| text by Seth Friedermann photos by Adrianna Favero garments and styling by Diego Binetti hair by Annie Reynor makeup by Jacque Greco model is Sima of Elite Model Management styling assistants Zimir Hernandez, Sierra Baskind, & Ashley Roberts |
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modaCYCLE’s editors wish to express their |
| There is a long and splendid line of designers who create romantic and imaginative designs that spring from an idealized woman in their head. Very often this mythical muse has had a grip on their minds for a long time. When that designer is successful it is almost solely due to the fact that the woman in their head is whom the women of their time aspire to be.
Diego Binetti is precisely that type of designer and his shows at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are always a sumptuous and stylish feast for the senses. |
He is undoubtedly a romantic, but it is important to understand that he is a realist as well. His realism extends from his creative process to the business of the fashion market. Mr. Binetti understands how he needs to walk the line between creating works that sell and also being satisfied with himself as an artist.
He has a mature understanding of himself as a designer and it has helped his design process evolve. “One thing about being an artist is your are constantly working with your hands, your mind, and your imagination. You have to just let those three things flow. Often I’ll plan to do a specific shape or style and find that throughout the process of design I notice other ways that I wasn’t expecting and a new creation emerges.”
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Showing at the highest levels of global fashion, since 2002, it’s obvious that there has been refinement and growth in his designs. He is still true to the muse in his mind, but she’s grown and evolved as he has. Mr. Binetti understands himself better so he understands his clients better. As we spoke he made a fascinating point about the nature of fashion as a part of culture, “As society develops, design must as well. Design is a part of a system, it’s a part of society and fashion design has to change with it.” It’s that dual focus on his art, and the culture that he creates it both for and in, that has allowed him to have such a strong career. Top fashion designers usually have a wide variety of skills, but being keen observers of culture is not one that’s often highlighted. But it is this very talent that Diego Binetti feels is the cornerstone of his success. He studies his clients and he pinpoints his knowledge of the details of their day-in day-out life as the key component the he needs to stay connected with in order to continue his success, “My woman is becoming more self sustained, more relaxed and freer within herself.” His Fall 2011 collection definitely showed that and it’s likely that his Spring 2012 collection will only represent his evolving vision in a stronger way. Diego Binetti’s fashions may be fit for the women of legends, but they are worn by the women of today.
