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story by Landon Peoples
photos by Aya & Ned Rosen
When asked to describe a typical night in the Antonoff Manor, her Spring 2012 collection, ready-to-wear designer Rachel Antonoff easily exclaimed, “well, they’re getting ready to murder off their pets and they’re preparing their pet cemetery. I think they’re being really creepy in there.” How’s that for innocent? Antonoff left no question unanswered when it came to her inspiration of Minnie Mouse fused with Wednesday Addams. The two may be completely polar, but the designer managed to make them completely covalent with polka dot rompers, maxi fruit cup print dresses and see-thru chiffon blouses. Thick eyebrows, glum faces, and pigtails complimented her pieces as the models stared into the souls of onlookers. Bold. Enchanting. Utterly haunting.
A stroll through Antonoff’s Spring 2012 presentation brought models holding foam axes perched situated within an entirely hand-drawn and cut-out (literally) pop-up set, the sounds of famed DJ Tennessee Thomas, a live cat, and spider webs galore. The hats, a collaboration with Albertus Swanepoel, could have easily passed as Antonoff’s modern version of Minnie Mouse ears with their black and white colors and geometric shapes. Patent leather lace-up Oxfords with neon and clear accents, from Bass, added a mischievous, retro spin that was quintessential Antonoff. “I want people to think of this collection as adding the perfect amount of salt to dark chocolate,” Antonoff said. Rachel Antonoff’s Spring 2012 collection was just that: salty, then sweet. The perfect combination.
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