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Alexa Chung for Madewell:
Alexa Chung steps into the designer spotlight during
MBFW NY with her debut collection for Madewell
Alexa Chung steps into the designer spotlight during
MBFW NY with her debut collection for Madewell
POSTED February, 15 2010
FASHION WEEK
Kudos to Madewell for conveying both in design and presentation Alexa Chung’s
inherently girly and adorable spirit. The presentation was held in the terrace of New York’s
Bowery Hotel, where the models lounged about, posing for spectators, giving their
sportiest, flower baby, come-hither best. If a designer chooses to opt for a presentation,
instead of a runway show, this is how it should be done. It was such an inviting
atmosphere – it felt like being in the midst of a full-blown fashion editorial shoot.
Alexa Chung for Madewell presented a very nice array of separates, including a cute
overall dress – a look that hasn’t seemed reasonable or wearable since the advent of
Bugle Boy, but works perfectly well here, giving a sweet feminine touch, which
singlehandedly turns a plain oldie into a golden oldie. Cardigans, school girl socks, wool
shorts and posy dresses abound – the kind of sweet, not saccharine, pieces one could
find in the closet of a post-grad, Brooklynite Ivy Leaguer.
Although the touches of polka dot and seaside hats felt a bit dated, the silhouettes felt
young and fresh. The overall whole was ultimately charming and one can imagine flocks
upon flocks of twentysomethings tearing these offerings off the hangers come fall.
inherently girly and adorable spirit. The presentation was held in the terrace of New York’s
Bowery Hotel, where the models lounged about, posing for spectators, giving their
sportiest, flower baby, come-hither best. If a designer chooses to opt for a presentation,
instead of a runway show, this is how it should be done. It was such an inviting
atmosphere – it felt like being in the midst of a full-blown fashion editorial shoot.
Alexa Chung for Madewell presented a very nice array of separates, including a cute
overall dress – a look that hasn’t seemed reasonable or wearable since the advent of
Bugle Boy, but works perfectly well here, giving a sweet feminine touch, which
singlehandedly turns a plain oldie into a golden oldie. Cardigans, school girl socks, wool
shorts and posy dresses abound – the kind of sweet, not saccharine, pieces one could
find in the closet of a post-grad, Brooklynite Ivy Leaguer.
Although the touches of polka dot and seaside hats felt a bit dated, the silhouettes felt
young and fresh. The overall whole was ultimately charming and one can imagine flocks
upon flocks of twentysomethings tearing these offerings off the hangers come fall.
Alexander Patiño
Photo Credit: Chris Santiago
Althea Harper:
'Project Runway' alum Althea Harper debuts collection
'Project Runway' alum Althea Harper debuts collection
POSTED February, 15 2010
FASHION WEEK
Monday evening, dozens upon dozens of people crammed Chelsea’s Sundaram Tagore
Gallery to watch Project Runway’s Althea Harper’s first debut collection. Forty-five minutes
before the run of show the intimate space was crammed top to bottom with some of the
industry’s top models, past Project Runway alumni, other distinct New York designers like
Don O’Neill and Hisham Oumlil and other myriad fans of the new-coming, highly
venerated sportswear prodigy, whom Tommy Hilfiger has dubbed as a fashion “genius.”
The show got off to a great start, with a black jersey draped dress and black leather
paneled blazer, seguewaying into a perfectly constructed black over-sized knit hoodie and
leather panel pencil skirt. Throughout her run on the reality series that catapulted her into
stardom, Harper was praised for her excellent handle on knits and superior taste for
sportswear, so it was very pleasing to see that she has stuck to her strengths, which were
on full display from the get-go.
One of Harper’s immediately haute stricken chords was the chic hair and makeup utilized
for the show: the models were robotically palled, sporting oily, tightly pulled buns and
wearing harsh black lipstick. “It was inspired by futurism – especially with the colors and
the shapes and really making that contour of the body,” says Harper. “The girl almost
turns into this femme fatale robot. We had this really sick ass uniformed look.” There was
an exciting androgyny at play here and whether her girls were decked out in black leather
shoulder patched blazers with a very chic metropolis print and mesh panel legging or in a
black silk men’s shirt with high waisted spandex shorts, it felt true, vitally modern and
highly accessible. Her amalgamated use of mesh, knits, single-shoulders and ultra-
modern silhouettes were, for anyone that has seen Althea Harper’s work before,
ultimately her style, but most importantly – the kind of sportswear women will want to wear
in fall 2010. Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Keri Washington are already ringing that
doorbell and the rest of the fashionable consumer world no longer has to wait.
Gallery to watch Project Runway’s Althea Harper’s first debut collection. Forty-five minutes
before the run of show the intimate space was crammed top to bottom with some of the
industry’s top models, past Project Runway alumni, other distinct New York designers like
Don O’Neill and Hisham Oumlil and other myriad fans of the new-coming, highly
venerated sportswear prodigy, whom Tommy Hilfiger has dubbed as a fashion “genius.”
