New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010
Irina Shabayeva has been in the fashion game long before her appearance on Project Runway. She studied at Parsons before returning there with a batch of fashion designer hopefuls. While there, she won the Saga Design award and went on to study fur design in Denmark. She worked with Adrienne Landau as head designer after her graduation.
This seasons Fall 2010 show was inspired by "freedom and un-tethered journey of flight." Birds and angel-like wings were constant through out her collection.
Colors
Camel, Taupe, Black, White, Charcoal
Looks Loved
There is a certain stigma sometimes with reality television that makes critics not want to take the talent seriously. Perhaps it's the drama played out in public that distracts from the artist and their actual skill. I admit, I was ready to blow this show off in fear that haute hounds would crowd the place looking for Hiedi Klum, Micheal Kors and Nina Garcia. Some young ladies might've wanted to get a glimpse of Logan. I missed the show I planned to attend and decided last minute to trek uptown to check her out. I will tell you right now, Irina Shabayeva wasn't f*cking around.
The first look she sent down the runway was fur. While Im personally not a fan of fur, her pieces and looks showed that she isn't some reality show joke. She's the real deal and she will be around for the duration.
She ended her show with intricate, full dresses. They are the kind of dresses you want to see at a runway show. One short strapless dress was full-on feathers, another snow-queen dress, handmade with duck feathers and with what looked to be leather lattice wings (it was actually Tupperware material) topped off with a fox fur wrap.
Her leather pants, slinky tees and hand-beaded wing design wool cigarette leggings could fit right in with any rock-chic label at Barney's.
There's no doubt, when viewing this cohesive collection that it was well-planned and labor intensive.
Photos: See the entire collection on Coutorture via Getty.
Unloved Looks
As I mentioned, it's a personal taste of my own regarding fur. However, I know people wear it and love it. In fact, the "stylish" people that seemed to be appearing on street style blogs have been draped in animals. Alas, fur is Irina's thing. I also have some reservations about the hand painted cloaks and jackets. While I think they are extremely cool and somewhat abstract, off the runway, the wrong styling on the wrong person might make it tacky.
We know Irina loves her over sized sweaters as well. I repeat the same sentiment as I said for the aforementioned.
Music
The show opened with a little bit of dramatic music a mix called "Feelin Good by Ines Project" a dance version of the classic Feeling Good by Nina Simone. Also boom and thump-a-tized: Amy Winehouse "In My Bed."
People and Scene
Im not sure if Irina's people took a page from Rachel Roy in terms of how a presentation and runway should be, but the space was open and comfortable. Though there was a mess outside in the windy cold and no distinctive line, once inside, waiters served cocktails, the runway was low and visible even from my standing spot. Irina's repeating theme of wings hung from the ceiling. The crowed was a mix of buyers, editors, friends, family and eccentrically dressed fashion people (like the guy in a long leopard fur and fedora--very pimp).
At the end of the show, there was an informal modeling session where everyone could take a closer look, snap pics and socailize.
To Gift or Not to Gift
When I first saw that the show was being sponsored by Tupperware, I didn't see the connection. Instantly, a vision of suburban house wives selling bowls and eating chips and dip in their living rooms came to mind. Once I saw the gift bag with a large square container full of BeautiControl spa products, a Toshiba USB, and a plastic spray bottle, it made sense. Look in any designer or stylist's closet and you'll see closets organized with various clear containers.
Tupperware not only provided the swag, but helped Irina out with some of the materials for her designs, including the jewelry.
