BY PATRICIA ANN PARENTI

This was a new trade show for me to attend in NYC on September 12 – 12, 2025 at the historic Starrett-Lehigh Building. This show was all about colorful trendy fashions for women for the up-and-coming Spring/Summer 2026 season. What was nice was the mixed brands such as famous Love Shack Fancy and many small brands from Latin America. www.brandassembly.com

TRENDS: Crochet bags in every size and color handmade in Latin America. Tiered dresses and peasant skirts in bright colorful cotton prints continue. Last season’s cherry prints will be a huge trend going forward. Shoes have block heels and cowboy boots remain trendy. Newness in bags comes in the box handbag that is good for going out at night or to a special occasion. Pants are cropped leg this season in straight or wide legged styles with waistlines hitting just below the belly button. The biggest trend is bows on bags/shoes/clothes.

ELIZABETH COLE

What a beautiful and colorful collection of spring/summer jewelry this is. This is a collection of earrings, bracelets, bag charms, rings, hair accessories and necklaces that are considered high end luxury costume jewelry that will last a lifetime and you can hand it down to your daughter someday. All items are handcrafted in America by women for 20 years. Necklaces are meant to be layered starting with a choker and ending with one that reaches your breast. Necklaces, bracelets and key chains have charms on them and you can personalize your necklace or bracelet with different charms from the website. What I love about this collection is that it’s bold and not the skinny chain trend of the last 10 years. The gold tone jewelry is 24K gold plated with enamel charms and Swarovski Crystals. Priced $45.00 for a charm and up to around $588.00 for a necklace. Find out more at www.elizabethcolejewelry.com.

VANESSA BARONI

A German designed brand that has been around for 15 years and is made in Italy. What I noticed first was that it was very 1980s inspired and I remember big jewelry from back then also. Vanessa told me her inspiration for the collection was her mother because she wore this kind of jewelry back in the 80s. Most everything is made of high-quality Acetate which is a high-quality hard plastic and gold plate. The beaded bracelets have charms with the brands names on it, (see top photo in pic collage).  Chain necklaces in center photo are made of high-quality resin which won’t break like cheap costume jewelry and some have big charms in the center but are not shown in my photo. This is a classic collection of button/hoop earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I’ve been in the fashion industry for over 40 years and can tell you this a collection of jewelry that will last for many years and won’t fall apart like the cheap Asian imports. Bracelets $40.00 – $100.00. Necklaces $150.00 – $400.00. Shop the entire jewelry line at www.vanessabaroni.com.

TINNED CANDLE

Well, this isn’t fashion but I thought it was such a cleaver product that I had to interview the brand. The concept is the candles are packed in sardine cans. The candles are all made by hand in Atlanta, Georgia along with the designs. All of the molds are made in house and the wax is poured into them by the staff. The candles are made with two layers of scented wax. Christmas Holiday scents are vanilla & eggnog and juniper & Fraser fir. Other potent scents are juniper, green tea & lemongrass, oakmoss & amber, sandalwood and citronella. Looking for unusual stick candles, then the collection has 100% beeswax fish stick candles as seen in my bottom left photo. A very clever idea is Wishy Fishes which would be great on birthday cakes. These make great holiday and house warming gifts for anyone. Priced at $26.00 – $36.00. To shop, go to www.tinnedcandle.com.

PARENTI FASHION