story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Rachel Renee
In full disclosure, I have to mention that I am very fond of Jackie Fraser Swan, the designer of Emerson. We speak fairly often and I think she’s one of the bright young lights in fashion that I am really pulling for. That is why I was briefly concerned with a small section of her Spring 2013 collection as it came down the runway at Lincoln Center. Mrs. Fraser-Swan drew upon the 1970s as her inspiration, and a few of the looks were too literal. Inspiration is often tricky for a young designer; out of affection for a person, place, or time, they copy instead of create. Fortunately, this was only the case with a very few of her creations, and the majority of the collection was fun, flirty, creative, and very aggressive.
Mrs. Fraser-Swan’s signature is her identification with counter-culture movements. Those that dressed to stand out, and more importantly, to stand against the status quo. Her connection with them is palpable and gives her work a powerfully defiant edge. But her designs are never unfeminine, and that makes her fashion very special. Her Spring 2013 collection was her best expression of this formula yet, and should increase both awareness and sales of this rising young talent.
