Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz

Betsey Johnson Won’t Show at Fashion Week

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Photo by Jane Kratochvil

Photo by Jane Kratochvil

New York Magazine’s The Cut, reports that although Betsey previously told the Wall Street Journal that her spring 2013 retrospective wouldn’t be her last season showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Johnson won’t be showing next month for the fall 2013 runways, instead she is trying “to focus on her brand expansion” — including her “dress thing” and a perfume — according to a press release. Frankly after last week’s talk at the 92nd street Y, I’m not sure Betsey and the word focus belong in the same sentance. “But she will be cartwheeling through Lincoln Center at an event for her new reality series, The Betsey and Lulu Show.” We can’t wait, every time we see her do a cartwheel, our heart melts, just a little!

Rihanna Launching a Collection in London

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rihanna-victorias-secret05Rihanna will make her design debut in London at a special event on Feb. 16 during London Fashion Week. The collection, created in collaboration with British high-street brand River Island, is made up of clothing and accessories that will go on sale online and in store on March 5.

“Launching at London Fashion Week is a dream come true for me,” said the singer. “I have wanted to design my own collection for a long time and to present my collection for River Island alongside all of the other great design talent at LFW is a real privilege. I can’t wait to see the reaction from my fans and the fashion press.”

“We are [pleased] to present our Rihanna for River Island collection at London Fashion Week,” River Island chief executive officer Ben Lewis told us in an interview. “This is the perfect platform to showcase Rihanna’s design talent and ambition.”

Fotini Spring/Summer 2013

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Photo Credit: (c) 2012 Jane Kratochvil for Coup d’étage

Photo Credit: (c) 2012 Jane Kratochvil for Coup d’étage

Born in Athens to an Egyptian father and a Greek mother Fotini was raised in Canada.  Initially, Fotini embarked on a career in finance and marketing at the direction of her father, but could not ignore her passion for the creative and design that she dreamed of as a little girl.  Today, the New York based designer, has been building a brand that combines luxurious fabrics, corsetry, a true love of Fotini’s, while adding intricate details on the garments.   Fotini, spent 3 years traveling abroad to Italy particularly in the areas of Bergamo, Bologna and Como studying the construction of corsetry beside old world ateliers.  This has enabled Fotini to design the feminine, sensuous and chic pieces that she felt were missing from her own closet.  Fotini understands her customer’s needs.  “A woman designing for women” is a quote from her.

The FOTINI Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection paid homage to her heritage, drawing inspiration from Egyptian queens and Greek goddesses.   Fabrics in this collection ranged from chiffon, jacquards and laser cut leather.  The special touches of feathers, embroidery and modern day beading were some of the beautiful finishes.  “I love shiny things, a sexy fit and rich fabrications, a woman should not be afraid to show her femininity” she stated when interviewed about her brand.

Fotini is a woman that is proud to have a background in business before she decided to switch careers after getting inspired by working by a fashion house. “I have always wanted to be a designer but my family wanted me to take an education in business.” She believes having an education in business is helpful to her in the fashion industry.

While she showed us her collection for Spring/Summer 2013 she had time to tell me a bit about her inspiration for this collection: “The clothes are inspired by French countrysides landscapes and 18th century paintings,” she said, “like you can see on the little details on this dress the beading are little flowers closely beaded together.”

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Falguni and Shane Peacock Spring 2013

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MBFW_SS13_FalguniShanePeacock_JKratochvil_0661For their Spring 2013 collection, married designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock decided to take fashion into the future, far, far into the sci-fi future sending glamorous Martians robotically strutting down the runway. They started their show with models in clear space helmets adorned in an embellished sequins cat suit, a deep V-neck printed body suit and plastic transparent light up dress with fire red details.

Known for their audacious, theatrical aesthetics and body conscious silhouettes, Falguni and Shane Peacock kept to this tradition for spring 2013. The collection, somewhat similar to past season designs, was full of embellishments; hand beading, feather accents, original prints, and laser cut detailing.

The bright colors of the collection were a pleasant surprise from the nude subdued tones on other collections. The colors shimmered and sparkled radiantly on the runway.

Psychedelic prints, planetary plastic transparent trims, sequins, and feathers take the collection’s classic ladylike shapes to a surreal state. The extraordinary graphic fabrics in a vibrant and sophisticated color palette provide a sexy intergalactic update. Metallic fabrics with reflective silver pieces, outrageous patterns against sheer and sparkling textures all of this was a part of the story Falguni and Shane told.

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Vivienne Tam Spring / Summer 2013

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MBFW_SS13_VivenneTam_JKratochvil_4168Earlier today, Vivienne Tam presented her Spring / Summer 2013 collection.

Backstage before her show, designer Tam told us Chinese cosmology is the inspiration for her latest Spring collection. “It’s about the five elements,” she said. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as they were listed in the show notes—all materials we wouldn’t usually consider for a fashion line.

