A meet and greet is always a good idea. This past Thursday I had the pleasure of attending a Gala Glamour Trunk Show at the very chic and stylish clothing boutique, Annarlette, featuring the amazing and talented designer Lucian Matis! Not only did I have the opportunity to check out some of the most red carpet worthy dresses, I also had the honor of meeting Lucian – who is one of the most talented and humble designers I’ve ever met. His pieces were featured in the shop, as well as designs from Frascara and the Wayne Clarkson collection.
The event was hosted by Annarlette Boutique owners Patti and Mindy. I felt so welcome the second I walked in. They are beautiful hosts and extremely down to earth. “We are a small shop, and so we always want our clients to feel like they can come back and visit us anytime,” says Patti with a smile. I absolutely love the feeling of walking in a boutique and having that sense of feeling at home. Everyone was so nice! Annarlette has the cutest accessories, trendy shoes, and luxurious dresses. As I walked through the entrance I was greeted by Erin Habes – an educator at Buffalo State College Fashion and Textile Department, stylist and writer. She’s just fabulous and a huge ambassador for the growing fashion industry in Buffalo. She gave me a tour of the shop and showed me the different dresses from various designers. Naturally, there was one dress that caught my eye – ‘the Sophie dress.’ The First Lady of Canada – Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau wore two of Lucian’s dresses during her recent visit to the White House. I asked Lucian how he felt when he saw his designs on t.v., and he told me he honestly was humbled. Very soon he began to receive a huge amount of press outside his office from curious people who wanted to know the man behind the dress.
I first heard about Lucian when he appeared on Project Runway Canada. As a fashion blogger I am constantly digging through magazines, local newspapers and websites to find the most talented underground designers. Let me say, that his designs actually made me fall in love with floral prints! His background in painting is clearly seen through his garments. I was never a fan of flower dresses before, but this dress was also stunning.
And please, can we all take a moment to appreciate the tutu vibes! Anyone that knows me, knows that I could literally wear a tutu anywhere, anytime, anyplace. But this dress is stunning! It’s the very first Lucian dress that caught my attention. He has such an amazing eye for detail, placement and structure in his collection. Here are a few more of Lucian’s designs and some other shots from inside Annarlette. I hope you enjoy them!
Visit Lucian’s website here and be sure to keep up with his fabulous collections! I had such an amazing time at this event and I am looking forward to many more to come. I am forever grateful for these special opportunites. Huge thanks to Erin and the entire Annarlette team!