Anna Gupta Blooms with her Spring/Summer Fashion Show

It was the perfect time and place for a spring/summer fashion show. The fragrance of flowers permeated the atmosphere and served to usher in the season and the show itself, which featured bold yet delicate intricately designed pieces replete with flowers, leaves, and distinctive colors. Fashion designer Anna Gupta had invited me to her private fashion show, and I was honored that she had asked me. Anna is a sweet friend, and I wanted to support her work. She is beautiful and is one of the kindest people in the industry. Her heart is to help people and it is contagious. Anna, a supermodel turned celebrity couture designer, showcased her Spring/Summer 2024 collection at the Unique Studio Classic Event on May 5, 2024, at the Georgetown Building in Santa Ana, California. The fashion show consisted of five fashion designers and was followed by a curated program with special guest performances and a boutique pop-up shop. A spectacular red carpet event with celebrated photographers commemorated this exclusive private presentation. There was a beautiful spread of hors d’oeuvres and drinks for the guests to enjoy in each other’s company. It was a special moment for Anna—a dream collaboration with dear friends, for which she worked hard and was proud of her accomplishment. Anna and her team had toiled tirelessly to create a masterpiece, and they succeeded. Always humble and thankful, she considered it a privilege to showcase her collection. The event featured four other presenting designers: Binno Jewels & Clothing, Zeglio Custom Clothiers, Yz Bridal, and Kachou Kimono.

The fashion show gave one the feeling of traversing a secret garden, with flowers everywhere and the whimsical scenery of Alice in Wonderland. Indeed, Anna’s collection exuded a playful aura and was as fresh and vibrant as the flowers it featured. Altogether, it was a splendid scene of delicate, wearable fashion with fabrics delightfully swaying down the runway. 

Anna’s designs were accompanied by sophisticated flower headdresses with luscious colors, the creations of Inoe Vargas, who also assisted Anna with the show. The motif for all this was soft florals with a pop of color. Anna’s designs displayed rich, colorful, light, happy, romantic summer hues, with 3D flower details, and bright, flowing , high volume silhouettes with refined textures and embroidery, bedecked with Binno Jewelry.

Most of the models were from the American Modeling Academy and they did an extraordinary job of showcasing the designs; they were led by Maria Kucherenko, who also helped with the production. Tatiana Konovalova, another academy model who was in the show, said she simply loved all of Anna’s designs. Indeed, the tiny short dress with a big flower Tatiana wore on the runway showcased a beautiful girl’s body in the best way, making her feel confident and stylish. Tatiana believed this design would be perfectly suited for a standout appearance at the Met Gala this year.

I was honored to wear a Michael Kors dress and carry his handbag for the evening. My special guest, Orlando Cueva, the assistant manager at Michael Kors’s in South Coast Plaza, styled me, and we sat in the front row. The spectacular room where the show was held has a breathtaking view and also features a dramatic sweeping staircase that wraps around it. From where the guests were seated they could enjoy the view of the glamorous red carpet stairs which the models walked down amidst the brilliant radiation of the elegant chandelier adorning the room, all of which made this location the best place for a perfect fashion show. This was Anna’s second fashion show with Unique Studio; the first was more intimate, but this time it was grander and there were more guests and you just felt the excitement in the room. In addition, there was a gracious host and a special performance of virtuoso harp playing, magical singing, and spectacular dancing. Yes, it was a grand moment to remember!

 Kudos to Anna and the event team that made all this possible:

Production: @samfuphotography @maria.usa Runway Director: @maria.usa 

Designer Team: @vivkitlin @djesustrujillo @rcmodelmanagement @jillherrera @iaminoe 

Makeup and Hair Team: @reynakhalil @saffiyaslays @jazmynelaniece @virtuousvanitycdm @evaglezbeauty @i_enchancebeauty @makeup_by_paos @elegantglamma 

Jewelry: @binnojewels 

Flower Headdresses: @iaminoe 

Models: @american_modeling_academy 

Special thanks to our partners: Hair Extensions @loveqcura 

Flower Installations: @lalaludecor