Blizzard Nemo couldn’t stop New York Fashion Week when it hit the Big Apple on Friday evening (February 8) – the second day of runway shows and after parties. Although the blizzard was predicted to keep New Yorkers locked up in their homes until Saturday afternoon, that wasn’t the case as it was all sunshine the next day. Well, it was also slippery, wet, windy and freezing, but no boots or jackets can’t fix that as proven by all the lovely ladies I snapped for our “Street Fashion” story during Fashion Week. Whether they were attending shows – ie. Blanc de Chine and Anveglosa – or actually keeping the streets fashionable, these ladies brought their individual sartorial game – snow or shine.
Chinese-American singer-songwriter Baiyu at Blanc de Chine.
Blanc de Chine proves that you don’t need to be “under the tents” at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to bring in the buzz and the crowd. The luxurious Chinese brand showcased their Fall/Winter 2013 collection at their Fifth Avenue store on Sunday (February 10) to a fashionable crowd that included Chinese-American singer Baiyu.
Blanc de Chine kept their inspirations close to the homeland. Menswear was inspired by the robes in the Tang Dynasty, while the womenswear was inspired by the flying Apsaras, the female spirit of the clouds and water and the symbol of Dunhuang art. Both influences were beautifully expressed throughout the collection, notably in the womenswear. Female models walked the runway in elegant and airy pieces, varying from flowy dresses to sleek pants and sheer camisoles in earthy shades of blue, green, brown, gray and black. But the one look that seemed to embody the essence of the Apsara was the navy long dress with sheer cape, bringing to mind the fabric and ribbons that would support the windless Apsaras when flying in the air. What made the afternoon more special for Blanc de Chine was that their fashion week date fell on Chinese New Year, treating the guests with wine and dumplings.
To check out more of Blanc de Chine, blancdechine.com.
Photo Courtesy
In August, the 2012 London Olympic Games gave many Asians athletes an international platform to demonstrate their physical prowess. Last month, a different group of Asians were put on the spotlight. A new season of Fashion Week took over New York and I was there to soak it all in all while getting first-hand looks at the creativity of numerous Asian designers inside or outside the tents. Check out four Asian designers or brands that were at this season’s New York Fashion Week.
Gavin Rajah
The South African-born designer debuted his Spring 2013 collection as one of the five designers featured at the Arise African Icons fashion collective, held in Lincoln Center. From sparkly pink shorts to the gold dresses, Gavin Rajah stayed true to his opulent designs as even his headgear were luxurious like the gold visors. [Image Courtesy: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week]
Celebrate the lunar new year (February 14!) with a little artistic appreciation.
Blanc de Chine is the first Chinese luxury brand to transform traditional Chinese culture into modern design. Past collections have drawn inspiration from the Sung Dynasty to the Naxi tribe. The design house’s spring 2010 collection draws from the Ming Dynasty, renown for their refinement in design, stripping away elaborate ornamentation and focusing on the raw material and its inherent beauty.
Blanc de Chine’s latest look draws from Daoism, appropriately called the Dao collection. Based on the ancient DuDou, a silk undergarment worn by both men and women in China as early as 200 B.C., the Dao collection reflects the Buddhist notion that truth and reality have more than one facet and are never absolute.
A bit too heady for you? Then just know that the collection is not only wearable, but works of art. Simple two-dimensional geometric forms in luxe leather silks transform on the body into edgy, avant garde, 3-D pieces easily incorporated into any wardrobe.
