it’s playtime: 427FW

Born out of nostalgia and play, 427 Fashion Week is a virtual celebration I created in 2019 to engage with my undergraduate campus' fashion shows. Since then, it's evolved into a vehicle to explore personal style. This year, it will be an experimental avenue to preserve cultural memory and envision the future – all through the lens of fashion. 

There’s no “real” runway, but in a sense, our social media timelines become our red carpet—a place for our debut and rollout. Curated as an intentional style challenge for you and your closet, I’m encouraging you to take the reins, be audacious, and discover more about yourself and the items you're holding onto in the process. 

Let your imagination run wild! 

Wherever you are in your personal style journey this week invites you to think beyond the trends, and dive deep into your storage bins, using fashion as a tool of storytelling and joy.  I’ve been on a personal style journey for a couple of years, discovering my uniform, identifying colors I feel confident in, and just exploring new ideas within myself. 

But last year, when I worked on my first movie as a costume designer, SONDER, my best friend (who starred in the film) and his fiance (who directed the film) encouraged me, affirming that constructing looks that express the aura of a person or place, is a skill acquired over time. By no means am I a stylist, but all image architects look to tell stories with their creations – pulling from personal experiences, history, and creative avenues to let the story unfold. 

Throughout my on-and-off love affair with fashion, my passion for storytelling has remained – even though I’ve often been conflicted by the industry's ability to build up trust in communities without caring for people, materials, or environments themselves. When my journey in fashion began, I was a curious 8-year-old little girl, people-watching, creating sketches, and taking visual notes, trying to remember what I saw people wearing. In high school, it clicked that fashion had the power to transport people, it was a medium where I could tell stories, make people think, and gain understanding for myself.  Now, as an independent creative, entrepreneur, and curator, I still find myself using clothing to play, reflect, and dream forward. 

gems from ms. starfish herself!

427FW is my way of returning to that spirit and inviting others to do the same.

We’re not buying new clothes. We’re building looks from what we already have – by creatively styling pieces or reconstructing and repurposing them. 

The earth doesn’t need more waste and we shouldn’t keep buying pieces that we don’t love. 

Fashion is fun – and is that DEEP.

It's serious enough that there are girlies (like me and my homegirls) out here creating careers in the industry, going as far as getting MASTERS in Fashion Studies (a field that studies psychology, sociology, history, cultures, environments, and a whole lot of other stuff to understand why the fashion system is what it is).

The homes of people who look like us, who share dreams and aspirations, don’t need polyester and plastics piled up, creating landfills in their backyards or on their beaches. Would y'all please, please… let Shein go this year. 

Creativity doesn’t require MORE consumption. Use your imagination, let your closet be a portal. You already have everything you need to bring something great to light. 

Your closet has been waiting for a moment! Seize this one – here’s what we’re working with for this year's  #427FW:

4/22 – Phunkadelics: The Future is Blackity, Black, Black.

Step into a cosmic funk fantasy where Afro-futurism meets bold textures, electric colorways, and unapologetic Black imagination.

4/23 – Adorned in Dreams & Nightmares

Rewrite the fashion canon by mixing era-specific style with your own dreams, realities, and everything in between.

4/24 – Notes of Mahogany

Channel high drama and unapologetic glam inspired by Mahogany (1975), paying homage to Black creativity, beauty, and cinematic legacy.

4/25 – IN LIVING COLOR

Remix ‘90s sitcom nostalgia with your 2025 twist — bold fits, vibrant hues, and sitcom style that still hits today.

4/26 – expat

Dress like you're walking the streets of your dream destination — where fashion meets memory, culture, and wanderlust.

4/27 – by HER design

Pay tribute to Black women designers by styling their work or crafting a look in the spirit of their brilliance and bold contributions.

5/6– handy DANDY 

Precision, presence, and power — it’s time for your MET moment, honoring the Black Dandy legacy with sharp tailoring and fearless flair.

YOU GET A PRIZE!

This isn't just a lookbook -- it's a challenge. Prizes go to the flyest among us:

First Place – $100 Gift Card to TheRealReal

Honey, I’m dipping into my pockets for my golden birthday. You understood the assignment and added your flair. Your fits were creative, clean, deeply intentional, and full of personality. From the interpretation of the themes to the way you styled the smallest detail — you brought it.

You brought depth, you told a story, you gave us something we didn’t even know we needed. Whether you kept it minimal or extra, vintage or futuristic, you understood that fashion is more than what we wear — it's how we show up.

This prize is a seed — a little love for your artistry and a way for you to keep building your dream wardrobe.

Second Place – A custom-designed accessory or garment by yours truly.

This one’s for the person who dressed up for at least 4 days of #427FW and brought thoughtfulness to every single look. You might not have made it all 7 days, but when you showed up? You showed out.

Your interpretation of the themes brought something fresh, maybe even experimental — and you clearly had fun with it. Your details were intentional, and your presence was felt. You understood the vibes and gave us fashion with meaning.

Your prize? Something one-of-a-kind, custom-designed by me — whether it’s a bold accessory or a wearable piece of art, it’ll be made with you and your creativity in mind.

Reminder: Read the rubric. It’s your best friend during this week -- it's how you'll rack up bonuses.

Entry Requirements

Reading is fundamental. To enter the #427FW challenge be sure to study the rubric (your scores are determined by it) and adhere to the requirements (otherwise I won’t see your fits): 

• Post your look on Instagram or TikTok using the hashtag #427FW

• Tag @imaneeworks and @jthevisionaire_ on social media platforms. 

• Dress up and post for at least 4 days to be eligible for prizes.

• Show up all 7 days to qualify for the top prize.

• All posts are due by midnight CST each day.

Bonus Points for:

• Using storytelling or captions to explain your look.

• Sharing behind-the-scenes or inspiration.

• Tagging designers, films, or references.