Taos Pueblo’s own Patricia Michael’s of Project Runway fame, is in NYC this week for Fashion Week.

Patricia is showing her 2017 Spring/Summer collection which includes off-season threads because “the woman who wears my clothes, travels to cold places even in the summer,” says the designer.

Patricia and taoStyle Contributing Photographer, Bill Curry are long time friends and collaborators. Bill took the fabulous pics of the iconic model and actress Joan Severance wearing Pat’s clothes, showcased here on the blog. For this shoot, he chose another old friend.

“A former Alvin Ailey dancer and international fashion model, Orajona came to Taos to meet Patricia (Michaels) and help me photograph her most important collection to date. ” Bill explains.

Bill says that photographing model and artist Orajona, who divides her time between Montreal and Santa Fe, was a reunion of sorts, after not having seen each other for 18 years.

“The hand-created, nature inspired designs – colors,fabric,and details – are easy to place in a natural environment.”

He continues, “so we photographed on Robert Mirabal’s farm, as well as in Taos Ski Valley with no real plan except to be in the moment and find the best setting for each (Patricia Michaels) creation.”

“The light that day, was the magical, magnificent Taos light complete with clouds, rain, sun and high mountain ambiance all at once.” He recalls.

Both photographer and his muse were clearly inspired by the designer’s vision. This coming Saturday when Patricia presents her collection at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, the clothes will be seen in an entirely different light, but the trees, wildflowers, water plants and seeds that inspire her on her walks in and around her Taos Pueblo home, are evident in the designs for her signature Waterlily line.

And Patricia’s unique vision is right on time in an era when Fashion more than ever before, celebrates individuality and takes its inspiration from the streets. Finally both the models and the clothes they are wearing, in print and on the runway, honestly reflect the cultural diversity of these post – modern times.