Asian Persuasion

Prints that are of an Asian derivation seem to always connote a regal and ornate feeling regardless of what they are printed on. The most common of which are the floral motifs screened on fine silks in bright tones and pefectly composed repeats.
Vivenne Tam takes this classic motif and applies a brushstroke (Above) to give it a more random feeling and a freehand style for the liberated and rebellious look of the season.

This technique is not new to the runway but her choice of color and scale makes this century-old idea new & appealing all over again. (Above) It is applied to a floor-length look that can easily be worn as an evening gown or with sandals for a pache resort look for the day.

Embroidery is far too often overlooked as an art form that pays homge to texture and pattern in a three demesional format. She applies it to the bottom of a dress (Above) to give it a feeling of luxe seperates.

Save The Garment Center!

This is not a new topic at all, but, it is one that that will forever be newsworthy to those it affects directly. There is no question in my mind that these two designers Anna Sui (above) and Nanette Lepore (below), will top my charts for "Top 10 Spring Shows,"  

as well as having printed looks in virtually every category. However, I feel as though the strongest statements made for the season are in the finale looks being worn by the designers themselves.  "Save The Garment Center" is a serious issue that is not only affecting showrooms around NYC, but all over the world.  Small design houses and private labels alike are struggling for business and having to close their garment district showrooms because of escalating rental rates.  The textile buildings are being taken over by luxury lofts, financial, legal, and other non fashion businesses that bring a new dynamic to a once predominately creative area.  Let's show some support to our neighbors by joining www.savethegarmentcenter.com and I expect to see lots of t-shirts in the tents this season.

A Look & A Jacket

Living in the era of "casual chic" it is imperative to find a balance of being comfortably appropriate and at the very least, dashing. It is very possible to pump a little personality into your Spring looks by adding some texture to the basic black jacket. Below, Comme de Garcon delivers a horizontal variable by printing the illusion of tie dye for a play on convention.

At Alexander McQueen, "extreme chic" is always the inspiration. The hombre feeling applied to the jacket below instills a sense of fearless style for the adventure seeker in all of us. This technique is nothing new, but, the vertical application is eye-catching and is among my favorite interpretations of this trend.

Inside Out

Above, Alexander Mcqueen, as he does season after season, never disappoints when it comes to being devicefully manipulative of the female silhouette. He took Paris by storm this season by taking the very hip skeletal trend and created a look of machine-like precision that relates beautifully to the human form. The translation takes on an architectural mood that is stunning as it is clever and ingenius. Below, an equally amazing display of this upcoming trend, is the walking lifesize X-ray from Narcisco Rodriguez's collection that seems to expose the subtle power of femininity as it would be seen from the inside of today's most influential women of fashion. These almost radioactive looks were by far the most prolific diplays of positive and negative print engineering to hit the runways in quite some time. Now this is the science of textiles at its best!

The Great Cover-Up

Every Spring we are challenged to find the great cover-ups, even though we already have one. Rocking a printed top layer is a mood elevator of the highest order this season if you are looking dress up the drab. These particular zebra inspired prints are styled to change the direction of flow and add to the bold impression in an ever so chic way....VERY Dior!-rp

Art+Photography+Design=FASHION

New, fresh, and lovely....When you consider the collaborative genius that went in to this particular line, there is no wonder why this was the most talked about show of the season. Marc Jacobs, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince were the forces that shaped this collection's attitude and appeal. I love how the usage of sequins emulates an ikat right off the Athena's loom and creates a bohemian effect that is all-around chic & stylish.

Channeling Versace

A look ahead to Versace Fall 2008 is an inspirational push provided by dutch artist Tim Roeloffs. A photoreal monatage of Versace-esque textiles and references printed on a colorful backdrop evokes a strong mental image that is functional & flirty. The bonus is that this pattern is impeccably engineered to provide an intersting visual that is modern & sophisticated. This print is an homage to the great style and expert tailoring of Gianni Versace and can be re-worked to achieve several silhouettes for seasons to come.

The New Order

1. Peter Piletto introduces a print that is loaded with texture interpret the abstract & ikat trend that has dominated the runways this season.
2. Talbot Runhof utilizes a flirty floral to make an ultra feminine statement. I love how the floral motif creates a scenic of blooms that is not so typical and gives the garment's character some life.

I am a full blooded, pure-bred Fashionisto and have to respect the legendary houses that have laid the foundation for the future of fashion prints, but, there is something very intriguing about the collections that are rising in the ranks. This season was saturated with print masterpieces across the board that addressed form, color, mood and history. However, I was most impressed with the new-comers who utilized patterns to show that their collections have the depth necessary to attract the eye of today's discerning consumer. BRAVO!

I Wish I Was Home

"We're not in Kansas anymore Toto." These days when you venture into the home textile editorials you have to wonder who the target viewer is. The "Do-It-Yourselfers" seem to hav e taken over the reigns from the high brow interior specialists to make a stand in the market place. The reality TV craze has infiltrated virtually every audience base now and is strongly influencing consumers to seek bolder patterns & more vibrant colors. And, we must agree that, nowhere is the personality more vividly expressed than in the home.

I think it is fantastic that we are being given many more options in the marketplace to execute uncoventional ideas in creating personalized living spaces. The modern home maker wants looks that are outside the scope of traditional home palettes and seek options in furnishings that immulate the motifs and moods found on the fashion runways.