New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 – Day 4

KATYA LEONOVICH- Day 4 of New York Fashion Week and today was all about fresh creative new looks. Another label making its debut at NYFW, presenting in the Lincoln Center, was Russian designer and visual artist Katya Leonovich. American football, evident in some rather homoerotic paintings of the sport strategically placed behind the models, was clearly the inspiration for this edgy athletic street collection. A combination of patch-worked denim, vivid chiffon prints, cut-out leather were the foundation for Leonovich’s chaotic creations. Found the bright coloured printed chiffon pieces a bit too intense, the denim came off a little trashy but with a little simplification the look could work. The cut-out leather had the greatest potential if she lost the fringe, and the real winner were the taupe pieces – especially the hard edged one worn by the Oriental model. Something one could see Lady Gaga wearing. Personally, I could go for one of those men’s feathered scarves, but none of the menswear was my cup of tea. A+ on the hair by Jordan M for Bumble & bumble and makeup by Mizu for Maybelline Japan. For more photos please click here.

LELA ROSE – The neon graveyards of Las Vegas collide with the amusement park colours and textures of Coney Island for some fresh youthful Spring/Summer 2012 looks at Lela Rose. An interesting combination of decadent West meets unadulterated East and the result is beautiful. Rose’s bleached metallic tweed, stripped paint twill, and washed out voile recall what was a garish glow of the new that has faded overtime telling a story of what was. Letter blocked silhouettes and chipped embroidery evoke the weathered stacked signs of Las Vegas while cyclone prints, carnival stretch cotton, and dotted blocked knits bring a Coney Island ‘funhouse’ vibe. The colours beamed – faded lemon, periwinkle, and neon tangerine. Favourites included the lightbulb lace, fringe and metallic organza, and border jacquards. For more photos please click here.

CARLOS CAMPOS – When you have what we’ve seen coming out of Milan and Paris for men’s fashion, it is admittedly difficult to get overly excited about the New York collections. We’ve seen all-American prep time and time again. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for the signature American look that houses of Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, GANT, etc. built, but look carefully beyond these big names and you’ll find that there are some pleasant surprises. Designers such as Simon Spurr, Marlon Gobel, Buckler, and this man – Carlos Campos. For Spring/Summer 2012 Campos has fused tradition with modernity coming his South American heritage with the utility of the contemporary uniform. It is the ethnic vibrancy of the historic Aztec, Mayan, and Incan native cultures of the region that Campos has found inspiration. Bright corals, golden yellows, royal blues, and cognac have given us a fresh take on utilitarian workwear. Campos has adopted a big trend coming out of Europe – the use of silk and silk blends for SS12 that give a cool relaxed aesthetic. The footwear, very remarkable, eyeing the Aztec print wingtips for next spring/summer. Hands down one of the best men’s collections of NYFW. For more photos please click here.
Spiro Mandylor http://itsallstyletome.com