The Tale of the Black Dress: Anything but Basic

International stylist Engie Hassan, celebrated the one-year anniversary of her company, EngiesStyle,on Wednesday night. Renowned for her unique and classic approach to fashion, Engie showcased her talents in a fascinating styling presentation.

After an introduction from celebrity photographer Carrie Schechter, the lights dimmed, the music began, and Engie’s Tale of the Black Dress unfolded.

Eleven models, all donning black dresses, came out one-by-one, representing a different nation. Each dress was designed, embellished, and styled specifically to the fashions of the country it signified. Engie did an impeccable job successfully highlighting the trends of the various cultures, each one a passport into its oldest traditions.

India, Spain, Morocco, Africa, Japan, China, France, Britain, Russia, America, and Egypt were all featured during the presentation, sending guests on a dramatic journey around the world. Engie’s ability to turn basic black into a mesmerizing palette of styles is a feat I was most impressed by.  No head was left unturned as the models made their way through the crowd.

The over-the-top hair and makeup of the models further told the Tale of the Black Dress. The avant-garde approach taken added to the uniqueness of the presentation and captivated the essence of the different cultures flawlessly.

There is no doubt that Engie obtains the rare ability to stand out in the competitive world of styling, truly making her one-of-a-kind.

Makeup: Alicia Oliver, Jessica Butterfield, Ruth Fernandez, Mimi

Hair: Cora Harrell, Donald Francis

Designers: Dominique Auxilly, Shauntele

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By Nina Ramadan

The EngieStyle Family.

Engie with all 11 of her models.

Engie being interviewed.

Engie and Nina Ramadan

Dear Bagistas,

It’s been a long and inspiring day. What a way to jump back into the work week after a vacation! Before I call it a day, I want to introduce you to a very exciting gal who is one of my Power Women – the ladies that give me the mojo to keep pushing and growing my business. Her name is Engie Hassan and we met about two years ago at an event hosted by another power woman, Kathryn Finney aka The Budget Fashionista. Engie approached me as I was getting some wine. I can’t recall what we talked about in that brief, first encounter, but I can recount her immaculate ensemble and infectious energy. “This girl was going places,” I thought.

Fast forward two years and Engie has gone from Vogue staffer to personal shopper atBergdorf Goodman and the Pierre Hotel to image consultant to stylist for celebrities and royalty. Last month, Engie realized yet another dream when she launched her premier fashion collection, “Rouge et Noir,” as part of “Once Upon A Time,” a fashion presentation to benefit the New York Restoration Project’s MillionTreesNYC initiative. As Engie puts it, “My collection is inspired by the modest, classical style of the stars and starlets of the bygone Golden age of Hollywood.” As a lover of sensuality over sexually and classical versus trend chaser, I happily co-chaired Engie’s event. Below are some sketches of her first collection. I can’t wait to see what future season’s have in store as this multi-talented stylist and designer tweaks and toils away. And, Engie, I will take you up on the offer of borrowing a few pieces here and there