Trends 2014: “The Melting Pot” Effect

Image by Humberto Vidal.
Makeup & Stylist: Armandeus Salon.
Location: Chef on Waters.

By Lissette Rondon.
United States has been described since the 1780s as the “Melting pot.” This metaphor was used to explain the assimilation of immigrants to our country.

The Popular song “The Great American Melting Pot,” with the lovely lyrics – “You simply melt right in, It doesn’t matter what your skin” remains in American political and cultural dialogues.

The Main Ingredients of Miami’s recipe.
Our magic city is home to different cultures and flavors with a large population of Latino culture that stand out, having a huge effect and influence. Most of the world’s renowned Latin artists such as Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, and Shakira have made Miami their home.

Special spices, trends and more!
There are several other cultures that have played important roles in creating art, music and fashion in Miami such as France, Italy, Germany, England, Japan and Israel. Even when we are Americans and come from Hispanic countries, these fascinating cultures have inspired our leadership with their trends, adding the right touch to Miami; making our recipe, unique!

We would like to kick off 2014 with this special edition, honoring our “melting pot” with 7 exclusive interviews of Miami’s most successful leaders in fashion, beauty, marketing, food and cars. Viviana Gabeiras, Glenda Betancourt, Silvia Fassardi, Chef Benny Diaz, Samy Gicherman, Karime Demorizi and Frank Diaz—where they talked about trends of 2014, the culture that inspired them, predictions for next year, and more.

Let’s enjoy the flavors!

– The fashion revolution of Viviana G.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“Berlin is clean and edgy, and hard core and yet the traces of such past, where its people have managed to live together as one but feel both at the same time. These feelings and surroundings inspired me into a new vision for my new Fall 2014/15 Revolution Collection that I will launch in Vegas under my new label “Viviana VG Gabeiras”…read Viviana G’s interview.

– ‘GP Natural Cosmetics’ brings back purple liaisons.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“I’m very passionate about the makeup of France XVIII. In that century, Paris became the capital of fashion with impressive and extravagant styles. Since then, they dictate the trends that will be followed by the whole world in hair, makeup, and fashion with great glamour, reminiscent of the old divas of France, as the seductive and beautiful, Marie Antoinette”…read Glenda Betancourt’s interview.

– Samy Gicherman lights up collections with Flamenco fashion fever.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

” I am Venezuelan and I live in Miami, I have always been greatly influenced by Spain because it’s a country that shines in the textile industry and is also the birthplace of great fashion designers like ‘Balenciaga,’ ‘Paco Rabanne’ and ‘Fortuny,’ in addition the Spanish style has been inspiration of many outstanding designers as ‘Oscar de la Renta’ and ‘Christian Lacroix,’ among others”…read Samy Gichermna’s interview.

– “Septimo by Silvia Fassardi,” the Italian love story behind the brand.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“Italy is one of the main inspirations for my collections of 2014. I had a Venezuelan-Italian grandfather that always narrated to me, the story of Lucrezia Borgia and the poet, Pietro Bembo and how they exchanged passionate love letters”…read Silvia Fassardi’s interview.

– Benny Diaz, the chef and the sea.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“I like to read about Chefs around the world so I can learn different techniques and new creations, but my favorite readings happen to be “Great British Chefs.” I am fascinated with the recipes and chefs featured on this webpage. My favorite Chef is Nigel Mendham; I like his deftly classical cuisine. I identified myself with him in so many ways; I love to create modern Mediterranean dishes with a little touch of British ingredients—adding my own Cuban Sazon, of course” …read Chef Benny’s interview.

– Karime Demorizi leads ‘How to Focus Your Vision’ in 2014.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“I was born and raised in Colombia and I live here in Miami, but Israel strongly influences my company “Hefziba Communications International.” The company name is Hebrew and means “My delight is in her, the divine love of God is within you.” Our work consists of services; we serve to God, the family, and our community”…read Karime Demorizi’s interview.

-The power of ‘Kaizen,’ Frank Diaz hits the road pursuing perfection.

Image by Humberto Vidal.

“I was born and raised here with my Cuban-Salvadorian parents, but I have been influenced by the Japanese culture in my personal life and my job at Lexus of North Miami. The automotive plants of Lexus are renowned globally for their advanced technology and they have become famous for hand craftsmanship, a discipline that goes to deepest roots of Japanese culture. It started a few years ago with the introduction of 10 Takumi, or master craftsmen, at our Tahara plant where the LS flagship, along with other models, was made”… read Frank Diaz’s interview.

Special thanks to

Chef on Waters, Benny Diaz.

Photographer: Humberto Vidal

Make-up Artists & Stylists of Armandeus Salon

Assistant (behind the scenes-Samy Gicherman): Ronald Solano.

Makeup Artist: Patricia Zrihem ( Samy Gicherman)

Photographer (behind the scenes- Samy Gicherman): David Nieto.

Lissette Rondon

Lissette Rondón begin her career as a model in Venezuela when she was nineteen. Fashion was always her passion leading her to become a TV & Radio Producer and owning her show & fashion TV magazine: “Opening”. This successful show changed her life, making her want to explore outside her country. In 2004, She moved to Miami pursuing the American dream where she launched her own swimsuit line and producing her own fashion shows & also working with a few segments at the Hispanic & popular TV show “Sabado Gigante” -- starting a life here in our city. After the crashing of the economy in 2009 and for a woman that never gives up, she decided to write articles about fashion for Examiner.com (national online magazine) becoming a Miami Celebrity Fashion Examiner. Her articles starting to be on Google news gaining recognition between Miami’s top designers. Some of them were later represented by her in Public Relations. In 2011, she started her own business Miami Fashion Spotlight.Org not as a personal fashion blog but a fashion media, showcasing all that happens in the fashion business with exclusive interviews with national celebrities and luminaries of fashion, in addition to Grammy Award singers, Miami’s top designers, supermodels, as well as significant coverage of the best events, making Lissette Rondon a celebrated fashion influencer in the Magic City. Miami Fashion Spotlight has become the most important accomplished in her goals leading this business woman to win two awards such as “Publicist of year 2013” and “Fashion Influencer of the Year 2016" by Women in the Arts Miami. “Miami Fashion Spotlight.Org” was also awarded as "Best "Blog of the Year 2016 by Women in the Arts Miami." In 2018 Miami Fashion Spotlight was awarded by Feedspot as "Top 15 Florida Blog and in 2019 was awarded among the "13 Top Florida Fashion Blogs" by Expertido. Today, her creation Miamifashionspotlight.org is publishing every week articles in English and Spanish and is composed by an amazing team of photographers and make-up artists along with her as a President and her husband as CEO and many collaborators in Miami—what she called her blessing! Contact her at lr@miamifashionspotlight.org