Brides may almost always wear white, but for Israeli bridal couture designer, Helena Kolan, that’s where the similarity between those saying “I do” ends. Timeless, elegant, and romantic, the thread that weaves Kolan’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection together is that it is simultaneously universal and individual.
Cutting their design chops, Academy of Art University students brought new perspectives to the runway in their 2020 Spring/Summer show. Unabashed and unafraid, the University’s School of Fashion designers brought a sense of exuberance and fearlessness to their individual collections. From a jumpsuit in vegan leather to a peach taffeta hourglass shaped dress, their work was inspired by their memories, observations, and questions.
Ladylike lace and racy ruffles, demure hemlines, and body reveling cut-outs, modern lines, and 1940’s femme fatale silhouettes, are the yin and yang of Vivienne Hu’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Capitalizing on the season’s passion for bright yellow, orange and pink as well as metallics, Hu’s pieces mixed traditional luxury with of the moment looks.
The Carlos Campos Spring/Summer 2020 collection uses bold colors, the same way a grammarian uses periods, to punctuate a thought. The designer takes fun and breezy attitude by adding pops of cyan, sapphire and midnight navy to his signature palette of blue, white and tan.
In the age of #MeToo, it’s empowering to see fashion that exudes an #IAm spirit. Victoria Hayes’ Spring/Summer 2020 collection does just that. From black leather hot pants to saucy midi skirts in neon yellow, fuchsia and purple, Hayes remains true to her vision to help women stand out with confidence.
Beaded embellishments and the use of midriff and thigh-high slits blend femininity with a “take no prisoners” attitude. The designer’s bejeweled garter belt and basket-ball accessories added the right mix of street style fun with red carpet and real-life looks for the woman who wants to be seen whether she’s coming or going.
-Sandra Sokoloff
Michael Costello’s “Gitana” – Spring/Summer 2019 collection is dramatic with pieces that steal the show whether you’re on the red carpet or Ibiza. Inspired by gypsy culture, the designer pays homage to bohemia independence and women who seek their own path.
Portuguese designer, Katty Xiomara’s Spring / Summer 2018 collection played to the spirit of “Americana” that swept across New York Fashion Week. With a “parachute trip” theme, models wearing oversized aviator glasses and fierce eye makeup took off in floaty, flirty pieces with mesh-like, see-through and graphic imprinted textiles. In colors of sea green and pink, tunic maxi dresses, hot pants, ruffled skirts and sweet doyly collared tops referenced fashion from Southern California bohemian chic to preppy prim and proper. Xiomara seeks to create aspirational yet accessible pieces. Her Spring / Summer 2018 collection is wearable, although not completely original. Showing in Portuguese Fashion Week since 1998, Xiomara has achieved international recognition for her elegant and timeless pieces. In June 2014, she was awarded the second prize (Silver) by the International Design Awards on the Pret-a- Porter category. In April 2015 was awarded: Second Prize (Silver) in Pret-a- Porter Competition for the Wireframe Project and Honorable Mention in Women PP Competition for the Wireframe Project.
-Sandra Sokoloff
Katty Xiomara Fashion Show, Ready to Wear Collection Spring Summer 2018 in New York
Credit: nowfashion.com
Designers and Noon By Noor founders Shaikha Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa take an unstructured, relaxed, albeit expected, approach to their Fall 2016 collection that debuted on February 14 at New York City’s The Dock, Skylight Moynihan Station during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Combining classic menswear tailoring with fluid feminine silhouettes, the collection features wide-leg mannish pants, silk pajama tops and floor-grazing trench coats with a bathrobe-like coziness in colors of white, sapphire gray, taupe, caramel, and midnight blue.