How this celebrity fashion stylist is honoring late husband and raising awareness for NYC dementia care

Celebrity fashion designer Montgomery Frazier, famously dubbed ‘The Image Guru’ for shaping 70s and MTV generation style, celebrated the launch of his newest line, Ben-Mo-2-0.com, dedicated to his late husband, Ben Mindich, with a tribute fashion show at The Bristal Assisted Living in Manhattan.

Amongst a lively atmosphere featuring disco music, themed cocktails, and a live performance, Frazier explained the inspiration behind his collection was simply to celebrate his husband’s legacy.

“Ben was a peacock in every sense of the word—always vibrant, fearless, and full of love. When he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, I found myself in a surreal reality, caring for him 24/7,” Frazier told amNewYork Metro. “Creating these clothes was my way to keep his spirit alive.”

The collection — aptly named Ben-Mo-2-0, Ben and Montgomery Reboot — features bold, colorful designs similar to the lively personality Mindich is remembered for, according to loved ones.

According to Frazier, the collection started from a need for an income when he had to sacrifice his professional career to care for Mindich.

“I had to think of a way to make some money,” he said. “I had no idea about e-commerce, so I was doing all of this in between caregiver duties and fumbling through all of it. But Ben was right there beside me.”

Mindich passed away in February at the age of 82.

The collection’s feature pieces include a collaboration with Mindich’s daughter, Jamie Mindich-Klasfeld, whose artwork—a painting of poppies—became a central motif. Frazier also transformed a black-and-white profile of Ben into an abstract pattern for a part of the release.

The event drew notable figures, including model and artist Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, who praised the collection’s personal and fearless nature.

“Montgomery has spent his life dressing icons and defining style, but this collection is deeply personal – it’s vibrant, fearless, and full of love,” Costin said in a statement. “It’s a beautiful way to keep Ben’s spirit alive and show that no matter your age, living colorfully keeps you vibrant and connected.”

Frazier emphasized that the collection aims to make style accessible to all, especially those impacted by dementia or caring for loved ones.

“I designed this for everyone—those who want to express themselves without breaking the bank,” he said.

A portion of the proceeds will go towards CaringKind, New York’s leading organization supporting dementia caregivers. Photo courtesy of The Bristal Assisted Living.

Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, president and CEO of CaringKind, praised the event’s impact.

“Events like this underscore how powerful the arts can be in connecting people, especially those affected by dementia,” Tornatore-Mikesh said.

Montgomery shared how he was able to turn his grief into a mission.

“Ben continues to drive and inspire me”, he said. “He was the love of life. His passing became not only a mission bit a crusade for me.

The event was further enriched by author Anthony Haden-Guest, who shared insights on the disco era’s cultural significance, emphasizing that such celebrations help keep memories alive and spirits young.

“It was a labor of love that has taken me years, so I was nervous about it, but everybody came together, Frazier said. ” Ben’s spirit was there all day cause not a snafu happened. It went off without a hitch.”

The show also marked Frazier’s first fashion venture under his own name after decades of styling icons like Cher, Madonna, and Duran Duran for iconic moments on MTV and at Live Aid.

This tribute collection honors a love lost and aims to create a legacy of hope, vibrancy, and advocacy.