Features and Editorials – Page 4

Special Preview – Copperwheat Spring 2012 Collection

story and photography by Adrianna Favero
graphic design by Aya Rosen
print designs by Ben Copperwheat
hair and makeup by Kristy Strate
stylist Soukena Roussi
styling assistant Ashley Roberts
models are Lawrence Annunziata (Identities) and Caesar Stoval (RED)

Ben and Lee Copperwheat do not believe in wallflowers or in clothes that pander to the faint of heart. Even the most cursory glance at their line can tell you that much about their design style. This new collection is a bit of a turning point for the both the brand and its designers. After two seasons of energetic and challenging designs, that while captivating seemed to mystify buyers, the duo decided to follow the torrent of advice to produce a more market-friendly collection for Fall 2011. Unfortunately, this paradigm shift failed to yield any real results and deepen their market penetration. And so, for Spring 2012 these two brave Englishmen are tossing out the rules entirely and doing things their way. Continue reading “Special Preview – Copperwheat Spring 2012 Collection”

Ravel

Gail Travis has some very unusual cuts and concepts in her clothes. In fact, the full name of her label [N:F:P] is New Form Perspective. To show her clothes it was felt that motion was an essential element, so Aeric Meredith-Goujon set out to create such a piece.

directed by Aeric Meredith-Goujon
choreography by Irina Constantine Poulos
set design by Vita Tzykun
music by Aeric Meredith-Goujon and Andrew Burns
performed by Anna-Louise
makeup by Jewel Whinfield
hair by Dominique
second camera and technical assistant Aleks Degtyarev

Diego Binetti Never Fears Fantasy

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.

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

modaCYCLE’s editors wish to express their
sincere thanks to Old Westbury Gardens
and its staff for the use of their spectacular
grounds in the production of this feature.

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.

Continue reading “Diego Binetti Never Fears Fantasy”

Araks Makes It Sexy But Not Salacious

“I want women to feel beautiful, special, in a quiet way, in a subtle way.” Araks Yeramyan’s greatest strength as a designer may be her thorough thoughtfulness. She is a very considered person and has developed a design process that blends focus and freedom, which is a comfort zone reserved for veteran artists alone. Her clothes are soft, subtle, refined and beautiful. There is structure and detail, but it is incorporated in a seamless way. Her flow and softness are never disturbed.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Aeric Meredith-Goujon
makeup by Samantha Lennon
hair by Karima Murphi
styling by Seth Friedermann
models are Deborah and Laura from Q Model Management
garments by Araks, with shoes by A Detacher

“I want women to feel beautiful, special, in a quiet way, in a subtle way.”

Araks Yeramyan’s greatest strength as a designer may be her thorough thoughtfulness. She is a very considered person and has developed a design process that blends focus and freedom, which is a comfort zone reserved for veteran artists alone. Her clothes are soft, subtle, refined and beautiful. There is structure and detail, but it is incorporated in a seamless way. Her flow and softness are never disturbed. There’s not a great distance between the woman and the fashion she creates. Araks Yeramyan is a soft-spoken woman, but there is an intelligent strength to her that is not that far from the surface. So it is with her designs, whether her ready to wear or lingerie, they are feminine but not frilly, sexy but not salacious. Continue reading “Araks Makes It Sexy But Not Salacious”

Sally LaPointe – No Wonder Lady Gaga Is Wearing It

Sally LaPointe is one of the higher crests on the new wave of New York City fashion. This is not because her work has been being worn by Lady Gaga. That is a nice moment, but it is an effect not a cause. It is her intriguing creations that place her near the top of this new flood of talent that has been flowing down the catwalks of New York Fashion Week for the past few years. Her personal discipline and artistic self awareness are much greater than you would expect from a 27 year-old.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen
fashion styling by Michael Tucker
hair styling by Hitomi Mura
makeup by Isabel Ruiz
models Andrea I. and Sofia Monaco from Ford

Sally LaPointe is one of the higher crests on the new wave of New York City fashion. This is not because her work has been worn by Lady Gaga. That is a nice moment, but it is an effect and not a cause. It is her intriguing creations that place her near the top of this new flood of talent that has been flowing down the catwalks of New York Fashion Week for the past few years. Her personal discipline and artistic self awareness are much greater than you would expect from a 27 year-old. It’s possible to ascribe that to her being a native of Marblehead Massachusetts and coming from sturdy, “New England stock,” but closer to the mark is that Ms. LaPointe has an impressive history of decisiveness and drive. This has been on display since she was accepted into the outstanding Rhode Island School of Design for painting in 2007 and realized she wanted to be a fashion designer instead. From that fateful day she’s been a committed creator and has had a laser-like focus on improving her artistic expression. It is an inner journey but it is in no way a leisurely wander. Continue reading “Sally LaPointe – No Wonder Lady Gaga Is Wearing It”