The show got off to a great start, with a black jersey draped dress and black leather
paneled blazer, seguewaying into a perfectly constructed black over-sized knit hoodie and
leather panel pencil skirt. Throughout her run on the reality series that catapulted her into
stardom, Harper was praised for her excellent handle on knits and superior taste for
sportswear, so it was very pleasing to see that she has stuck to her strengths, which were
on full display from the get-go.
One of Harper’s immediately haute stricken chords was the chic hair and makeup utilized
for the show: the models were robotically palled, sporting oily, tightly pulled buns and
wearing harsh black lipstick. “It was inspired by futurism – especially with the colors and
the shapes and really making that contour of the body,” says Harper. “The girl almost
turns into this femme fatale robot. We had this really sick ass uniformed look.” There was
an exciting androgyny at play here and whether her girls were decked out in black leather
shoulder patched blazers with a very chic metropolis print and mesh panel legging or in a
black silk men’s shirt with high waisted spandex shorts, it felt true, vitally modern and
highly accessible. Her amalgamated use of mesh, knits, single-shoulders and ultra-
modern silhouettes were, for anyone that has seen Althea Harper’s work before,
ultimately her style, but most importantly – the kind of sportswear women will want to wear
in fall 2010. Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Keri Washington are already ringing that
doorbell and the rest of the fashionable consumer world no longer has to wait.
Alexander Patiño
Photo Credit: Chris Santiago
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Carlos Miele F/W 2010:
Distinctly Feminine Wearable Glamour
Takes Center Stage
Distinctly Feminine Wearable Glamour
Takes Center Stage
POSTED February, 15 2010
FASHION WEEK
Qianna Smith
Carlos Miele continually finds
ways for women to express
their sensuality even in the
colder months. For fall/winter,
the Brazilian designer sent
down the catwalk 32 looks that
not only had an easy spirit, but
also oozed of unexpected
details that kept us wanting
more! Chain appliqué was
accented on almost everything
from colorful silk charmeuse
short dresses to geometric
abstract print evening gowns,
which added some edge to an
otherwise flirty and glamorous
collection. We loved the
optimistic spirit evoked into
each garment that was inspired
by “geometric abstract art and
its pure colors, photomontages
and constructivist architectural
engineering.”
ways for women to express
their sensuality even in the
colder months. For fall/winter,
the Brazilian designer sent
down the catwalk 32 looks that
not only had an easy spirit, but
also oozed of unexpected
details that kept us wanting
more! Chain appliqué was
accented on almost everything
from colorful silk charmeuse
short dresses to geometric
abstract print evening gowns,
which added some edge to an
otherwise flirty and glamorous
collection. We loved the
optimistic spirit evoked into
each garment that was inspired
by “geometric abstract art and
its pure colors, photomontages
and constructivist architectural
engineering.”
Miele showed his range by also including some fierce separates that would easily be worked into any woman’s wardrobe. We died over the black bolero with looped detail and chain
appliqué worn by model Anastasija Kondratjeva (left to right); it could easily go with a tee for the urban downtown diva or with a great black sheath dress at the office. The grey wool vest with
silver fox appliqué as seen on model Marike Le Roux (second in left) was another stunner and an invest piece for fall. If you have a design conscience, then you’ll also want to snag the light
gold silk charmeuse mini skirt that model Marike is wearing. Crafted at Rocinha’s favela in Rio De Janeio, the skirt’s “fuxicos” or rosettes are made from fabrics that are normally thrown out
showcasing Miele’s ability to design with sustainable living in mind. Miele’s socio-environmental conscience also appeared in the launch of this high waisted Bio Denim pant worn by
model Valeria Dmitrienko that was produced exclusively from excess denim.
This collection truly transcended age with an offering for everywoman. We know we’ll see at least a few young Hollywood stylistas pinning over this electric blue short dress with chain detail
that model Gracie Carvalho (far right) looked so vivacious in.
appliqué worn by model Anastasija Kondratjeva (left to right); it could easily go with a tee for the urban downtown diva or with a great black sheath dress at the office. The grey wool vest with
silver fox appliqué as seen on model Marike Le Roux (second in left) was another stunner and an invest piece for fall. If you have a design conscience, then you’ll also want to snag the light
gold silk charmeuse mini skirt that model Marike is wearing. Crafted at Rocinha’s favela in Rio De Janeio, the skirt’s “fuxicos” or rosettes are made from fabrics that are normally thrown out
showcasing Miele’s ability to design with sustainable living in mind. Miele’s socio-environmental conscience also appeared in the launch of this high waisted Bio Denim pant worn by
model Valeria Dmitrienko that was produced exclusively from excess denim.
This collection truly transcended age with an offering for everywoman. We know we’ll see at least a few young Hollywood stylistas pinning over this electric blue short dress with chain detail
that model Gracie Carvalho (far right) looked so vivacious in.
Photo Credit: Fernando Colon