Black & Brown is more of a clubhouse for artists from all walks of life than a boutique that specializes in vintage and new apparel. It’s a welcome reminder that San Jose is a serious participant in the world of art, music and, of course, fashion. In between the coat hangers live little projects, ideas, parties and friendships waiting to be discovered. Black & Brown is just as much a clothing boutique as it is an idea incubator.
On Saturday, Black and Brown, its owners and friends, celebrated seven years in business with a fashion show, “Seven’s Bloom.” The show was not a collection of various takes on a singular theme or designer. Instead, it showcased designers and clothing spanning decades, the entire color spectrum and all flavors of fashion.
Video by Justin Albert
A mix of haute couture and prêt-à-porter pieces were displayed by models on the catwalk. The models looked every bit as fabulous as any seen in New York and Milan. With hair help from the 5 Color Cowboy team, and makeup by Thang Dao, the models had no trouble looking their best.
Black and Brown owners Monisha Murray and Irene Kim put on a show that had eager viewers lined up and down the block. With the help of right-hand-man Josue Ramirez, the show went off without a flaw. As Monisha says, the boutique is always looking to, “Challenge ourselves and raise the standard higher.”
In the spirit of Christopher Kane, the show was moda operandi (a method of operating, while looking good). The styles seemed effortless, yet striking and original. Most interestingly, all the models were robed in what’s available for purchase at Black & Brown. In that sense, this was a special fashion show. It had the exclusivity of a designer collection, with the nostalgia of a classic movie, all sown together with the thread of a local community ready to show how good San Jose looks.
During the show, Paolo Bello conducted music. Most folks know him as DJ Cutso, and he is one of those talented San Jose artists who broke out, beyond the confines of the city, but still perform locally.
For those eager to see what San Jose puts on the walls of galleries around the world, Black and Brown will host an art retrospective on March 31. It will be B&B beyond the catwalk. If you’ve ever wondered what San Jose looks like to gallery goers in Japan or Finland, this will be the time to see.
Black and Brown
850 The Alameda, San Jose
