Daily Front Row

2011 September 13

Luca Luca Hits The Trump Soho

Comments | | Print

Raul Melgoza of Luca Luca
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

Yesterday, the sleek Trump Soho hosted a Luca Luca trunk show, complete with glittering accoutrements from Ivanka Trump's jewelry line, and dozens of the most powerful female real estate powerhouses in NYC. The crowd reveled over Luca Luca creative designer Raul Melgoza's pretty prints and ladylike silhouettes for Spring, nibbled on chocolate-dipped strawberries and berry tartlets, and soaked in the sublime, sunny views of Gotham. Chic rang up John Gomes of Prudential Douglas Elliman, who masterminded the stylish event--and has the inside scoop on all things Luca Luca, since Melgoza is Gomes' beau. Aw! 

How did you come up with this NYFW melding of the full-throttle worlds of fashion and real estate?
I live in the fashion world! I’ve gotten accustomed to sleeping with lint in my bed from the bolts of fabric lying around, and having pins everywhere. All of that! While working in real estate, I’ve managed to merge my field with fashion. Trump Soho was heavily inspired by Ivanka Trump, and Ivanka has been a Luca Luca fan for a number of years, so it’s a really good marriage! 

How did the superstar realtors enter the equation?
I’m inviting the 50 most powerful women in real estate to the event. Bringing so many highly intelligent, fashionable, powerful women together in the same room is just a no-brainer.

What's the parallel between Raul refreshing Luca Luca and Trump heading south to the hip 'hood of Soho?
Luca Luca is this uptown sort of brand, but since Raul has taken over the reins as creative director, he’s injected a downtown feel into the collection. And let’s face it—everyone ends up downtown eventually! This is just where it’s happening.