The day started with an amazing interview from Lubov Azria, Creative Director of the Max Azria Group, who talked to me and other journalists about the creative journey she has taken along with her husband, designing for two totally different brands: BCBG Max Azria and Hervé Léger.
She’s definitely an amazing woman, confident enough to inspire others through her creations and her lifestyle. This season she got very much inspired by the Californian surfers culture which she artfully managed to translate it into some feminine dresses and layered looks that exude freedom and fabulous taste! There were way more knits, board shorts and fabulous tunics one would love to dress up and down all day long. She also spoke on Herve Leger’s 30th Anniversary and their intention to stick to the brand’s codes while also add more artisanal techniques and unexpected details to the picture. Always elegant, beautiful and honest, Lubov is really the representation of having fun with fashion and life in general!
My next fashion treat was watching the Lie Sangbong show by the well-known Korean designer who mixes functionality with the conceptual and last season opened an amazing boutique at Meatpacking! Once again his cloths were artsy combinations of Asian and Western elements with geometric shapes and nice textures. The room was lit with some oversize futuristic blooms and the cloths posed as a cross-section of old and avant-garde ideas! Though he loves black & white, he brought to the forefront a new cool version of the contrast; namely blue & white! Love it!
Georgine was lovely too! The clothes looked elegant and expensive with a young feel. She fused together sporty and Old Hollywood glam elements such as neoprene tops with long leather gloves and a sequined skirt or a casual look enhanced through fur trimming, oversize fur stoles, pom poms and handbags. Color blocking as well as textural games are definitely in her vocabulary along with a slight knack for tasteful quirkiness. She’s pushing the boundaries taking some risks of the aesthetic kind!
Later, I was thrilled to see designer Vivienne Hu evolving and maturing since her last season debut, with a more sophisticated collection based very much on origami techniques, asymmetries, patchwork and things unexpected. She tried her hand in new silhouettes, impressive bright motifs, and juxtaposition of different textures proving that she is not aiming at playing it safe within this rather conservative universe of today’s fashion. Perfect example to follow! There is always room for commercially viable experimentation. Big and small brands should take it into account!
In between, FTL Moda and the Art Hearts Fashion show presented an array of aspiring designers with varying taste levels who tried their best in attracting fashion-savvy clients and popularizing their vision. There is too much competition going on and the scene is flooded with new names I’m struggling to remember and that’s also the challenge of it. How does a designer manage to stick to your mind and lure you to his philosophy? Fashion is aspirational and hard to understand by the outsiders. It’s a mystery everybody wishes to tap into as their passport to a fabulous lifestyle! For me, insiders should be taking it seriously since they are influencing others, while outsiders should just have fun with it!
Love and stay tuned!
Elena Sendona
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