Mestiza New York Cocktail Dress Line

(Image credit: Design by Dana Tepper)

published 23 May 16

Fashion people are actually really nice. True story. When you wear something great, for example, they'll ask you about it, like when I borrowed a mint Mestiza New York (opens in new tab) dress for an industry event earlier this month and had several people walk right up to me like "Whoa. What is that?"

The Philippines-influenced line of eveningwear by school friends Louisa Rechter and Alessandra Perez-Rubio is well on its way to winning widespread approval, even though, objectively, it's already brilliant. The beaded medallions, the embroidery, the "I'm elegant but I'm still proud of my body" silhouettes, the aforementioned wing straps—the overall effect is feminine and strong and not *quite* like anything else out there.

But the real magic is in the wearing of it. Because when you're snugly, chicly ensconced in a dress made by a woman-led brand that's committed to raising up other women (Mestiza recently partnered with the Habi Foundation (opens in new tab) to preserve female artisanal heritage) how could you *not* feel this great (opens in new tab)?

A model wears the Mestiza New York dress.

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Chelsea Peng

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.