Notes From The City: 2018

Hector R. Miranda has a way of seeing color and style that is extraordinary and gorgeous. I have always been interested in fashion, and have worked on and off in and around the fashion industry for many years, and though I am often attracted by images I see, it is rare that I am impressed by seeing something that is unique and new. Fashion trends tend to go in waves and be by nature derivative - styles come back from other times and eras, colors and textures resurface, and though the great designers have their own signature looks which can be thrilling to see on a runway or in a shop window, the actual embodiment of the clothing on a person living every day life and doing the every day things that people do sometimes doesn't translate. I have had the blessing of working with a couture designer, and I have known some wonderful stylists, and it is the gift that people of that level of excellence in fashion can give to the rest of us to help free our minds and vision so that we can learn that fashion is something to feel good in, to be comfortable in, and to help us feel and be the best that we can possibly be. Because of his extraordinary and gorgeous vision, Hector R. Miranda has the ability to bring us all to a higher ground.

It is interesting to note that Hector is color blind. If he hadn't told me I never would have known because the combinations he puts together are so beautiful, and in some wonderful way the fact that he doesn't see colors the way that many of us do opens his own eyes to the possibilities that many of us can't see. He is able to view designs and colors and textures from a distinct and unique lens, to intuit what will work for someone from a sense of knowing that is deeper and goes beyond what is on the surface. His is a vision that is visionary - a sense of deep understanding of the mystery of what is attractive, attracting, fashionable and stylish without feeling the need to conform to the expected or ordinary. He has styled Cher, Robert Downey, Jr., Oprah, Michelle Obama, Bruce Cohen, Andre Charles (Ru Paul), Matthew Broderick, Philipp Kirkorov and Alessandra Ambrosio among others, creating looks that were both timeless and of the minute, classic with an unmistakable uniqueness that takes fashion and trend and creates a personal style that highlights the star quality of the wearer.

I met Hector at Tah Vintage in Jersey City one evening when I went there during a holiday event to visit with the artist Stephen Cimini, who I have written about in these pages before, whose work had been chosen to be part of a collaboration with a company that puts contemporary artwork on material to be used for blankets and throws. In addition to the vintage clothing, accessories and home good that are sold out of their storefront, Tah Vintage has an important presence in the community because of the support they give to contemporary and emerging artists and artisans, and they were hosting the event as an introduction to the line of blankets and throws because they planned to carry them. When I arrived and met Hector, he was so friendly and welcoming and so interesting to talk to that I stayed for several hours. In our conversation he learned that I love to collect glassware, and so a few days later he sent me a text message to let me know that they had some new pieces that had arrived. I had been wanting to follow up with him to see if he had time to meet for a blog post, and so we set up a time to meet at the store. In another enjoyable afternoon into evening, I learned a bit more about his history, and I also learned that one of the remarkable things about Hector is that he doesn't like to talk about all of the wonderful things he does. He is so attractive and personable and he has been a part of so many high level projects that the experiences he has had are extensive, but though he had shared a few things with me about some of the people he has styled and some of the work he has done, he is so humble it was very hard to get him to really talk in depth about himself and his work. He did share his resume with me, and I'll add a few details from that illustrious history here, but when I asked him to send me photos, at first he only sent a few. Some photos he shared with me are from the work he has been doing at Tah Vintage - when he went into the store for the first time he liked the owners and wanted to suport their creative vision, and because he saw the potential he offered to volunteer with them to style windows and help with merchandizing. The work that he has done there is lovely and inspired, but there is so much more to his amazing talent that I went to his Instagram account and took a few screenshots from there to add more to this story.

He has sent me more photographs over time, and more information about his work over the years, and a picture is emerging of a truly amazing person. His is not the background of someone who has had an easy life or an easy entry into the fashion world. He has won the accolades he has because of the wonderfully talented and hard working person he is. He has a sense of fun and playfulness with fashion - during his time at Valentino he was known for his use of the concept of cross dressing that went beyond the simple idea of a woman wearing men's clothing and men wearing traditional women's designs. His styling made it possible for women and men to wear clothing that crossed boundaries while also combining a sense of the masculine and feminine, creating a space for different body types and personalities to feel comfortable in whatever styles they chose to wear. This sense of playfulness and moving through and beyond tradition is an inspiration to us all, an encouragement to find and wear the pieces that we enjoy wearing, and to allow ourselves to create our own unique style.

Kindhearted, humble, extraordinarily talented and knowledgeable with the good looks of a model and the ability to wear clothing in a way that shows its versatility, Hector R. Miranda has a way of seeing the world of fashion as a pure art form, and with a living and breathing human body as his canvas, he helps us all to look and feel vibrantly alive. An industry professional has called him "Boy Wonder," and I'll go one step further and say that he is a truly wonderful man, someone you can trust to guide you beyond the world of trends and fashion noise to find your own perfect place in clothing that will make you feel like you are the unique and beautiful person you are.

Hector R. Miranda

And His Visionary Style
Photographs Reposted
From Hector R. Miranda's Instagram Profile
https://www.instagram.com/sin_slim/

Marni

Spring Summer 2018

Marni

Spring Summer 2018

Marni

From Miami Fashion Week

Fall Winter 2018

Marni

Fall Winter 2018

Marni

Cross Dressing

The Same Clothing On A Woman

And A Man

Marni

Photographs Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda

Valentino

Photographs Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda

With Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli

At A Fashion Week Event

Sketches And Vision Board

From His Early Days At Valentino

Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda

Etro

Photographs Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda

Celebrity Style

Photographs Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda

Personal Flair

A Statement Piece

From Valentino

Balenciaga

Layering Luxury

The Windows And Interior At Tah Vintage

With The Transformative Touch Of A Visionary
9 Erie Street
Jersey City, New Jersey
Top Photograph Reposted
From Hector R. Miranda's Instagram Profile
https://www.instagram.com/sin_slim/
All Other Photographs Courtesy Of Hector R. Miranda