photos+story / Sara Cooper
TIBI
Tibi showed us more redefined classic silhouettes in black, white, and pastels. A personal favorite were the crop tops paired with oversized blazers and super high waist skirts. The collection also incorporated a lot of cutouts in a soft and feminine way. I don’t know who designed the cutout shoes but they were amazing! Solange Knowles sat front row with her little son, so cute!
ALEJANDRO INGELMO
Alejandro Ingelmo’s presentation took place at the Standard Hotel in the Highline Room, which donned a huge ceiling installation by an artist whose medium is shoelace, rather appropriate. Sneakers for guys, and sky-high heels for girls were displayed on cinder blocks topped with mirror. It was a super clean and chic presentation. Some personal favorites included metallic pointy pumps and a super soft lavender colored suede cage pumps. It was all about metallics and pastels at AI.
DL1961
DL 1961 opened their the runway show with a killer dance performance by an all girl dance troupe busting moves in DL1961 denim. The performance was followed by a runway show of guys and girls clad in a fresh palette of printed, textured, and colored denim. The industrial space where the show was held was decorated with amazing oversized chandeliers which, after the runway show, seamlessly transitioned into an after party with tunes by Mia Morreti and Caitlin Moe, 2 bars with specialty cocktails, cotton candy and a grilled cheese truck!
TRIBUNE STANDARD
Models lined up on apple boxes as they strut their way to the back for the look book shoot happening simultaneous to the presentation. A highlight was one of the great graphic printed silk appearing in quite a few dresses and skirts.
TIMO WEILAND
I was looking forward to Timo Weiland’s runway show as these guys never fail to have some fun with a collection. Styling alluded toward ghetto fabulous and the music matched. After party was held at The Westway, with DJ Mess Kid and DJ Equal killing it on the ones and twos. It was a huge dance party, as usual!
COSTUME NATIONAL
Leave it to Costume National… The collection hung amidst several black and white photos and video booths. Inside video booths guests watched clips featuring James Franco re-enacting how he imagines the 40 minutes cut from a 1980’s Al Pacino movie in order to allow film to be released and receive an R rating. The presentation was more like a party, with a great crowd, and tasty specialty cocktails from St. Germain, decorated by a super chic, clean and predominantly black and metallic collection. Costume National stuck to the basics, while at the same time managing to reinvent the wheel.
RAD HAROUNI UNISEX COLLECTION
Rad Harouni’s Unisex runway show was held in a loft space on Sunday at 9PM at night among huge industrial floor to ceiling windows and amazing city views. The collection included unisex clothing displayed on 20 of the most androgynous models around. The color palette was beautiful and unexpected with a mix of black, white silver and pastel pink. The shoes were a highlight, both male and female models strut the runway in square toe, clunky cutout sandals and booties – so very 90’s.
ALICE & OLIVIA
Alice & Olivia By Stacey Bendet’s presentation was one of my personal favorites! I appreciated how much concept and effort went into the show. Cruising around the open space to view the collection felt like walking around a dream world, surrounded by colorful party dresses, cocktails served with floral ice cubes, ice cream trucks, and tunes by DJ Mia Morreti and Caitlin Moe. It was truly a girl of any age’s fairy tale – a grown up Candy Land.
LIBERTINE
Libertine displayed their collection in an industrial space, featuring some beautiful models lined up super casually along the space. Models hung out, chatted with guests and posed for photos against what appeared to be an over size collage/ inspiration wall. No one mixes a print like Libertine. My personal favorite look was the tangerine suit with blue beaded faces all over it. Each garment was truly a piece of art at Libertine – When the clothes are this intricate and amazing, all the other bells and whistles are not required.
SACHIN + BABI
Sachin + Babi presented their collection at Cedar Lake Theater where models strut a U-shaped runway in a collection inspired by a backpacking trip through Mongolia. Fabrications included rich jacquard, embroidery, and tweed paired back to soft and airy chiffons and silks. All looks were finished off by embellishments such as hand-beading or fringe. I loved how the designers juxtaposed earthiness and femininity. Hard to say if my personal favorite was one of the sheer chiffon gowns or short embroidered shift dresses – it was all so wearable! The hair was styled voluminous with a flip, reminded me of Barbie hair!
For more pictures go here.
