3 Creative Live Activation Ideas for your NYFW + Valentine's Day Event

Valentine’s day is taking place during New York Fashion Week once again! If you’re in search of the perfect, on-theme activation to entertain your guests with, you’re in the right place! Here are some creative station ideas to make your special event unforgettable:


 

Guest in sketches in this post are wearing looks from Dior Spring ‘26 and Valentino Spring 26

 

  1. Decorate your own fashion portrait

Guest’s love seeing themselves transformed into fashion sketches, especially when they’re dressed for the front row! Take it a step further by setting up a little decoration station where guests can then embellish their portraits with stickers, glitter, or other fun accents. Bonus points if you include branded elements! For example: stickers of mini shopping bags with your logo, or tiny product stickers guests can place on their sketch. This not only adds a playful, interactive touch, but it also reinforces your brand in a memorable way!

Live Fashion sketches: Get guests involved by letting them embellish their portraits after the artist draws them.

2. Fashion ‘Galentines’

Treat your guests to their own Valentine featuring a fun fashion portrait of themselves. To make it extra special, you can provide lace, colorful mini paper hearts, and ribbons so they can each decorate their Valentine themselves after having their sketch done. This is a perfect way to give attendees a keepsake they’ll treasure, and also invite them to join in on the creativity.

Fashion valentines: Guests can take their completed sketch over to the DIY valentine station and get creative!

3. Themed live product customization

Have an artist onsite to personalize your gift bags in real time! This creates a lasting, functional memento from the event, and also gives guests highly shareable, on-theme content. It works especially well for cosmetics and fashion brands, events with swag and sponsors, and bridal showers or parties.

Product customization: Guests can request specific motifs, or the artist can offer design options from a brand approved list.

After all, when Fashion Week and Valentine’s day overlap, it’s the perfect excuse to host the cutest event! 💕

Which of these ideas is your favorite? Leave a comment!

 

Deanna Kei is a fashion and beauty illustrator who collaborates with brands to create custom illustrations, and illustrated trend reports and content. She also sketches guests live at special events, brand activations, weddings, and private parties. To discuss a collaboration or book live fashion art for your next event contact: DeannaKei@gmail.com or see here for more details!

Creating Custom Cookware for Gigi Hadid: A Special Collaboration with Maybelline

In celebration of Gigi Hadid’s 30th birthday this past April, Maybelline commissioned me to custom design and paint a Le Creuset Dutch oven as a one-of-a-kind gift from the brand to Gigi.

 
Custom-painted Dutch oven by Deanna Kei for Gigi Hadid’s birthday, featuring illustrations of her favorite things.

The finished design for Gigi

 

Gigi has been an important Maybelline brand partner for many years, and they wanted to give her something extra special for her 30th birthday this year. So… what does one gift to Gigi Hadid?! Her love of cooking is well known — she’s even shared photos of her Le Creuset collection in the past. Maybelline and the PR agency LaForce reached out to me with the perfect way to combine her interests into an extremely personalized gift with a luxury level of customization.

Included Maybelline lipstick in the design of course!

They provided inspiration images along with insight into Gigi’s favorite colors and personal interests, and I presented several concepts for review.

Their original inspiration board presented quite a challenge: how could I incorporate such a wide range of interests — pasta, horses, the color yellow, lipstick, photography, New York City — into a cohesive design? Suddenly, my sketchbook was full of unusual ideas: flowers with pasta petals, the NYC skyline with lipstick and pasta replacing some of the buildings... [trust me, you don’t want to know].

Gigi loves photography so LaForce asked to include it in the design!

At first, I was envisioning fully painted scenes that would cover the entire pot — but it just wasn’t feeling like me. I realized I had been approaching the piece like a painter — and my strength is in illustration. Once I shifted to thinking in illustrated vignettes, the creative direction really came into focus.

Using Procreate on my iPad, I mocked up six of my favorite designs onto a photo of the Dutch oven so the client could visualize how each would look on the actual pot.

