Being a Chicagoan, I couldn’t wait for Fashion Week to finally start. I thought to myself, “It’s been a long time coming, but Chicago fashion will finally get the recognition it deserves. Wrong, wrong, wrong!!! Near to no one in attendance as far as media is concerned; a runway that looks as if it was used for “make-a-stage” at a school event; and don’t get me started on the European lighting…flick on, flick off. Maybe we could blame this fiasco on the Ikram star-studded (Proenza Schouler and Dita Von Teese made appearances) 5th Anniversary party held the same night, or maybe once again just poor planning. I choose the latter.
Onto the designer collections, techno-house music blares while fellow Papierdoll staff writer, Marquita Harris, and myself enter into what seems to be a banquet hall transformed into a runway for our Chicago Fashion Week (CFW) viewing pleasure. The cathedral windows showcase the Chicago skyline to add that bit of “umpf” atmosphere to the CFW location.
NASAANI
Coming out onto the runway first was sister design team Nasaani collection. Their collection of exotic silks and edgy designs could sort of be seen through out their collection. However, in retrospect, the collection came across as boring with redundant designs, with the exception of two looks (1) cream colored silk dress with a gold belt around the waist and (2) a gray/tan off-the-shoulder dress. Another look entailed a men’s suit transformed into crop pants and a boxy jacket had me wondering when would the bulls come out to challenge the matador. I’m sure Nasaani meant well in the scheme of fashion, but instead it came across as just a complete fashionable mess. “A” for effort though.
BYNUM AND BANG
Tom Bynum receives the award for producing the most “unusual” looks of the three shows. From his sharply tailored suit jackets and structured shirts to his “burlap” looking cargo shorts paired with a white brocade jacket, one could wonder if his inspiration was a mixture of “Survivor” meets and English dandy, with a bit of P.Diddy ‘97 thrown in for kicks. Mr. Bynum if you’re reading this please speak in layman’s terms what you were trying to express, because the confusion is there…..
CUSTO BARCELONA
Bold and bright colors graced the runway during Custo Barcelona’s fashionable exhibit. Traditional in the aesthetic of what Custo Barcelona is known for, boring in the fact that the selection of looks left nothing to excitement. The play of fun graphics on teasing mini dresses will surely give any club kid or “Gold Coast” groupie a selection of what to wear during the upcoming spring/summer months. Favorite comfort: bright multi-color tunic, a must from the beach to the bars. Disappointed in the selection of looks for the men. They all only seem to come out in tight graphic tees and shirts.