(Long Island, N.Y.) Media, celebrities and fashionistas attended what may be the final presentation at Bryant Park before relocating to Lincoln Center in 2010. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week made good on their promises for yet another hectic week of star-studded events at the tents. Top designers from around the globe debut their sexy spring collections on the famous runways in the tents as style-conscious trendsetters, buyers, editors and celebrities from Hollywood, sports and the modeling world took notice.
My favorite shows were the Malan Breton Spring 2010, Loris Diran Spring 2010, Twinke by Wenlan Spring 2010 and newcomer Custo Barcelona Spring 2010 Collections.
Classic Fashion Designer Malan Breton metamorphosed the Metropolitan Pavilion into an elegant evening at the theatre. The New York City Chelsea 30-piece Orchestra created the ambiance of a classical ballet production as male and female models presented Breton’s evening wear collection. Malan’s inspiration for the Spring 2010 collection was from his early childhood as a dancer. “I wanted the colors and hues to be reminiscent of dancer in training and the different colors they wear in their training uniforms, soft neutrals, rose tones and beautiful pales and lilacs, just soft beautiful tones.” Malan revealed. Soft sensuous silks, dramatic lace, neoprene, cotton and wool were the fabrics used to create a magical dance theme of a dancer’s life. His colors and hues included lilac, gold, poppy, amethyst, sapphire, marigold, rose tones and platinum for this collection as previously mentioned.
To create a unique concept, Breton incorporated a theatrical ballet into his fashion event. The audience was mesmerized. A male ballet dancer pirouetted down the catwalk in a dress shirt, vest and riding gloves minus the trousers. For the curtain call a ballerina danced on the runway in chic ballet-bride dress as the audience clapped.
Breton delighted everyone with his elegant very classy evening wear collection with a strong emphasis on the men’s wear collection. The Men’s Poppy three piece suit was a showstopper and the hooded top coat with leather detail will most definitely be this season’s signature piece.
The Loris Diran Spring 2010 presented men’s and women’s collections. The show marked Mr. Diran’s fifth full New York runway presentation and was styled by celebrity stylist, Jason Stephen. Original hair styles were created by Christo 5th Avenue and makeup was designed by Dex New York.
The LORIS DIRAN Ready-to-Wear collections, entitled “LUNA PARK”, revisits the boardwalks of old Coney Island, its seaside warmth, and the explosion of color identified with its legend. Says Diran, “One of my first memories as a child here in New York was of Coney Island and its ancient, dilapidated structures. The bawdy colors glistening from all the amusements stayed with me always.
Poppy Red, Canary Yellow, and Teal Blue punctuate an earth-toned palette of Rope, Cream, Navy, and Black. All of these shades woven from richly textured Silk Linens, Cotton Tweeds, Voiles, and Silk Gazars.
Loris Diran is of French-Armenian descent and immigrated to America at an early age where his family settled on New York’s upper west side. Highly influenced by the glam culture of the 1970’s, he was drawn to music, theatre and fashion and attended New York’s High School of performing Arts. Diran performed on Broadway and appeared on Capital records as a recording artist.
After earning a Fine Arts degree from NYU, Diran went on to work for such legendary design houses Versace, Claude Montana, and Chanel. It was at these institutions Diran learned the key elements of style and embraced luxury as a lifestyle concept. In 2003, Diran launched a collection of luxury knits under his first woman’s label, LORIS DIRAN COUTURE. The craftsmanship and fashion forward designs made them an instant hit with many socialites and celebrities.
He also served as Design Director for the West Coast based Women’s collection, JACQUE LYNE LOVE, and presented two collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Los Angeles in 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, Mr. Diran went to work on his own signature men’s line, immediately followed by a women’s Ready to Wear collection. Both collections featured Demi-Couture craftsmanship and have since developed a loyal clientele of fashion savvy customers, as well as celebrities from the world of music, television and film. His designs have been worn by Beyonce Knowles, Ricky Martin, Jonathan Rhys Meyer, Britney Spears, Nicolette Sheridan, Sofia Milos, Liev Schreiber and Andrew McCarthy.
Diran’s designs have also been featured in the Hollywood film, “The Devil Wears Prada.” Today, Mr. Diran happily incorporates both his collections into a luxury lifestyle that inspires his work. He has recently opened the doors of his first freestanding boutique in New York City’s Bowery district. This high end boutique reflects a mid-century minimalism, complete with vintage furnishings from some of the period’s most legendary names and it houses all of Mr. Diran’s collections for men and women.
I also had the chance to take in the Twinkle by Wenlan Spring 2010 Collection. Designer Wenlan Chia debuted her Spring 2010 Collection and was inspired by the 60’s spirit of Yoko Ono with the ‘80’s attitude of Blondie for a punky yet peaceful self-expression. Her collection showcased a colorful conversations of primal reds and blues bespeak=2 0raw emotion, while graphic prints add a structural sense of taming. New to the Tents was Designer Custo Barcelona.
Alter twelve years showing at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, Custo Barcelona presented the Spring 2010 collection, for the first time at the largest of the venues at Bryant Park, The Tent, before a crowd of 1,000+ members of the press, opinion leaders, celebrities and VIP’s.
Named “Air Show”, Custo Barcelona’s collection has been built around the concepts of movement and lightness. The materials used are so light that designer Custo Dalmau would talk rather about yarns instead of fabrics. Most of them have been through a perforation process, providing a certain transparency to the material and clothes. Behind this collection there is an intense investigation work not only about the fabric qualities but also about the use of graphic and color, which are the brand DNA, and have been renewed in a unexpected way.
The results of all this experimentation will be delivered to the stores through Custo Barcelona’s new line.
Celebrities that have worn his designs include Kenan Thompson, Actor – Saturday Night Live, Bryan Greenberg, Actor, Mark Indelicato, Actor- Ugly Betty, Miss Jay, Judge – America’s Next Top Model, Kristen Dalton, Miss USA, Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe, Federico Castelluccio, Actor-The Sopranos, Amerie, Singer , Actress, Carlos Leon, Actor, Melody Thornton, Singer – The Pussycat Dolls, Tinsley Mortimer, Socialite, Adam Bertrand, Ac tor – The Beautiful Life, Miss Teen USA, Stormi Bree Henley. Lothar Mattaus, Former Soccer Player, Adam Green, Singer, Olivia Palermo, TV Personality – The City, Turner Cody, Musician, Johannes Hubl, Male Supermodel, Monique Stateena, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 11.
In my opinion The Gusto Barcelona Spring 2010 was the most highly energized show of the season as his collection transformed The Tents into a Mediterranean paradise.
Overall Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2010 was a dramatic success despite the economic downturn.
