[NYFW Recap] Rochambeau Spring 2012 Collection

Rochambeau Spring 2012 collection plays with a bond of freedom and construction, I found asymmetrical cuts and classic tailoring on the blazers execution. Designers, Laurence & Joshua wanted to add an effortless touch to something that already was known as emblematic pieces, but as classic as the vests, blazers and flare mid-waist pants are; the impressive details like leather lapel accents on the blazers or the elongated silhouettes added the urban vibe concept to what everybody thought was classic, seems like a thoughtful deconstruction by revealing something and conducting it to another aesthetic.
The blazers and other tailored pieces included details that emphasize and highlight the construction. The leather necks or the strong contouring form in one of the blazers that comes with black rectangular fabric frame at the bottom and then; the non-frame portion of the neck line is a curvy linear line, adding a sense of geometry and complexity. Other more loosen pieces played a juxtaposition with the architectural precise-execution of the pieces, the long sheer sleeved tops with a slight cut at the crew neck, portrayed men not afraid of suggesting without being vulgar or over the top, the softness of the fabrics balance it so well, that it feels more effortless than rather falling into a tacky statement. In addition, the color palette creates a disperse fusion of greys, deep noir and navys, building a path of consistency between all the looks; the hues also reflected the silence from all the “invisible-colorful experiences” from block by block of the big city.

The designers perspective for their Spring 2012 collection was showed in a short film named "Paralymbic" by Hugh Lippe, who quoted;

“The goal was to create something real, something I can believe in, something I feel I could touch, smell, or hear. Narrative?, imagination, observation. The narrative exits in the ever spinning whirl wind of that chaos passing by. Fashion, here is a short about fashion, fashion in the city, New York City“.

Photo Credit: Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams

Rochambeau Spring 2012 Collection

[NYFW Recap] Althea Harper Spring 2012 Collection

Althea Harper is one of my favorite Project Runway alums. Sure, she’s stunning in person and has a charming personality, but she’s also one hard-working girl who knows fashion better than her appearance on the show let on.

It's mind boggling to me why her collections aren't given more attention because I truly belive that she’s got a lock on a sort of freewheeling, sexy, urban chic thing that I definitely have responded well to, but this is the first time I was able to attend one of her shows. Fashion Week makes it difficult to hit all the PR alum shows going on in New York at the time, but I was firmly committed to making it to this one and I'm so glad I did.

It’s a shame the venue was so dark, because the pictures aren’t as clear as they could be. Picking up on the trends of flowy prints and minimalist black and whites, this collection ranges from simple body-conscious pieces to more dramatically sexy and wearable prints. Like a lot of female designers, the clothes look like something Althea herself would wear (and she did, in fact wear one of the pieces for the show). That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since the customer she’s seeking is clearly similar to herself: a stylish, 20-something girl with a city sensibility and a desire to look sexy and confident.  I can not wait to wear the dress that Althea herself donned for special night.

Extra bonus for myself as a Chicago Fashion Blogger was not only attending this amazing show, but running into other fellow Chicago Fashion Bloggers.  I ran into Jena Gambaccini of Chi City Fashion and Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams.

Photo Credit: Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams

Althea Harper's Spring 2012 Collection:



Althea Harper with her models-Absolutely Gorgeous!



Look who I found! Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams

Guess who else was there? The one and only Jena  Gambaccini of Chi City Fashion

Myself with Althea Harper, she is absolutely stunning in person!

[NYFW Recap] A Fashion Girls' Dream Come True: Bill Cunningham took my PICTURE!!

Any true fashion admirer knows of the iconic and legendary, Bill Cunningham.  Many in the fashion industry have deemed him the creator of what has now become widely known as 'Street Style Photography'.  This past spring I had the priviledge of watching the documentory, 'Bill Cunningham New York', which was a 10-yr labor of love for Richard Press & Philip Gefter. 

I was educated on 80+ yr. old New York Times photographer, Bill Cunningham.  For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirées for the Times Style section in his columns "On the Street" and "Evening Hours". Documenting uptown fixtures (Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller), downtown eccentrics and everyone in between, Cunningham’s enormous body of work is more reliable than any catwalk as an expression of time, place and individual flair.

So needless to say, seeing a snapping camera approaching me and immediately recognizing Bill's unmistakable blue smock and head of pure white hair behind that camera I did what any other fashion admirer is suppose to do: POSE! I could not have dreamed for a better ending to my NYFW SP/SU '12 fashion extravaganza. The following are photos of the outfit that were deemed "Bill Cunningham Approved":

Photo Credit: Daisy Medina of Velvet Dreams

What I'm wearing: Vintage Sequin Blazer, Anne Fontaine White Collared Blouse, Grey Straight Leg Paige Denim, Sam Edelman Booties and ASOS Envelope Turquoise Snake Skin Embossed Clutch.