When designers are selected as finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, they compete in a set of challenges to win the grand prize–$300K and mentorship for the year–which this year went to Billy Reid. One of these challenges was presented by Ann Taylor. The 10 finalists–Joseph Altuzarra, Billy Reid, Christian Cota, Eddie Borgo, Gregory Parkinson, Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow of Loden Dager, Moss Lipow, Pamela Love, Prabal Gurung and Robert Geller–were each given a box of images from Ann Taylor campaigns from the ’50s, when the brand launched, through to today, and asked to create a look that would “rejuvenate, redefine and modernize the concept of wear-to-work dressing and set the next major career style trend.”
The results? Pretty amazing. Last night, to celebrate the opening of their new concept store on 5th Ave. and 21st St., Ann Taylor revealed all the challenge looks. Winner Billy Reid created a look that paired high-waisted houndstooth-print pants with suspenders and a magic trench coat–the lining comes out and turns into a bubble hemmed shift dress. Pamela Love created a leather bag with a horn handle and a matching necklace and cuff. The color combination of Loden Dager’s aqua blazer and blush pants was spot on. You can check out the looks modeled by the incomparable Karlie Kloss below.
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