Photos by Stevyn Llewellyn
Tag Archives: designer
Lela Rose Spring 2012
Lela Rose themed her Spring 2012 collection “Neon Graveyard” in reference to the Las Vegas museum showcasing decaying, worn-out signs that once illuminated Coney Island and the Las Vegas Strip. The designer’s classic, sophisticated aesthetic is as much a hallmark of Americana as Coney Island. While the latter is still light-hearted and fresh like Lela Rose’s signature style, it is tinged with nostalgia, overlaid by a sentiment of gradual decay, like a place past its days of splendor, but whose good-natured playfulness will perpetually remain.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, John Lennon’s “Imagine” played in the darkness before the show began, giving way to the upbeat “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People. Tangerine, orange, and muted neon- yellow accents stood out on silk tees, dresses, slouch pants, and a drawstring skirt against a gray and peach palette. Colors became bolder as the show continued, like light emerging from darkness and decay. Sheath dresses rendered in classic, well-tailored, structured silhouettes (done both in gray jacquard and in vibrant, multi-color silk faille) anchored the more whimsical pieces, including a blue striped optic silk bustier and a sheer nude-colored polka-dotted dress. Light bulb lace, tulle, and metallic evening gowns added to the timeless grace, romance, and spontaneity of the overall picture. The imaginative splashes of color, “carnival prints,” and sensible wearability of the designs in conjunction with the classic femininity and the Neon Graveyard theme is not unlike America and New York City recovering from the ruins of 9/11, proving that the show, like time, does go on.
I was excited to spot Mandy Moore looking dapper in orange in the front row. It turned out to be quite a star-studded show, with Mariska Hargitay, Susan Sarandon, and Brad Goreski also in attendance.
– Jessica J. Tsai
Photos: Stevyn Llewellyn
Mara Hoffman Spring 2012
Mara Hoffman’s cheeky, bohemian prowess was in full effect for her Spring 2012 presentation, aptly named “Mexican Mamas.” A traditional mariachi band greeted us as we entered the Box space at Lincoln Center and models in vivid geometric prints and neon pops of color stood along the periphery of the room.
What we saw:
Jumpsuits with sexy, braided, cut-out backs and sheer tunics in vivid peacock colors. Lots of fun, boho patterns, a collage of abstract tribal prints that were vivid and fearless in its display of contrasting colors. Many of the patterns were designed in-house, such as Woodcut (white with wood cut design in brown and blue), Huipil (geometric dots with bright orange and purple colorways) and Techno Animal (bright colorful animals).
The sheer trend was still going strong with drapey shirts worn over solid colored bralets and long floaty chiffon pants with shorts underneath. Another trend that was well interpreted were the amazing hair braids intertwined with bands of cloth (less Heidi, more African desert goddess) which looked beautifully regal.
Her collection is vivid and pretty fierce, but what I really like is that it does not lose any of its softness, which may sound like a contradiction (and it is) but works on a level that seems individually like Mara Hoffman– a kind of bohemian romanticism with an exotic, sultry bloom.
– Jeanie Kwak
photos: Stevyn Llewellyn
Emerson Spring 2012
Photos by Stevyn Llewellyn
Supima Design Competition Spring 2012
Jusil Carroll was announced as the winner from a group of designers whom all presented lovely, modern collections for the Supima show.