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 Academy of Art University showcased seven of their newly graduated designers from the Fashion, Textile and Knitwear Design program on September 12th at The Tent (Bryant Park). That’s no small feat for a young designer- a show at the Tent is sure to garner some attention. The show was an eclectic mix of lively colors, interesting play of shapes, cuts and textures, each designer veering off from their own source of inspiration—whether it was a David Hockney Painting, a Thai Buddhist temple or the intricate architecture found within a gem, each had a unique expression and vision.
Marina Nikolaeva Popska, a designer born and raised in Bulgaria, drew on the “color and chaos” of nature. Her collection was full of multi-colored jacquard dresses. The weight of the knits actually swayed a bit as the models walked down the runway. I thought this was interesting—I enjoyed watching the movement of the garment—one could feel and sense the pendulous weight of it. The patterns were lovely, rich but also carefully muted by a background base of nude tones. One particular dress reminded me of the inside of an oyster. Lovely.
Sawanya Jomthepmala was born in Thailand. She drew upon the glass mosaics of Thai Buddhist temples as well as origami-like details of Krathong which are small boats made out of banana leaves. Her collection was full of neon prints and playful, symmetrical prints. Vests had wonderfully arched lapels, which unified a bright, energetic collection.
G-Star’s Spring/Summer 2010 show was reminiscent of a mix of a sci-fi film with sailors. Emerging out of moving cylinders, models strutted down the long runway, and guests had the opportunity to absorb the detailed craftsmanship of each piece with a better view.
When 90’s pop band Right Said Fred sang “I’m too Sexy…” they probably weren’t talking about Hervé Léger by Max Azria’s Spring 2010 Collection, because there’s nothing that screams more seduction than body-con. The show was a glamazonian parade of tan, willowy beauties with free-flowing hair in, for the most part, Léger’s famous bandage, body-con dresses. Although Azria mixed it up a bit with looser styles in the form of circular mini-skirts and leave-nothing-to-the-imagination body suits, the bandage dress was the star of the show.
Cesar Galindo captivated his audience with a stunning show filled with fantasy and drama. His futuristic yet fun pieces include multi-layers of textures and fabrics- from matte to high shines, metals to stones, silk to wovens. Wavy cowl necks and exquisitely designed gowns are consistent in Galindo’s collection. As a native Texan as well, I am glad that Cesar Galindo is here in New York doing us proud.
