure there was something for everybody.”
The multi-talented entrepreneur is known from the MTV hit shows Run’s House, Daddy’s Girls, BET’s 106 and Park, her role as executive editor of Word Up!, and publisher of the magazine’s subsidiary publication “Angela’s Rundown,“ and having accomplished them all before the age of 20. Let’s not forget the launching of the highly successful sneaker line PASTRY shoes, which she partnered up with her sister Vanessa to accomplish. Angela was a mere 18 year old in 2006 when the idea was first born so it’s not hard to believe that at the age of 9 she already knew that being a fashion designer would be in her future. As a young fashionista and growing mogul, Simmons went on to launch her e-comm site Shop.AngelaIam.com and now FOOFI, named after her toy poodle.
– “Faking it”, is the last thing the young, powerhouse CEO of her own Empire, Angela Renee Simmons is doing. Rather she has successfully done it again.
The line will be available starting in September and will primarily be sold via e-commerce
Follow the label on @foofibyangelasimmons
PHOTO GALLERY OF COLLECTION
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge pictures)
Stay tuned for a full length article next week on Angela Simmons in honor of Women’s History Month.
Joakim von Ditmar is a humanitarian and an international art, design and fashion consultant @joakimvonditmar