After they selected their favorite concept, we collaborated closely through the approval process. We exchanged a few rounds of emails and revisions before locking it in. Working digitally in Procreate gave me the flexibility to make quick edits and reposition elements as needed.

Finding oven-safe and dishwasher-safe ceramic paints that didn’t require kiln firing was another challenge. After a ton of research, I discovered a French brand that was perfect and fully heat-safe: Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paints and paint markers, and I learned that synthetic brushes were recommended for type of paint. I bought a fresh set of brushes to avoid contamination — it was important that no non-bake-safe material mixed in.

Custom-painted Dutch oven by Deanna Kei for Gigi Hadid’s birthday, featuring illustrations of her favorite things.

These Pebeo paints were perfect for the job!

The paints needed to be cured in the oven to fully seal them. I had never “baked” my art before, so I picked up a mini Dutch oven locally to perfect the process before working on Gigi’s piece.

During the test run, I learned a few helpful lessons:

  • Once the Pebeo paints are dry, but prior to curing, you can’t paint over them — they’ll chip off.

  • In the seconds before they being to dry, you can wipe them off cleanly with water.

  • Some colors are more opaque than others.

  • You can layer and re-cure paint as many times as needed to correct or adjust areas.

Outlining the illustration with a Pebeo paint pen

Then came the really complicated part: replicating my approved illustration onto the full-sized Dutch oven! I re-sketched each component of my design separately on paper, cut them out, and positioned them on the pot while measuring spacing. I re-worked them a few times until the sizing and spacing were correct.

Since everything needed to be oven-safe, I couldn’t use chalk or pencil guidelines — so I freehanded the entire design, removing one paper at a time and drawing in it’s place. Thankfully, the paint’s water solubility gave me a few seconds to correct any missteps.

I used the paint pens to draw clean black outlines for each motif. Once that dried I then filled in the colors with liquid paint using my new brushes.

Filling in the outline with Pebeo ceramic paint

The Pebeo Porcelaine paints had very specific instructions: 72 hours of air-drying, then oven curing at the recommended temperature and time. Once cured, the paint became permanent and fully functional.

The finished Dutch oven features a vibrant, personalized design that features many of Gigi’s favorite things: pasta, photography, New York City, horses, sunflower yellow, and of course: Maybelline lipstick. The gift was shipped directly to her as a birthday surprise from her longtime brand partner.

The final design wraps around the entire dutch oven!

It was such a fun, unique project to work on — and a great learning experience for working with heat-safe materials. I’m so grateful Maybelline chose to partner with me on this. I hope Gigi Hadid loves it!

Deanna Kei is a fashion and beauty illustrator who collaborates with brands to create custom illustrations, and artwork. She also sketches guests live at special events, brand activations, weddings, and private parties. To discuss a collaboration or book live fashion art for your next event contact: DeannaKei@gmail.com or see here for more details!

Fall/Winter 2025 Runway Sketches: The Best of New York, Paris, and Milan Fashion Weeks

While every season is 'fashion season', there's something special about the Fall/Winter collections, showcased from January to March, that always gets me feeling extra inspired! I’ve translated some of the best runway looks of the season into fashion illustrations—take a look below as I break the styles down for you!

  1. Chanel, Fall Winter 2025, Collection shown at Paris Fashion Week

Chanel viral pigeon runway show Paris Fashion Week illustration by Deanna Kei

Chanel’s recent Fall 2025 collection is easily my favorite runway show of the season (and I’m not just saying that because of the pigeon that snuck onto the runway, opened the show, and went viral)! This collection offered a fresh, modern take on the timeless Chanel aesthetic that we all know and love. Key highlights included the iconic Chanel tweed and bouclé, paired with layers of sheer fabrics and innovative new silhouettes.

The second standout look above showcased a stunning blue ombré ensemble with a ‘denim effect,’ but it was actually made of sheer fabric, adding an unexpected twist to the classic Chanel style.