Bodhi – Work, of art.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen

When you first see one, it’s immediately apparent that Bodhi handbags are different. Their mix of artistic creativity, cutting edge functionality, and a dash of humor is a potent mix. The root of their distinctiveness begins with the company’s founders, Angela Han and Joseph Janus. Mrs. Han is the founder of the wildly successful Eastport brand, and Mr. Janus is a creative director and marketer with a proven vision having reinvigorated JNCO jeans and created the successful music agency Fearless Management. While Mrs. Han is content to remain a silent partner, Mr. Janus is a restless soul who is constantly active, compulsively creative and possessed of a fevered imagination, which is forged into excellent designs only by a learned and disciplined work ethic. Continue reading “Bodhi – Work, of art.”

Jolibe Sets A Course For Uncharted Waters

Here there be dragons…maybe. Jolibe designers Joel Diaz and Christina LaPens have seen everything that fashion industry can throw at them. From being a struggling independent designer to having your clothes sold at Henri Bendel and becoming a right hand to Helmut Lang, for Mr. Diaz, and a successful career as a marketing and creative director for industry titans Victoria’s Secret, J. Crew, and many others for Mrs. LaPens. Then culminating with their label Jolibe being awarded a spot in the very first class of the CFDA’s Incubator, there’s no way they can be surprised by this business any more, right?

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero
hair and makeup by Claire Marshall
model is Lara from Fenton Moon

Here there be dragons…maybe. Jolibe designers Joel Diaz and Christina LaPens have seen everything that the fashion industry can throw at them. From being a struggling independent designer to having your clothes sold at Henri Bendel and becoming a right hand to Helmut Lang, for Mr. Diaz, and a successful career as a marketing and creative director for industry titans Victoria’s Secret, J. Crew, and many others for Mrs. LaPens. Then culminating with their label Jolibe being awarded a spot in the very first class of the CFDA’s Incubator, there’s no way they can be surprised by this business any more, right? Continue reading “Jolibe Sets A Course For Uncharted Waters”

Timo Weiland – Designer Feature

“The three of us are going on about our creative choices every minute, about what works what doesn’t. We might even be working on another season and say this is great for next Fall or this is great for Spring.” The clothes that Timo Weiland, Alan Eckstein, and Donna Kang create strongly capture your attention whenever you see them, but it’s not always easy to pinpoint what has drawn your eye. Their distinctive designs are definitely a team effort.

story and styling by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero
makeup and hair by Claire Marshall
male model Jordan Ross from Commence Quest
female model Jill Chiu from Re:Quest

The clothes that Timo Weiland, Alan Eckstein, and Donna Kang create strongly capture your attention whenever you see them, but it’s not always easy to pinpoint what has drawn your eye. Their distinctive designs are definitely a team effort. Continue reading “Timo Weiland – Designer Feature”

Venexiana – Designer Feature

Venexiana designer Kati Stern is a forthright woman with a handful of seemingly unrelated passions. Fashion designer, architect, classical pianist. Born in Budapest and influenced equally by Venice and the violent sounds at CBGB’s, her designs are red carpet classics but always it’s elegance with an edge.

story and styling by Seth Friedermann
photos by Aeric Meredith-Goujon
makeup by Samantha Lennon and Jewel Whinfield
hair by Damon Alfonso
models are Sietzka and Kristina from Fenton Moon
location is Brooklyn Motor Works

Laruicci – Photo Feature

This is a photo feature on designer Lauren Ruicci. Laruicci jewelry pieces are presented here with garments from Veda and footwear from Ash and Jean Michel Cazabat.

story and styling by Seth Friedermann
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen
hair styling by Hitomi Mura
model is Liliana Camba from RE:QUEST

Lauren Ruicci’s jewelery is designed to help its wearer. It is not meant to be simply adornment, but more an enhancement. The suburbia and golf courses of her native Farmington Hills, Michigan, outside of Detroit, certainly seems a poor fit for the bold and brash artist that Ms. Ruicci has become. However, the more time you spend with her, the more you realize that there is a gentleness and an almost reluctance about her, that seems more in line with her roots. She seems almost embarrassed by all the attention and celebrity that her designs have brought her. This is really the key to understanding Lauren as a designer; she believes in the power of jewelry to be a positive transformational force. Continue reading “Laruicci – Photo Feature”