Lights,Camera, Action at Jack Studios Chelsea

My day on the set of Jack Studios, 601 26th Street, NYC.

Chelsea, NYC I'm always looking for great on location spots to shoot fashion content for Best Picks Magazine and my Vanity Fair Looks page. We often shoot street-style here in NYC but as you saw from my reporting from Fashion Week 2015, weather and lighting conditions are often not ideal. This is especially important if you are doing a music video, commercial or film and need a controlled environment. This is when you will want to rent professional studio space for the day. 

Roy Schwalbach - President of Jack Studios

Lighting is Everything
I was told about Jack Studios which is conveniently located in Chelsea, at 601 West 26th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues. What you may not know is that this part of Manhattan does not have the same bedrock underpinnings of Midtown. Therefore there are not many skyscrapers in lower Manhattan which allows for gorgeous, unobstructed, natural lighting. I noticed this also in the West Village when we shot at Bobo Restaurant. Such is the case at Jack Studios which has amazing 360 degree sunlighting from all directions.

Roy showing me the incredible view & lighting in Studio 1.

Jack Studios (named after Roy's Chocolate Lab) has been in operation since 1995. Roy converted this building from a run down sewing shop to the bright connected space you see now with 8 stages that cover everything from commercials, print, video and feature films. The walls between stages are movable, allowing for even greater space and lighting possibilities. Jack Studios currently has over 850 active clients including Toyota, Dooney & Bourke,Vanity Fair, Victoria's Secret, MCM, and more usual suspects of the fashion world. The space also hosts live fashion shows, music events as well as operating as a show room for designers.

Iconic view of the New York Skyline

My Fashion Shoot at Jack Studios
Roy invited us to shoot our SS2015 Fashions & Accessories for Best Picks Magazine and my Vanity Fair Looks at his studio during our visit. We included his new line of elegant eye wear, namely The Super Model in Red Tortoise by Jack Eyes Sunglasses. 

On my way to one of the studios for the first shoot.

Jack Eyes Sunglasses, Cate & Chloe Jewelry

 

Travel Raincoat by ExOfficio. Winter Garden dress by Cindy & Johnny

This is just a tease, I know! More to come, I promise, for my Mother's Day special feature and on my Vanity Fair Looks Page. Suffice it to say that Jack Studios is the 5 star hotel of fashion studios. 2 million, three thousand square feet of naturally lit studio space. Absolutely immaculate, rest/makeup rooms and mirrors everywhere plus a Smoothie Bar to die for. Everything we needed was there on site. Editors, designers if you need space for your upcoming fashion shoot, runway show or a show room, THIS is the place to be. See more film, photography and fashion options online at JackStudios.com

SS2015 Travel Style - Lole Wrap Dress, Love Shawls and Natural Snakeskin Sandals

Travel ready: Cottony Lole Dress, Pierotucci Bag and Sublime Beauty pampering goodies to take along!

Spring/Summer 2015 Fashion that's easy and breezy answers the call of today's woman on the go. Want to get bumped up to First Class on that flight? Wear an outfit like this. Trust me, I've seen it happen many times. Dressing well is also form of good manners so I try to make sure to present myself in lovely packaging every day especially when traveling.

Lole Faux Wrap Dress
This wrinkle-proof traveler is so comfortable and perfect for everything from warm tropical beaches to air-conditioned flights, train rides and hotels. Sleeves come to your elbows and the dress fits in all the right places. Shown here with a MCM Leather Handbag from their current season's collection.

Love Shawl, MCM Leather Bag, Jack Eyes Sunglasses

Accessories: I've topped this faux wrap dress with a beautiful Love Shawl - In Blush.  It's like having a little extra warmth PLUS jewelry as the shawl has beautiful gems, fresh water pearls and gold accents. My eye wear is by Jack Eyes and as you can see, these tortoise shell frames are bold and highly polished. My Natural Straw Fedora is by Pistil Designs.

Traveling Shoes: This is a NEW design this season by Vionic. These Natural Snakeskin Sandals offer a comfortable foot bed yet with just enough wedge height to keep things interesting. The SS2015 Ralph Lauren Collection has a similarly pattered stack-heeled version sandal out. So natural snakeskin is definitely on trend this season.

Travel-worthy look.

Don't forget to take along a little comfort kit for those nights away. I adore my Sublime Beauty Sampler Set of 9 flight friendly products for face and body:  Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30, Retinol Serum, Collagen Serum and Mask, Hyaluronic Serum, Glycolic/Salicylic Serum, Luxurious Facial Oil, Cellulite Whisperer Body Gel and Lotion.

Sublime Beauty Travel - Sampler

My favorite travel bag - Fine Italian Leather by Pierotucci

Special thanks to Jack Studios in Chelsea and MCM Luxury Leather Goods for affording us use of their stages and showrooms for this shoot.