Tadashi Shoji Dresses Strong Women

To a group of us after his frothy Spring 2014 show, Tadashi Shoji said in lieu of his theme: “It doesn’t take big shoulder pads and dark pant suits for a woman to be strong.” Known for his feminine party clothes, Mr. Shoji’s current regard for power dressing was not necessarily indicated by either his track record, or what had just gently glided by on the runway. On closer inspection of the impeccably crafted dresses and gowns, I started to see just what sort of strength Mr. Shoji championed and how it was achieved.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by udor

To a group of us after his frothy Spring 2014 show, Tadashi Shoji said in lieu of his theme: “It doesn’t take big shoulder pads and dark pant suits for a woman to be strong.” Known for his feminine party clothes, Mr. Shoji’s current regard for power dressing was not necessarily indicated by either his track record, or what had just gently glided by on the runway. On closer inspection of the impeccably crafted dresses and gowns, I started to see just what sort of strength Mr. Shoji championed and how it was achieved. Continue reading “Tadashi Shoji Dresses Strong Women”

Jen Kao – Daring Devore Combinations

In a chilly, hazy hangar of a space, against a backdrop of gauzy white curtains, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell, a collection materialized wherein classic singer/songwriter leitmotifs like denim, plaid and devore were sent through Ms. Kao’s cutting tunnel. What came out the other side, once ingeniously stitched back together, was redolent of the past but defiantly new. “This season is about versatility. The clothes ask a girl – beg a girl to want to put it together for herself.” So said Los Angeles-based designer Jen Kao of her billowy, skin baring, hippie/jet setter Spring 2014 collection.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by Charles Beckwith

In a chilly, hazy hangar of a space, against a backdrop of gauzy white curtains, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell, a collection materialized wherein classic singer/songwriter leitmotifs like denim, plaid and devore were sent through Ms. Kao’s cutting tunnel. What came out the other side, once ingeniously stitched back together, was redolent of the past but defiantly new. “This season is about versatility. The clothes ask a girl – beg a girl to want to put it together for herself.” So said Los Angeles-based designer Jen Kao of her billowy, skin baring, hippie/jet setter Spring 2014 collection. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Daring Devore Combinations”

Naeem Kahn – Spanish Fire

Naeem Kahn takes us from Madrid to Buenos Aires for a Spring 2014 trip to beautiful. Essential motifs of Latin passion- flamenco, the lace mantilla and bold red roses, are vehicles for the journey. A master of embellishment, Kahn gave a profusion of Chantilly lace, floral embroidery, caviar beading, seed pearls, hand-painted fabric, and metallic appliqué, but he balanced all that with simple silhouettes and a mostly red, black, white and gold color scheme. The effect, though fancy, was never excessive.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by udor

Naeem Kahn takes us from Madrid to Buenos Aires for a Spring 2014 trip to beautiful. Essential motifs of Latin passion- flamenco, the lace mantilla and bold red roses, are vehicles for the journey. A master of embellishment, Kahn gave a profusion of Chantilly lace, floral embroidery, caviar beading, seed pearls, hand-painted fabric, and metallic appliqué, but he balanced all that with simple silhouettes and a mostly red, black, white and gold color scheme. The effect, though fancy, was never excessive. Continue reading “Naeem Kahn – Spanish Fire”

Jeremy Laing – Rave On, Barbie

Jeremy Laing lives and works in Toronto, where the winter is long and dark, and summer is lovingly referred to as three months of bad sledding. An understandable longing for hot summer days and hotter nights informed his Spring-Summer 2014 collection, shown in New York, where we take heat waves for grumpily granted. When the sprightly young designer was asked to verbally autograph the show moments before it began he chirruped, “its Malibu Beach Barbie goes to a rave!”

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by Charles Beckwith

Jeremy Laing lives and works in Toronto, where the winter is long and dark, and summer is lovingly referred to as three months of bad sledding. An understandable longing for hot summer days and hotter nights informed his Spring-Summer 2014 collection, shown in New York, where we take heat waves for grumpily granted. When the sprightly young designer was asked to verbally autograph the show moments before it began he chirruped, “its Malibu Beach Barbie goes to a rave!” Continue reading “Jeremy Laing – Rave On, Barbie”

Reem Acra – Star Strut

The clear message from Reem Acra for Spring 2014 is get up and dance. There were no backstage discussions of empowering women or clothes conferring confidence for the demands of their busy lives. No, no. Ms. Acra wants her girls to have some fun. Proof was the show started, not with the expected selection of spiffy day looks, but rather with a sparkly detonation of molten, bias cut, and draped party dresses in black, the key shade of night.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by Charles Beckwith

The clear message from Reem Acra for Spring 2014 is get up and dance. There were no backstage discussions of empowering women or clothes conferring confidence for the demands of their busy lives. No, no. Ms. Acra wants her girls to have some fun. Proof was the show started, not with the expected selection of spiffy day looks, but rather with a sparkly detonation of molten, bias cut, and draped party dresses in black, the key shade of night. Continue reading “Reem Acra – Star Strut”

