Tag: Spring 2013

Sachin + Babi Are An Independent Match

Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia are a remarkable creative team. Designing clothes, designing brands, designing businesses. The first thing that strikes you about them is their mix passion and a sense of defiance for the brands that they build and the clothes that they design.

story written by Seth Friedermann
feature and runway photography by Adrianna Favero
feature styling by Pauline Toruan
feature makeup by Clara Isabella
feature model is Liisa Õunmaa of Muse Model Management

runway garments SS2013 by Sachin + Babi
feature garments FW2012 by Sachin + Babi
feature accessories by Gemma Redux

Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia are a remarkable creative team. Designing clothes, designing brands, designing businesses. The first thing that strikes you about them is their mix passion and a sense of defiance for the brands that they build and the clothes that they design. Continue reading “Sachin + Babi Are An Independent Match”

Arthur Mendonca – Toronto’s Interesting Import

Arthur Mendonca designed his first collection in 2002 and has been a prized contributor to the Toronto fashion scene ever since. He has also shown his collections in New York, Sao Paolo, Montreal, Los Angeles and London, garnering fulsome reviews. His boldly feminine clothes have adorned the covers of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Elle magazines, and have been found within the covers of In Style, Wallpaper and Forbes. His special occasion pieces have attracted attention on red carpets around the world and are favored by many actresses who appreciate the way his rich colors, classic lines and fine quality stand up to the hot light of the world’s attention.

story written by Lisa Radano
photography and art direction by Charles Beckwith
styling by Theo Hackney
styling assistant Sharone Reid
makeup by LaTasha Quianna
hair styling by Jeb Stuart Johnston
models Kendall and Amy of Red Model Management

garments by Arthur Mendonca
shoes and belts by Schumacher
jewelry by Sharone Reid for Traci Lynn

Arthur Mendonca designed his first collection in 2002 and has been a prized contributor to the Toronto fashion scene ever since. He has also shown his collections in New York, Sao Paolo, Montreal, Los Angeles and London, garnering fulsome reviews. His boldly feminine clothes have adorned the covers of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Elle magazines, and have been found within the covers of In Style, Wallpaper and Forbes. His special occasion pieces have attracted attention on red carpets around the world and are favored by many actresses who appreciate the way his rich colors, classic lines and fine quality stand up to the hot light of the world’s attention. Continue reading “Arthur Mendonca – Toronto’s Interesting Import”

Badgley Mischka In The Forest

“What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” asked Titiana in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For Spring 2013, Mssrs. Badgley and Mishka gave us forty angels, faeries, and princesses in this show inspired by the pastoral frivolity of Shakespeare’s play. The fabulous English model Erin O’Connor commenced the enchantment, strutting languidly down the runway in a blush crepe jumpsuit, one of the few pants looks, and surely one of the least embellished. What followed was a charming range of pretty knee length dresses and skirts in brocade, chiffon, lace and organza, shot with gold and silver, several with the duos’ signature sweetheart neckline.

story by Lisa Radano
photos by udor

“What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” asked Titiana in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For Spring 2013, Mssrs. Badgley and Mishka gave us forty angels, faeries, and princesses in this show inspired by the pastoral frivolity of Shakespeare’s play. The fabulous English model Erin O’Connor commenced the enchantment, strutting languidly down the runway in a blush crepe jumpsuit, one of the few pants looks, and surely one of the least embellished. What followed was a charming range of pretty knee length dresses and skirts in brocade, chiffon, lace and organza, shot with gold and silver, several with the duos’ signature sweetheart neckline. Continue reading “Badgley Mischka In The Forest”

Emerson – The Outsider’s View

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.

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. Continue reading “Emerson – The Outsider’s View”

Diego Binetti Serves The Deep

Diego Binetti never met a flowing fabric he didn’t love. Romantic, free, and deeply beautiful gowns are what he does best. As he has told me many times, his women are goddesses, and that spirit shows through in this Spring 2013 collection. Awash in bright colors and luxurious silks, the models well represented the designer’s ocean deity theme.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Morgan Miller (house)

Diego Binetti never met a flowing fabric he didn’t love. Romantic, free, and deeply beautiful gowns are what he does best. As he has told me many times, his women are goddesses, and that spirit shows through in this Spring 2013 collection. Awash in bright colors and luxurious silks, the models well represented the designer’s ocean deity theme. Continue reading “Diego Binetti Serves The Deep”

Yeohlee – More From Less, It Ain’t Easy

Yeohlee Teng was born in Malaysia and has been an independent designer for over thirty years. She doesn’t supplement sales by designing underwear or making perfume. She uses quality materials and her brand doesn’t outsource work, it’s all made in New York. How she has survived for so long, remained sought after, won awards (Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design 2004), and kept relevant is a testament to her talent, intelligence, beliefs, and most of all her guts.

