tforia

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Mannequins on Modrian

tforia.com

Gaudi knock off pole

Sportmax windows in Soho feature Mondrian and Gaudi. Not sure where the art intersects with the fashion. The window props are funky. Mannequins stepping over Mondrian and gypsy pants near a Gaudi inspired pole.

via http://www.style.com

Rodarte‘s fall winter 2009 show featured futuresque fembots in dresses and tall boots. The materials varied from shiny metallic, tie die prints, shaggy yarn, and matte folded fabrics. The Mulleavy sisters turned the volume high on texture. Using a variety of different materials and prints, the collection exemplified sustainability. Model fembots on the runway come from the future where there are no raw materials–all they can do is make do with the materials they have. A piece of silver, a piece of shag, some fake alligator pleather, samples of cloth from previous forms of clothing, mixing and matching, and balancing the textures and prints to make each look amazing. Visit Style.com for Rodarte’s entire f/w 2009 collection.

Rodarte‘s emphasis on creativity is key to the future, where we will need this trait to continue beautifying this world.

Cars + pretty flowy dresses + models in contorted positions

Recession has democratized access to the showings of f/w 2009. Halston’s video follows a model with a bright dandelion colored flowy dress. She runs through heels down the sidewalk of a street passing many stoops and buildings. Cars pass by and women inside cars are wearing bright pinks and shimmery blacks. There’s a tinge of urban trash with upper class.

Imran Amed of the Business of Fashion sits down with Halston CEO, Bonnie Takhar, and discusses the Halston strategy behind the video.

fake plastic rhinestones (€2)
+
fake gold chain (€5)
+
leather (€50)
+
blue metallic paint (€5)
+
labor (€50)
+
PRADA (€878)

= €990

Marchesa is all about luxury gowns worn by powers relative to Grecian/Roman empresses. The soft pleats reminiscent of Madame Gres are present in this piece but the volumnous side poufs add another dimension.  This piece is a departure from the traditional sillouttes Marchesa is typically known for.  The dress is still in line with the Marchesa theme–Rosebuds filling the side pieces–refreshingly elegant.

It’s strange how Donna Karan’s Urban Zen collection does not depict its name. The spring 2008 collection is divided into colors: indigo, mud, spice, and chalk. Spice and Indigo? Totally Indian, not Japanese or Chinese where Zen originates.

Indian influences are clearly demonstrated in the baggy pants, the long dress over pants look, the long shirt dresses, and cloth draped tops that mimic the construction of saris.

I don’t imagine the collection to fit a large spectrum of women. The orange print dress from the spice collection reminds me of something Phoebe, from the tv show
”Friends”, would wear. The collection is not very inspirational or aspirational. I somehow find myself relating the clothing to Chicos—funky older women’s wear.

The fall collection is more “ninja samuri.” I guess she’s getting closer to the eastern philosophy that coined the term Zen. There are vests that look as hard as armor. The pants are paired with boots for combat action. Both collections are incredibly complicated to look at—the many layers, the many directions the cloth drapes, the many pleats.

DKNY, Donna Karan’s original collections, are more depictive of urban zen. Clean, minimalist lines, simple, easy to look at, no fuss is what true urban zen is about.

The collections both support Donna Karan’s Urban Zen foundation where she focuses on well-being, empowering children, and preserving cultures. I wonder which comes first? They seem to be very unique missions.

The sole existing Urban Zen retail location is in the west village, NYC. There are plans underway for locations to open in East Hampton, Los Angeles, and Sun Valley, Idaho.

Karan will be hosting a Spirituality for Kids forum from May 3-5th at the Stephen Weiss Studio.

Favorites from the Urban Zen collection. Two very similar dresses–two versions of a simpler Madam Gres.