The shapes and energies associated with the five elements made Tam’s collection really impressive. There was a geometric twist to almost everything. Sheath dresses were layered with intricate octagonal cutwork, and other frocks, including a printed column gown, had hexagonal peplums. A classic trenchcoat, cropped gaucho pants, and a miniskirt also got the graphic cutout treatment. And the knits, the most commercial pieces in the range, were of the burnout variety.

Check out our full review and photos after the break.

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Carlos Miele Spring 2013

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Photo by Jane Kratochvil

A trip to the zoo prompted Carlos Miele’s two-year-old son to draw pictures of the animals he observed. A blue giraffe emerged, and for Miele, inspiration struck. “I wanted to create a hallucination jungle,” the designer said before his show. Lightness in the jungle’s tropical heat was important, so Miele incorporated movement into his looks, using lots of chiffon and borders of fringe. His son’s blue giraffe appeared; a tiger in oxidized yellow was also part of the menagerie. Layered together, as they were in the opening look’s giraffe caftan and long leopard dress, they did look hallucinatory and like an animal lover’s trippy dream. It would have been fun to see more prints in the mix (what else did Miele’s son come up with?), but instead black dresses with Deco beading and dripping sequins pulled you out of the jungle. The beading, and the turquoise stones on necklines and shoes, served as a grounding element amid all the frothy chiffon but at times felt unnecessarily heavy. Fantastical and acid-hued, this was a collection for dreamers.

Check out our full gallery after the break!

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Sachin + Babi Spring 2013

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MBFW_SS13_SachinBabi_JKratochvil_0388Sachin + Babi drew inspiration for their Spring 2013 collection from a photo taken by Ryan Holden Singer of his backpacking trip through Mongolia. Both Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia have dreamed of taking this trip together, and their collection was indeed dreamy.

The duo showcased their signature embroidery expertise jazzed up with some rock-n-roll chic pieces like a Sgt. Pepper inspired jacket and printed skinny jeans. Vertical ruffles added new movement to chiffon gowns and skirts, some of which were paired with crocheted bikini tops.

The collection was fun, festive, and destined to be a best seller next season. Kelly Framel, Miss Universe was spotted in the front row. More photos from Jane Kratochvil after the jump.

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Reem Acra Spring 2013

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MBFW_SS13_ReemAcra_JKratochvil_8401The artist Aaron Young and his motorcycles put Reem Acra in a youthful state of mind, so she focused less on swanky eveningwear and more on pieces for day, looking to inject her collection with an edgy, modern attitude. The silhouette was predominantly fitted and sleek, but a few blouson dresses belted at the waist with embroidered ropes were quietly sexy. Cropped motorcycle jackets in leather and silk satin were, fittingly, strong. Ribbed-knit cuffs and waistbands gave them a sporty feel, and one was embroidered, coolly, with matte, laser-cut sequins that looked like a motorcycle tread. A racing motif pervade. A few dresses had embroidery-framed cutouts down the sides, which looked like tire marks on the street after a road race. Acra did well with the daywear, but it was when the gowns came out at the end that the audience started to buzz. Frothy and fantastic, they had their own kind of horsepower.

All of Jane Kratochvil’s photos are after the break.

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Custo Barcelona Spring 2013 X-Ray collection

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MBFW_SS13_CustoBarcelona_JKratochvil_5620The Custo Barcelona Spring 2013 X-Ray collection was really exciting with bright architectural prints accentuated with pops of neon pink, lime green and bright orange. These signature color and graphics are emboldened though a filter of transparent overlays and layers of textured fabric. The intricate geometric patterns are inspired by the oceanic landscape, the cosmos and the constellations. Plastic trains stemming from the model’s shorts, mesh over bold printed shirts and gold foil shorts electrified the collection.

As usual Custo Barcelona offered a bright array of colors, everything from pastel, to whites, to boysenberry streaked with black. The models strutted with exaggerated high heels, bold eyebrows and a damn good dance beat in the background. Another avant garde fusion of colors, materials and swagger.

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VLOV Spring 2013

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MBFW_SS13_RichardWu_JKratochvil_3723As part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, VLOV, a lifestyle apparel designer based in China who designs apparel for middle-class Chinese men displayed their Spring 2013 collection. VLOV is sold by distributors through multiple points of sale throughout China.

Mr. Richard Wu, VLOV’s CEO and Chief Designer, stated, “After the brand exposure and recognition within China that we received from participating at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week last fall, we want to thank the China Fashion Designer’s Association for recommending VLOV for the second consecutive year to participate at the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.”

Mr. Wu continued, “Due to the high level of interest that we received since being at fashion week last year, we are in the early stages of exploring opportunities of bringing VLOV apparel outside of mainland China. We do not anticipate that this will happen immediately, rather the entrance into other markets will take time so that the introduction further enhances our brand.”

While the collection as well tailored and put together, I would have liked to see a bit more color in the looks. Gallery after the break.

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