Along a darling row of shops on Mulberry sits Lilith, a beautifully ambianced storefront and space with dark wood accents and a ripple of cranberry wall. The boutique is a veritable treasure trove of unique hand crafted pieces meant for layering while also being statement pieces on all their own. From jewelry, knit vests, mesh basics, leather shoes and much more, the assortment shows a true dedication to the French design team’s vision. Lilly Barreth, head designer, is inspired mainly by Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons (along with other asian designers of the 70’s and 80’s) and designs for the multi-faceted woman.
The Lilith woman doesn’t have one identity, she is inclusive, global, and can be anywhere from her late teens and anywhere above and beyond. She is a mother, a career woman, a wife, and just a woman looking for comfort and style. There is a rarity in such an all encompassing brand, but Lilith successfully defies the separation of ages with clear cut design, simplicity and ease of wear.
The store is free flowing, merchandised easily by fabrication, color, and print. Gorgeous statement pieces mix in with easy to wear and closet integrateable items such as faux fur wrap-around cropped coats and mesh long sleeved tees and leggings, respectively. The key looks are voluminous and provide interesting and fresh silhouettes that play on the creative woman’s mind. The tailoring is excellent and witty providing that the wearer understands the way the garment is meant to be worn or is clever enough to play with it. However, that small quandary can be resolved by the knowledgeable and sure staff’s advisement. While shopping is the literal verb in action at Lilith, the more encompassing emotions are of discovery and true creativity, as the boutique opens up a world devoid of fast trends and fad styling to help the consumer become unique through the art of dressing.
With bi-coastal stores in Manhattan and Berkeley, CA, the Lilith woman can “discover” and use her creativity while traveling to such vacationing destinations, but will have to wait for more sister stores until the boutique opens it’s hopeful doors in Chicago, Boston, and maybe even in Orlando, Florida.
– Rachel Rozzi
Dominique Debroux contributed to this article.
Fast Facts:
Lilith is derived from Lily Barreth’s first and last name
The name Lilith is also known in Jewish Folklore as Adam’s first wife before Eve, who created equal to him, ran away after seeking equality in their relationship
The boutique is 2350 sq. feet of shopping bliss and opened Sept. 30th, 2002
Lilith • 27 Mulberry Street • New York, NY 10012-4126 • Phone: (212) 925-0080
The Sachika designers To-Tam and To-Nya Ton-Nu presented their collection at the New York Golf Center with the collaboration of the 19th Hole Magazine, associated with TR luxury on May 14th.
Sachika is for the modern woman on the go.
Sachika in Japanese means: “more wishes, more fortune, and more happiness.”
Their many types of dresses focused on the versatile busy woman that wants to accomplish many things. Sachika dresses can easily be translated from day to evening.
The designers use timeless colors & cuts that won’t go out of style. They want their consumer to shop wisely and to buy key pieces for their wardrobe.
To-Tam and To-Nya chose feminine colors that are classic and neutral. A Sachika dress is the perfect key item to wear at any occasion.
The 19th Hole Magazine is a high end luxury magazine focusing on golf and fashion. They combined forces with Sachika to promote golf and fashion. The event was targeted to a younger clientele. The modern woman is a perfect client for golf. Golf is sexy!
Interview By Jenny Mar
Photos and video by Stevyn Llewellyn
You can purchase their beautiful timeless pieces at www.sachika.com
To see the entire collection in a slideshow, click here
Modern Glossy brings you an exclusive, two-part interview session with the designers of Lotusgrace. Alexander Coelho interviews design partners Gregg Pellegrini and Eric Sweeney who discuss aspects of their Women’s Wear collection, it’s identity, and the aesthetic process involved in the creation of a Lotusgrace garment. Lotusgrace creates all their apparel here in New York, thereby actively supporting the local Garment District. With an eye for line, silhouette, and modern interpretations of classic feminine shapes, Lotusgrace elegantly dresses the modern woman.
Chado- There are those who set trends, there are those who follow trends, and then there are the rare few who are always true to who they are- Ralph Rucci is one of those rarefied creatures. Once again the designer was slated to close Mercedes Benz Fashion week, and did he ever close it with thunder and awe.
Ralph Rucci presented a collection that was as visceral and tangibly heart felt as it gets. This was more than pretty clothing; this was an artist going deep within to a personal place and exposing it for all to see. One couldn’t help but feel a sense of privilege, as though you had been inducted into a scared sect- and this show was its code and secrets.
The thing to remember about Rucci is that his work deserves to be ranked with the Monet’s of art. Monet didn’t paint in the impressionist mode one day and cubist style the next- the work of an artist is more often than not a studied exploration of certain themes. In Rucci’s case: weightlessness. Rucci is not a man concerned with trends; his focus is rooted in pushing the boundaries of innovation and technique. For the past two seasons Rucci has been meditating on weightlessness. Using tulle as his foundation the designer has employed various applications to create the illusion of buoyancy. Tulle work continued this time it took the form inserts in knife pleated jersey dresses, it also was used as the foundation for fur strips pieced together for a coat. This season Rucci abandoned his favored ornamentations instead he focused more on simplicity and line. The increasingly important bold shoulder took on an ultra luxe look in this collection. Atelier Chado constructed the shoulder by building it from the center back then warping the fabric forward and draping it around the arm. The result of this manipulation is a bold shoulder that retains a gesture of fluidity.
What I found mystifying about Rucci’s collection was his ability to create vibrancy using very little color. That ability to create visual texture and intrigue is only another layer of the genius that is Rucci. The color palette was limited to a few tonal shades of sand, brown, black and a very methodical use of purple and orange.
Last season Rucci showed what at the time seemed to be his most consumer friendly collection, a collection that was clearly vying for a younger client. This collection was the fruition of last season’s aims, it was at once wearable, ageless and utterly true to the spirit of Chado. The collection began with a strong line of up very wearable looks including a considerable representation of trouser suits, knit dresses and rain coats. There was less in the way of gowns though there were several cocktail frocks. Audience favorites included a crystal studded cat suit worn under a feathered, chiffon gown. There were also a few of Rucci signature Zen gowns featuring the images of Eastern idols. While Rucci always marches to his own drum, he did offer some of the season must haves: leather trousers, a bold shoulder and fair dose of fur. In a moment of economic peril it will really be those can’t-leave-without pieces that sell. Rucci’s collection was chalk full of such pieces.
In a sea of trends and must haves it’s refreshing to see an artist who stays his course and remains true to his esthetic. At the end of the day Rucci is one of the great American designers of our generation and he deserves a degree of note for his continued contribution to elevating notion of American workmanship, quality and style.
– A. Coelho
Photos by Stevyn Llewellyn
See more images from the event below