2. Diesel, Fall Winter 2025, Collection shown at Milan Fashion Week

Diesel Fall 2025 runway fashion week sketch illustration by Deanna Kei

This Diesel look from the Fall 2025 collection seamlessly combined unique textures, shine, and a cool wash with a print-like effect into one stunning silhouette. Known for their innovative fabric treatments, Diesel continues to impress with their attention to detail. The head-to-toe matching set gave off a jumpsuit vibe, but it’s made up of two highly wearable separates.

The moto jacket stood out with its metallic silver collar and lapels, offering a fresh take on a classic design. Its tailored length and fit distinguish it from the typical moto silhouettes we’ve seen before. The weight and stiffness of the fabric held its shape, giving the pants a powerful presence on the runway.

3. Carolina Herrera, Fall Winter 2025, Collection shown at New York Fashion Week

Carolina Herrera NYFW runway look fashion sketch illustration by Deanna Kei

Roses on the runway! Carolina Herrera was one of the top New York designers this season, drawing inspiration from roses and flowers. The stunning rosette-like blouse made a bold statement, beautifully complemented by the voluminous solid colored skirt below. The floral motif and dramatic silhouette make this look a standout piece from the Fall 2025 collection.

4. Norma Kamali, Fall Winter 2025, Collection shown at New York Fashion Week

Norma Kamali Fall 2025 runway NYFW sketch by Deanna Kei

Norma Kamali’s Fall 2025 collection embodied her signature ability to create dynamic presentations, full of movement. One notable look from the collection featured a multidimensional ensemble that skillfully balanced contrasting textures and fabric weights in a wearable, all-black look.

The outfit consisted of sheer wide-leg pants and a sheer top, layered with structured leather shorts and a faux fur jacket, which added an additional level of depth to the look. Kamali’s design sensibility continues to showcase her expertise in blending bold elements with functionality, as was the case with her Fall 2025 runway pieces.

5. Sacai, Pre-Fall 2025, Collection shown at Paris Fashion Week

Pre-Fall 2025 Sacai runway fashion art illustration by Deanna Kei, showcasing the latest trends

Sacai is a master of tailoring, expertly balancing asymmetrical designs with mixed fabrics and color blocking. They’re one of my favorite designers to watch. This look from their Pre-Fall 2025 collection was an exciting take on the classic oversized blazer and skirt suit set.

The blazer featured contrasting lapels on each side, adding a bold element to the traditional silhouette. The panels of the jacket were made from different tonal fabrics, further elevating the design with a subtle texture play. The outfit was completed with chunky fur boot covers.

6. Prada, Fall Winter 2025, Men’s Collection shown at Milan Fashion Week

Illustration of Prada Fall 2025 menswear runway collection, showcasing designs from Fashion Week by artist Deanna Kei

The Prada Fall 2025 menswear collection was a luxurious blend of knits, wovens, faux furs, and bold prints. The look featured above stood out as one of my favorites. The straight-leg trousers were highlighted by a subtle, tonal grain stripe, while the burgundy sweater, accented with metal hardware, was paired with a faux fur hooded capelet adorned with a floral print. Variations of this whimsical print appeared in different colors on the boots worn by many of the models on the runway. Each element was expertly combined, showcasing Prada’s ability to create a cohesive and striking collection.

Fall/Winter 2025 Runway Roundup: Designers presented a diverse range of looks and silhouettes across their collections, but one key element that stood out was the emphasis on fabrication. Various fabrics and textures were expertly paired together, adding a fresh twist to classic shapes. Sheer and lightweight materials contrasted beautifully with heavier, more structured pieces. Solid colors were complimented by textured inserts, prints, or shine. Layering, as always, played a crucial role in Fall fashion trends, and the 2025 collections are giving us plenty of mix-and-match layering options to experiment with.

 

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Fall 2025 runway fashion illustrations by Deanna Kei featured in blog post showcasing trends from Milan, Paris, and NYC fashion weeks
 

Deanna Kei is a fashion and beauty illustrator who collaborates with brands to create custom illustrations, and illustrated trend reports and content. She also sketches guests live at special events, brand activations, weddings, and private parties. To discuss a collaboration or book live fashion art for your next event contact: DeannaKei@gmail.com or see here for more details!