The invites have started arriving for the shows and presentations taking place during New York Fashion Week and this year, more designers have opted for email invitations and “save the dates” over physical invites in the mail. While we are always a fan of snail mail, this e-invite from Band of Outsiders caught our eye today. As we’ve told you before, Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg is a big polaroid fan, so it’s fitting that the invite for the LA-based label’s presentation takes the form of a vintage polaroid picture. We also love that the info is displayed on the marquee — a great touch. So, what shows are you looking forward to attending or reading about during New York Fashion Week? What do you think of the move to e-vites over actual paper invites? Post your comments below…
New York Fashion Week ended on Thursday but we’ve still got a couple shows left to recap. And when the shows are as bold and exciting as Rad Hourani’s show at Milk Studios the other day, well, you can’t help but want to read — and write — all about it.
The Montreal-based Hourani has become of the buzziest designers in recent weeks, thanks to hisTommy Ton-shot lookbook and his new collection for spring/summer, which featured plenty of hard-hitting, androgynous looks in an almost completely black and white palette. Equal parts space-age and medieval age, the garments also drew inspiration from metal rock, goth and even ballet, resulting in a collection that Hourani called “asexual” and “aseasonal.”
Models clomped down the runway in embellished motorcycle jackets, draped blouses and backpack-like capes, paired with shredded leggings, slashed shorts and — for both women AND men — some uncomfortable looking four-inch squared-toe heels (We remarked early on that the male models seemed to be walking gingerly and then had an “Ah Ha..” moment minutes later when we looked down at their shoes). Collars were almost non-existent on many of the garments, while the flaps on the jackets and pullovers were cut large and loose. Zippers and metal chains made hefty accents, to balance the otherwise sheer and flowy fabrics. While it takes a special individual to be able to pull off the complete Hourani look, we hear buyers are already lining up to place their orders on some of the more wearable pieces from the collection.
Check out a clip of Rad Hourani’s runway show, shot with our FLIP cameras, below:
For his spring/summer presentation, Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg turned Milk Studios into a California beach party, complete with mounds of sand, a tidal wave backdrop and even model airplanes. It was an elaborate set-up for his new men’s collection and BOY by Band of Outsiders women’s collection, inspired this season by 1970s Malibu and Beach Boy Dennis Wilson’s solo album “Pacific Ocean Blue.”
The influences were seen in both collections, with cuffed khakis, boat-neck sweaters and shrunken blazers for women, and light tuxedo suiting, chambray shirts and madras prints for the guys. The look for women was loose and relaxed (think pleated drawstring dresses and oversized boyfriend shirts), while the men sported trimmer silhouettes with subtle details like silk trim on the blazers, and inside-out shirts and polos. Band of Outsiders’ footwear partnership with Sperry also continues for spring/summer, with reconstructed penny loafers and suede/nylon boat shoes and chukkas (The women’s shoes were made by — get this — Manolo Blahnik, especially for the collection).
We love Band of Outsiders for being hip without being trendy, and Sternberg has a way of taking classic pieces and updating them with modern, unique touches that make them refreshing to see and wear. In fact, we saw more than a few pieces that we wanted in our closet. And judging by the huge turnout for the presentation (celebs like Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman included), we can safely assume that the clothes will be in many other closets this season as well.
We took our FLIP camera with us to fashion week this year. Check out video clips we shot of the models hanging out at the Band of Outsiders presentation below:
Let’s call a spade a spade: the Catherine Malandrino presentation the other day did not get off to a good start. Already in a tizzy after finding out the designer was showing her collection via presentation format this year as opposed to a runway show, the restless crowd outside the Chelsea Art Museum was then herded into long lines that wrapped around the block, by a frantic, yelling PR rep barking instructions about how nobody would be let in if they didn’t cooperate. Not exactly the usual fashion week welcome. Still, all was forgiven as soon as we saw the clothes.
Malandrino’s collection for spring/summer was titled “Nomads,” with tribal and island influences running throughout the ornamented knitwear and lavish dresses. Models were divided into different “tableaux,” each representing a specific cultural identity and look. The “Sudanese” clans sported graphic zebra-like prints on viscose jersey and chiffon dresses, along with black and ivory embroidered shorts and assymetrical tops. The “Saharan” section, meanwhile, featured models wearing beautifully draped cotton tunics, jersey leggings and harem pants in a warm palette of beige, light brown and ivory.
The “Peruvian” and “Polynesian” tribes rounded out the collection with a flurry of colors, patterns and less conceptual and more wearable garments. Loose shirt-dresses, crepe shorts and fringes were balanced by long and flowing gowns, with pierced waistlines and ruffle detailing. Many of the models wore elaborate, printed head-wraps or flower headbands, while others were “inked” with tribal tattoos on their arms and legs. We loved the diversity of all the looks, and also the diversity of models used. This was a collection that was colorful in every sense of the word. It was vibrant, detailed, thoughtful and fresh… We’d expect nothing else from Malandrino.
And now for something completely different… This was General Idea’s spring/summer collection for 2010: a strange mash-up of outer-worldly shapes, tribal prints and military-inspired menswear mixed with a bit of camp, a small (but potent) burst of color and enough strappy sandals and dark jumpsuits to channel a more fashion-forward Russell Crowe in Gladiator.
Korean designer Bumsuk Choi has already gained a loyal following for his line, which launched in 2004, and this year’s front row included editors from all the major men’s magazines (we sat just behind GQ), as well as Rag and Bone designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville. They all sat transfixed as the terse and experimental looks trotted down the runway, from black wool jumpsuits and harem pants, to extra-long cotton graphic tees and a pink polyester trench. Dark knit leggings and black leather sandals completed the look, which was powerful, edgy and so unlike anything else we’ve seen this week.
Not everyone can pull off tapered leather pants and jumpsuits, let alone make the pieces look modern and masculine, but Choi somehow made it all work. Though you’d be hard pressed to find someone wearing one of the label’s looks straight off the runway, the pieces, when taken individually, appeared loose and comfortable and easy to layer with something more basic. The fit was trim and tailored, though never skinny nor constricting, and they felt like a more stylish and fashion-forward alternative to the classic tees and tanks-look. As for those men looking to take a risk, there were plenty of garments for them as well…as long as they’ll be prepare d for an extra glance or two from people passing by.
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