story by Lisa Radano
photos by Adrianna Favero

Yeohlee Teng was born in Malaysia and has been an independent designer for over thirty years. She doesn’t supplement sales by designing underwear or making perfume. She uses quality materials and her brand doesn’t outsource work, it’s all made in New York. How she has survived for so long, remained sought after, won awards (Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design 2004), and kept relevant is a testament to her talent, intelligence, beliefs, and most of all her guts. Continue reading “Yeohlee – More From Less, It Ain’t Easy”

A Détacher – Forget Me Knot

A Détacher designer Mona Kowalska has a reputation for pushing to the edges of fashion. Before coming to the United States and starting her own line, Kowalska designed for many small Italian labels, followed by a brief stint at Sonia Rykiel. Her work could be considered avant garde by commercial standards. The spring 2013 collection for A Détacher is both architecturally de-constructed and well-engineered.

story by Sia-Alika Battle
photos by Adrianna Favero

A Détacher designer Mona Kowalska has a reputation for pushing to the edges of fashion. Before coming to the United States and starting her own line, Kowalska designed for many small Italian labels, followed by a brief stint at Sonia Rykiel. Her work could be considered avant garde by commercial standards. The spring 2013 collection for A Détacher is both architecturally de-constructed and well-engineered. Continue reading “A Détacher – Forget Me Knot”

Billy Reid – Dixie Cool

Billy Reid spins a lovely yarn… yarn as in a tale, not as in knitwear, though he does that too. His ability to create a collection that feels like a classic novel is truly impressive. His clothes have so much character that they create them. For Spring 2013, his take on Dixie dress was cool and comfortable, with the standouts being two lovely pelican print dresses and suits that echoed the sartorial splendor of the ’30s & ’40s with tipped and wide lapels, and bold tapered cuts.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero

Billy Reid spins a lovely yarn… yarn as in a tale, not as in knitwear, though he does that too. His ability to create a collection that feels like a classic novel is truly impressive. His clothes have so much character that they create them. For Spring 2013, his take on Dixie dress was cool and comfortable, with the standouts being two lovely pelican print dresses and suits that echoed the sartorial splendor of the ’30s & ’40s with tipped and wide lapels, and bold tapered cuts. Continue reading “Billy Reid – Dixie Cool”

Mandy Coon – Nerd Noir

There’s a great deal for which Mandy Coon does not get much credit. People chatter about her quirkiness, or consistent experimentation with leather, but her actual skills as a designer are rarely discussed. Yet, this rising star designer possesses one of the qualities most critical for long term success: the ability to create designs that are subtly distinctive. With Ms. Coon’s Spring 2013 collection, this talent was on full display in what is probably her best collection to date.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Aeric Meredith-Goujon

There’s a great deal for which Mandy Coon does not get much credit. People chatter about her quirkiness, or consistent experimentation with leather, but her actual skills as a designer are rarely discussed. Yet, this rising star designer possesses one of the qualities most critical for long term success: the ability to create designs that are subtly distinctive. With Ms. Coon’s Spring 2013 collection, this talent was on full display in what is probably her best collection to date. Continue reading “Mandy Coon – Nerd Noir”

Wes Gordon – Spring to Fall

Looking all of seventeen in a navy blazer, and blessed with the polite gentility of his southern upbringing, the Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Wes Gordon greeted each and every one of his women clients as if they were guests at his front door. I’m very certain he knows how to foxtrot. But clearly, what he’s best at is designing stunningly lovely clothes for those refined and privileged ladies. In a presentation reminiscent of the costume shows at the Metropolitan Museum, models stood still as mannequins on stark white platforms framed by a gauzy proscenium. Occasionally, owing to their being human and possibly in need of refreshment, they were fed little candies, which they nibbled discreetly, or they were brought water, which they sipped pristinely through bendy straws.

story by Lisa Radano
photos by Bonnie Rodríguez

Looking all of seventeen in a navy blazer, and blessed with the polite gentility of his southern upbringing, the Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Wes Gordon greeted each and every one of his women clients as if they were guests at his front door. I’m very certain he knows how to foxtrot. But clearly, what he’s best at is designing stunningly lovely clothes for those refined and privileged ladies. In a presentation reminiscent of the costume shows at the Metropolitan Museum, models stood still as mannequins on stark white platforms framed by a gauzy proscenium. Occasionally, owing to their being human and possibly in need of refreshment, they were fed little candies, which they nibbled discreetly, or they were brought water, which they sipped pristinely through bendy straws. Continue reading “Wes Gordon – Spring to Fall”