Studio-Phoenix Blogspot: Williamsubrg Fashion week 2012

Williamsburg Fashion week show: 298 Kent ave Bklyn, @ Grassland. Review By K.K.W, photos by Ely Kay & K.K.W

On Friday Feb 17th the work of 4 fashion designers were unveiled, much to the delight of the large crowd of fans, on-lookers, photographers, and critic's a-plenty. When I think back there were so many cameras present with flashes popping, I started to become a little bit unnerved (when the flash hits you in the eye its harsh). But then I started using this to my advantage, timing my shots with there flashes for an interesting effect. Some of the designs came from recycled cloth, or left-over and unused pieces from factories (Lockwood). Others created their own patterns or prints(Peyser).

The show, arranged by Arthur Abit, Ingrid De Grainer(an amazing person), and Sarah Ruplin. The show featured the designs of Andrea Diodati, Mark Tauriello, Melissa Lockwood, and Hannah Peyser. To start, Diodati's creations were amazing to behold, colorful, cheerful, playful, with a slight darkness to the whole thing. The theme was if David Bowie and the easter bunny had a sequin love child, and influenced by Lautrec's series clowness from the 1800's. The look was very playful, and theatric with a 70's-80's look backed by the feel of a candy-coated adventure with elements from the era of wigs in European history. Her's was exciting in that it came off like a performance, her models gave the designs its life, all this with a very sensual-sexy appeal to it.

While many liked Mark Tauriello's designs(based on early 'slasher'/sci-fi movies). I didn't really care that much for them. The lighting and feel of the event and the crowd gave it something, but I felt it was just...not creative enough or stylish. The colors were good, as was his idea, but the execution did not have the power of the other designer who did showcase something interesting, an in many ways stylish and practical.

Melissa Lockwoods creations were very subtle, simplistic in look which gave them a stylish quality that went beyond the stage. Remarkably all her designs were made from discarded fabric found @ various factories. You look at them an could see women buying these designs. There was a certain casualness to her creations, and the feel of her personal choices and outlook. She certainly showed a sense for control and what others would like and possibly wear. Her designs showed not only "dash" but control and thought towards something that could be marketed, perhaps in a sustainability sense.

Hannah Peyser's designs were elegant, sensual and sensible. The look was reminiscent of the "little black dress"(Audrey Hepburn), except she went for color, patterns, and a feel thats in-vouge right now. There was a marked simplicity to the look which was balanced by the way they fit the models. I liked that the models had individuality in their shapes, which really empowered her designs. Like certain others she showed personal style and taste, while(possibly)thinking about practicality.