Artful Allure

By Marianne Ilunga, stylissima.com
Hair & Makeup by Elise Knab, elsieknab.com
Photographs by Rafael Tongol

Nearly every available surface at McCrae Art Studios, from the worktables to the walls, is covered with canvas, splattered with paint or crowded with odds and ends of metal, plaster and clay. If it isn’t art already, it’s on the way to being there. The ramshackle warren is shared year-round by 23 of the area’s best-known painters, sculptors and graphic artists. For one afternoon, we transformed it into a showcase for our own fall fashion creations.

Along the railroad tracks that run behind the McCrae Art Studios, Rachel Reed, of Michele Pommier Models, wears a Kristen Blake feather vest, $148, from Nordstrom at Florida Mall; an Elie Tahari black skirt, $168, from Bloomingdale’s at The Mall at Millenia; a St. John jersey black turtleneck, $195, from Saks Fifth Avenue at Florida Mall; Me Too red high-heel loafers, $98.95, from Nordstrom at Florida Mall; Hervé Van Der Straeten statement earrings, $265, from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia; a Michael Kors gold chain-link watch, $225, from Michael Kors at The Mall at Millenia; a ruby stone double necklace, $470, a floating red stone bracelet, $260, and a ruby and pearl ring, $490, all by Coralia Leets Jewelry Boutique, Park Avenue, Winter Park; and a tiger eye karma bead bracelet and red karma bead bracelets by Tesoro by Necole, $80-$100, Sultre Boutique, Park Avenue, Winter Park.

JP Lulek, of BMG Models, is wearing a Valentino gray wool coat from Saks Fifth Avenue at Florida Mall, available by special order; a Peter Millar purple sweater, $125, from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia; a Stone Rose black shirt, $139, and a Bruno Piattelli plaid and purple stripe print tie, both from Current, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Theory black pants, $195, Salvatore Ferragamo reversible belt, $270, and Prada black lace-up square toe shoes, $525, all from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia; a Christian Nevin yellow and white gold band, $1,500, and a Christian Nevin silver and black crown ring, $450, both from cndesigns.com.

Rachel wears an Alice + Olivia Flowy Dress, $396; Tai gray-and-gold bead bracelets, $175-$240, and carries a Fendi purple peekaboo bag, $2,490, all from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia. The Lulu felt floppy hat, $24, is from Nordstrom at Florida Mall; the Via Spiga patent burgundy peep-toe heels, $198, are from Bloomingdale’s at The Mall at Millenia; the Michele Watch with gold metallic leather strap, $1,795, is from Saks Fifth Avenue at Florida Mall. The Tesoro by Necole multicolor karma bead bracelets, $70-$100, are from Sultre, Park Avenue, Winter Park; the Coralia Leets city tag necklaces, $323 each; pink braided bracelet, $437, pearl and gold disk clip-on earrings, $323, and round pavé rings, $348 each, are all by Coralia Leets, Park Avenue, Winter Park. The Fendi brown leather belt is the stylist’s own.

Rachel’s Akris Punto purple tweed dress, $1,250, Neiman Marcus Cashmere Collection, purple sweater with fur detail, $695, and Fendi leopard print bag with gold and black leather straps, $3,350, are all from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia. The violet sparkle drop earrings, $323, and violet sparkle statement ring, $323, are both from Coralia Leets, Park Avenue, Winter Park.

JP wears a Hickey Freeman plaid jacket, $1,195, a Carrot and Gibbs blue-and-brown print bow tie, $65, a Bill Lavin brown lizard belt, $145, and Scojo brown wide-frame glasses, $70, all from John Craig, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Theory dark gray pants, $195, from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia; and a Christian Nevin silver-and- garnet crown ring, $550, from cndesigns.com.

Rachel wears Prada charcoal-gray plaid ankle pants, $510, a Piazza Sempioni green-and-gray print long-sleeve top, $695, a Piazza Sempioni green knit vest, $850, a Hervé Van Der Straeten leaf detail gold cuff, $965, and a Miansai green-and-gold rope bracelet, $205, all from Neiman Marcus at The Mall at Millenia; Lucky Brand gray lace-up booties, $119, from Bloomingdale’s at The Mall at Millenia; emerald-green clip-on earrings, $473, and an emerald-green square ring, $332, both by Coralia Leets, Coralia Leets, Park Avenue, Winter Park. The Michael Kors brown leather cross-body bag, $228, is from Saks Fifth Avenue at Florida Mall.

Rachel’s BCBG black pleated maxi skirt, $218, and BCBG blush crop top, $78, are from Tuni, Park Avenue, Winter Park. The Michal Yakar teardrop framed peridot earrings, $175, and Michal Yakar andalusite framed cocktail ring with champagne topaz, $375, are from michalyakar.com. The stacked tribal bracelets, $33-$100, are from Bajalia Park Avenue, Winter Park; and the Coralia Leets deep-blue medallion disc necklace, $455, is from Coralia Leets Park Avenue, Winter Park.