Perhaps we’re crazy, but we’re starting to think the right leg trend, pioneered, or at least made famous by the meme-ification of Angelina Jolie’s 2012 Oscars dress, extends beyond skinny actresses and models who pose on red carpets. Slits were a major trend on the spring 2012 runways and have trickled down to retailers like Read more →
Hey hey, we’ve got new show reviews and galleries up over on our
Having never viewed any of French designer Kevork Kiledjian’s work before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I arrived at his show yesterday. In his collection notes, the designer (whose former collections include Triiad and Guilty Brotherhood) promised “an eternal palette for a new encounter” that was “the outcome of a captured evolution,” statements that left guests scratching their heads from the get-go. But after the first few exits alone, it became clear that manipulating and molding leather is where this designer shines. There were impressively tailored skinny leather pants, a cool white buckled vest, and a number of tiny bustier dresses with intricately braided seams. And I liked a pink-and-olive printed chiffon that, though it at first glance appeared to be a floral design, turned out to be a pattern of snarling tigers (fierce, indeed).
The problem?
New York Fashion Week has officially begun and as we’ve learned, more designers are showing than ever before. New York seems to breed new talent at an alarming rate compared to other cities. And while that may irritate established designers and make our schedules that much more insane, we love nothing more than being surprised and blown away by a name we’d never heard before.
Still, it can be tough to filter out the real talent from the ones who will fade into the background. All it takes to show a collection is time and money, but to show one that makes us want to see more–that takes something special. So, for the second year in a row, we’ve handpicked 15 relatively under-the-radar designers showing this week who we think are worth paying attention to. Click through to learn about each one and why we think you’ll be seeing a lot more of them for seasons to come.
Kevork Kiledjian is all about the fit. “It’s the most important thing to me,” said the still-new designer, whose Fall 2011 collection made waves last February at Milk Gallery. With pieces as body con as these, fit’s got to be the priority. But this isn’t Herve Leger territory. Kiledjian, who was born in Paris, is very much influenced by the glam rock look of the late ’70s, early ’80s. (He loves Thierry Mugler.) Yet it’s safe to say Kiledjian’s look is much more grounded in minimalism than the body con pieces we’ve seen lately.
As guests filed into Milk Studios for Kevork Kiledjian‘s debut collection this past February during New York Fashion Week, front row fixtures like Julia Restoin Roitfeld and Leigh Lezark caused a stir with paparazzi. But backstage was where all the real action was at, and we’ve got the exclusive footage.
New York Fashion Week is not just home to American or New York-based designers. A slew of out of towners flock to the Big Apple to show their creations each September and February, and we found out why from six of this season’s participants. You know what they say–if you can make it here…
