I’ve always been a fan of Cadillac but got to know the brand better when I was shortlisted as a finalist for the IVY Innovation Awards sponsored by them. Their efforts to support innovative designers by giving them exposure and a platform to present their work made me appreciate them on a whole new level. Automobile engineering is one of the most innovative fields and the fact that Cadillac wants to share in the process with fellow innovators makes the brand that much cooler. When they offered me the brand new Escalade to try out, I was excited. Being a New Yorker, I’m used to public transport but it was a welcome change to be able to drive around in this brand new luxurious SUV.

STYLE

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. The 2016 Cadillac Escalade features a modern design, powerful capability and sumptuous amenities that keep luxury firmly in the driver’s seat. Escalade’s design provides a signature look of quality, elegance and capability. The styling cues combine sculpted surfaces and high-technology embellishments to give Escalade a unique and standout appearance.

Inside, the Escalade has a unique dashboard design and upgraded materials that include real wood trim, synthetic suede accents, and premium leather upholstery. Escalades have been sought after for a long time now and for good reason. Their style is undeniable. Like them, I value effortless and everlasting style that transcends fads and trends. I think style should be made to last, and I ensure this by using the best fabrics to create my garments.

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Me getting out of the Cadillac 2016 Escalade wearing the Danielle sweater dress.  

COMFORT

The car is so spacious it fit my parents, sister, adorable niece and me more than comfortably! SUVs have this sense of purpose that I love. The Cadillac 2016 Escalade was perfect for a couple of weekend trips with my family. With it's luxurious interior and smartly designed utility features, it was stylish, comfortable and a great pleasure to be in. Those are the same adjectives I apply to my clothing. I think your clothes should travel as well as your car does. Give you great mileage to boot. Like the Escalade, the outfits I wore were comfortable, meant for travel and conducive to sitting for long stretches of time. I know how annoying it is to commute to work, just to show up in clothes that are crushed from the long drive. Soft knits that contour to your body don't wrinkle as much as woven fabrics do and they give you the range of movement you need to maneuver a car, especially an SUV. 

 

 

VERSATILITY

I am a big advocate of versatility, as you can see from all of my designs and hundreds of articles I have written on here.

The 2016 Escalade is a perfect combination of sophistication, functionality and technology. And this combination makes the Escalade the epitome of versatility. 

It delivers powerful performance on all roads, and it impresses from inside out. 

Interior: Extra Interior Space with Power Folding Third Row Seats

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Exterior: Striking Design with Practicality and Presence

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Luxury Utility: Features That Are Equally Functional and Fashionable

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Safety: Long List of Features that Leaves You Drive Confidently

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This vehicle is great for both business and leisure, for one person and the whole family. It's a car that makes a statement and leaves a great impression. You will be proud to drive it to anywhere, for any occasion. 

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INNOVATION

The 2016 Escalade had some really cool features that you'll love (I know I did!):
- Wireless charging for all your portable devices.
- Surround vision created by 4 cameras, helping you navigate better
- Heated front and second row seats
- Hands free power, programmable lift gate
- Bose surround sound speakers
- Theft Deterrent package
- DVD screens in the second row
- Heated steering wheel 

Luxury brands sometimes tend to take innovation for granted. They come with new designs, fabrics and trims but the functionality gets lost in all the glamor. Cadillac is trying to redefine how luxury car manufacturers are seen. They want to be taken seriously, not for shiny cars, but for innovative design. I’ve been associated with Cadillac through the IVY Innovator Award for Design that they sponsor and truly admire their dedication. Like them, I endeavor to make my customer’s lives better through innovative products.

Love how the logo and the colors I'm wearing match so perfectly. The luxury of the car and the Margaret reversible coat are complementary

 

What's more, Cadillac recently launched “Dare Greatly” an integrated advertising campaign marking a new era for the brand. They support innovation and feature innovative designers from every design discipline. The campaign was inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's speech "The Man in the Arena":

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

Posing with this stylish car in the Danielle reversible sweater dress.

Stopped to take a picture wearing the Katerina reversible dress.

 

Enjoying the evergreens wearing the Katerina reversible dress and Margaret reversible coat.

 Taking a stroll by the beach and keeping warm in the Margaret reversible coat (left) layered over the Katerina reversible dress (right).