Crystal Torres, Founder of A Stylist Lane
What do you get when you mix passion, creativity, discipline and a killer sense of style? You get Crystal Torres. A Rochester, NY native and School of the Arts graduate, Crystal is the founder of
A Stylist Lane. Her company provides a number of fashion-related services including production of fashion-related events. This Saturday, November 19, 2011, A Stylist Lane will premiere a new line of bowties called “Papion”. I met with Crystal recently at
The Gate House for a quick chat about her business and her latest project.
Crystal got her start in fashion several years ago when she was asked to model in a show for a local hair salon. That led to opportunities to participate in other shows. Crystal diversified her resume by coordinating shows for others including student shows at MCC and a large-scale show in Buffalo, NY that featured prominent designers like
Steven Bales. She is also well known amongst Rochester’s young, fashion-forward set for shows she has produced for her brand such as her
Deep Diversion show featuring garments fashioned from recycled materials and her
Eye So Metric stylist competition. Crystal was a model in Rochester Fashion Week’s inaugural
Art of Fashion show in 2010 and in 2011 moved on to work as stage manager for the
Art of Fashion show at One.
As an intern at
Magix NewandVintage, her talent and leadership skills allowed her to move up to now mentoring other interns at the fashionable boutique. Danielle Ponder of Magix recalls that when they first advertised for interns, requesting a statement of interest, Crystal was the only candidate whose submission was thorough, professional and indicated that she took the opportunity seriously. Danielle went on to say that Crystal has been a tremendous help in virtually every area of their business including selecting merchandise to be featured in the shop and styling the displays. Magix support of Crystal and her work extends beyond mere kind words. In addition to sponsoring her show, the Papion line will be available for purchase at the boutique following the show.
Crystal was inspired to create bowties by her fashionist-o boyfriend (yes, I just made up a word) who enjoys wearing bowties. She was bored with the lack of creativity she saw in what was currently available in stores so she started designing her own, using upholstery and other full bodied fabrics. She quickly expanded that vision to include bowties used in other creative ways – necklaces, headpieces, rings, to name a few. It was this deviation from the standard styling of bowties that gave birth to the name for the line, Papion. “Papion” is her play on words. She explains that it is a combination of “Papi” which is Spanish for “masculine” and “ion” means “in other words”. So Papion essentially means masculinity in a different form.
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- Crystal Torres, Founder of A Stylist Lane
- Bowtie Headpiece.
This Saturday’s show is unique in that Crystal opted to not partner with another designer to provide garments as a backdrop for her designs. Instead, she charged her models with styling themselves using their own personal clothing. She felt that this would give the audience a more authentic feel for the line and inspire them to wear the pieces in ways that compliment their individual style. The show boasts a robust line-up of entertainment including massages courtesy of
HealthQuest chiropractic and a photo booth (always fun!) by
SnapPod. The show takes place this Saturday, November 19, 2011 at
Venu Resto-Lounge, 151 St. Paul Street. Doors open at 7:00PM. Tickets are $10 and advance tickets can be purchased at Magix NewandVintage at 653 South Avenue.