Helmut Lang – No Corners Cut

“We like the idea that something is constructed and crisp, but at the same time is floaty and easy.” These were the calm and precise words of Nicole Colovos, minutes before presenting the Helmut Lang Spring 2014 collection, which she designed with her husband, Michael Colovos. Crisp. Sharp. Pure. Clean. These were the touchstone words for the collection. The beautiful tension between construction and ease originated in natural fabrics like chintzed silk, twisted linen, and cotton waxed or in simple white shirting. Even the leather, in either matte or perforated treatment, looked cool and comfy, bonded like the wool pieces to soft jersey to create comfortable effortless efficiency.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by Charles Beckwith

“We like the idea that something is constructed and crisp, but at the same time is floaty and easy.” These were the calm and precise words of Nicole Colovos, minutes before presenting the Helmut Lang Spring 2014 collection, which she designed with her husband, Michael Colovos. Crisp. Sharp. Pure. Clean. These were the touchstone words for the collection. The beautiful tension between construction and ease originated in natural fabrics like chintzed silk, twisted linen, and cotton waxed or in simple white shirting. Even the leather, in either matte or perforated treatment, looked cool and comfy, bonded like the wool pieces to soft jersey to create comfortable effortless efficiency.

Continue reading “Helmut Lang – No Corners Cut”

Nanette Lepore – Fall 2011

There was a lightness and breath of breezy contentment to Nanette Lepore’s Fall 2011 collection. Creative and clever detailing provide a compelling complexity that once again points out, although Mrs. Lepore is justly famous for fun and breezy clothing, she is a serious thinker and designer. Each piece felt complete and fully realized. This season was laden with meaning for Nanette Lepore, as it was inspired by her late mother and in many ways felt as much of a celebration of her life as it did any sort of austere memorial.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero

There was a lightness and breath of breezy contentment to Nanette Lepore’s Fall 2011 collection. Creative and clever detailing provide a compelling complexity that once again points out, although Mrs. Lepore is justly famous for fun and frilly clothing, she is a serious thinker and designer. Each piece felt complete and fully realized. This season was laden with meaning for Nanette Lepore, as it was inspired by her late mother and in many ways felt as much of a celebration of her life as it did any sort of austere memorial. Continue reading “Nanette Lepore – Fall 2011”

Sunghee Bang – Photo Feature

Sitting down with Sunghee Bang was an inspiring experience. Never mind that the tall beauty could be a model herself, her pieces are inspired by her own love of comfort, what works on her tall frame (though they can work on anyone’s frame), and androgyny.

story by Dana Varon
photos by Aeric Meredith-Goujon
fashion styling by Rowshana Jackson
makeup by Joel Angel
hair styling by Damon Alfonso
model is Sietzka of Fenton Moon

Sitting down with Sunghee Bang was an inspiring experience. Never mind that the tall beauty could be a model herself, her pieces are inspired by her own love of comfort, what works on her tall frame (though they can work on anyone’s frame), and androgyny. Continue reading “Sunghee Bang – Photo Feature”

The Blonds – Fall 2011

Bejeweled corsets, cat suits, kimonos, silk dresses and fringed silk skirts caressed the bodies of anvil- tressed mannequins on the runway at Milk Studios in New York. Anna May Wong, eat your heart out, with golden chopsticks!

story by Carmella bella McDonald
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen

It’s true, evidently, that “Blonds” have more fun, especially when you’re talking about Phillipe and David Blond, the downtown dynamic duo of glam slam glitter couture. Their dazzling collaboration should be familiar to anyone who’s seen a music video in the last five years. There are no more stars in the heavens than have strutted their way on stage in their sparkling and spectacular masterpieces. Continue reading “The Blonds – Fall 2011”

Michael Angel – A Palette of Passion – Photo Feature

Michael Angel has literally been seeing colors in his head since he was a child.

story and styling by Seth Friedermann
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen
makeup by Laura Stiassni
hair styling by Marisa Bollman
model Jamie Gunns from Ford Model Management

Australian-born designer Michael Angel is building a substantial body of work. Heading now into his eleventh season, his play with colored prints has become a known signature to those in the fashion know. It’s impressive how season after season he creates clothing that bares his bold and beautiful stamp, yet each successive collection is infused with a freshness and feels unique and new. To some extent the cuts and treatments of his designs aid in creating that feeling, but it’s primarily the fact that he is solely internally inspired that allows him to do this. Michael Angel has literally been seeing colors in his head since he was a child. “I come from a very visual childhood. When I was younger I used to see colors in dreams, and I would always have the same kind of dreams, where I would see colors intertwined with each or meshed up together, and I would wake up and think what the hell was that?” His choices in how the colors interplay, or are shaped or focused, is part of the emotional impact of each piece from a collection. This is because he makes those choices based on how it hits him. “I’m very affected by color. It makes me happy, it makes me sad, it moves me, it makes me feel.” Continue reading “Michael Angel – A Palette of Passion – Photo Feature”