Click for more photos of Samantha Black Spring/Summer 2014.

The church lights were bright and the crowd was effervescent. A wide, eccentric blend of music ranging from house to R&B filtered through the chatter that was brimming in the room. While the noise level made it clear the church wasn’t open for a Sunday reading, it was the Svedka Vodka on the tables that fully revealed the party atmosphere at Holy Apostles.

This was the opening of Samantha Black’s first NYFW show since her appearance on Project Runway, Sammy B “Double Sided.” Her Spring/Summer 2014 line debut marks her third overall appearance at NYFW, and her finalist position on Lifetime’s show has since garnered much attention from everyone.

After Tisch alumna Elle Varner gave a stunning vocal performance, numerous flamboyant floral dresses made their debut between the enclosing crowds. The line also included a lot of black and white color block outfits, where Sammy experimented with the occasional chain and daring cut-outs. To complement the slimming clothes, stylist Emily B. completed each model’s look with voluminous, blown out hair and Isola peep-toes, creating striking, dynamic outlines.

All the designs, while extremely diverse in cut, maintained a consistent feminine silhouette and wearable style. Sammy confirmed that those were her intentions. “Some girls like feminine,” she mused, “and other girls like comfortable clothes but want a feminine silhouette. I tried to work with that.”

The show had a general positive response from front-line viewers. Singer RaVaughn in particular was delighted: “I loved [the show]! I love Sammy and all the colors in her line… I love seeing people succeed at doing something they love.”

While the line itself was well received, other aspects of the night were questionable. Blaring house music and serving vodka in a church was interesting but confusing, and the unchanging bright lights that lit up the whole room meant the crowd was very much a distraction for the narrow runway. Furthermore, the disorganized manner in which the press and guests were let in caused a forty-minute delay before things kicked off, which effectively lowered the professionalism of the show.

A more cohesive choice of venue and music would’ve created a better overall presentation for “Double Sided,” but Sammy’s fun, feminine designs were great in that they’re not only chic but also sensible. There wasn’t a particular piece that stood out and defined the night, but her Spring/Summer line is definitely a worthy collection that leaves one wanting and expecting more.

Amanda Hua is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].