Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Costello Tagliapietra

Lovable designers Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello can often be seen dressed similarly in plaid shirts and suspenders, a burly pair often not what most picture when seeing such feminine collections. The two met at Parsons and formed Costello Tagliapeitra and sent thier first runway collection down the catwalk in 2005. The CFDA member designers have been slowly gaining acclaim since and even snagged a collaboration with the Japanese based brand Uniqlo.

Colors: nude, gray, brown, blush

Materials: georgette, jersey

Loved Looks

Photo: WWD/John Aquino

Photo: WWD/John Aquino

Photo: WWD/John Aquino

Costello Tagliapietra's collection was inspired by women who want to dress up, but without too much effort. It was the answer to today's casual society: down with velour pants suits! Jeans and tees are okay, but there is a time and place for everything, they say. Most of this collection was beautifully executed with a refined dresses for a woman who wants to get noticed, but doesn't want to be gawked at. Hits include the brown off the shoulder dress with draping, asymmetric sheath dress and printed off the shoulder dress.

Unloved Looks

Photo: WWD/John Aquino

Not unlike other designers this season, Costello Tagliapietra tended to go a bit overboard on draping. I think that the majority of women (and I am a woman) do not want to dress in a sack-like garment. Though the garments weren't completely unlovable. I did find the brown structure shoulder top and the pea green skirt to be a gross color combination.

Music

Costello Taglipietra's creative musical muses while creating the collection were The Mishapes, Washed Out, Memory Tapes and Ariel Pink.

People and Scene

MAC & MILK Studios shows have been giving the tents a run for their Mercedes money. With ample space and a "u" shaped runway, the crowd was able to catch every look that came out. If you weren't invited, the show broadcast live on MilkMade, Milk's site that covers the shows that happened there this week. More and more designer's are turning away from celebrity based arena-rock style shows, and evidenced by the people here, this duo shared the same sentiment. Though, designers know that famous faces will pull in a bit of extra attention, so this show was not without Leigh Lezark and other quasi-celebs, most likely personal friends of the designers.

Read a great article on the Starworks blog about Costello Tagliapietra and thier Spring 2011 inspiration.

Watch the Spring 2011 Costello Tagliapietra Show at MilkMade.

Photo: Phillipe Bond/ Facebook

The Blonds, designers David and Phillipe Blond will be the last show for my New York Spring Fashion Week 2011 coverage.  Last season, there was a gorilla walking the runway along with plenty of signature studded corsets and lux evening gowns.

If you were wishing you could be there, here is the next best thing:

Watch The Blonds Show LIVE at 7:15PM September 16 (that's tonight!)

Alice Temperley

Alice Temperley is another Central Saint Martin's graduate from London who's been on the fashion scene since 2000. In 2006, she showed at New York fashion week and has adding to the tally of retail stores that carry her line. In 2010, she introduced her bridge line, aimed at the younger demographic called "Alice by Temperley."

Alice by Temperley

Colors: coral, black, slate, white, tan, blue

Materials: leather, jacquard, tulle, cotton

Loved Looks

It was Marie Antoinette meets modern day London rock chic. Though, I admit, it was a little tricky to find the last Queen of France influence, unless you took into account the tulle prints and hand embroidered pieces. The most interesting pieces included a blue printed tunic, the chic cropped leather jackets and a long white cross back dress.

Unloved Looks

Some of the body conscious dresses didn't do much for me. The mini dress with cut outs and lace underlay just wasn't hitting the mark. Perhaps it was the color gray that she chose, which had a cold, blue-ish hue.

Temperley London

Colors: white, blush, silver, black

Materials: lace, leather, knits

Loved Looks

Of course the higher priced line was much more appealing to me than the lower priced Alice. It was a combination of S&M style accessories with very uptown gowns. Inspired by King Arthur armor and medieval dress and romantic courtship, this collection had very few misses and plenty of hits including the wrap around wrist clutches, a lace blush short dress with beige leather harness straps, and chain mail influenced knits. It was a fantastic blend of sinister and sweet.

Unloved Looks

I'm not sure where animal print fits into the above scenario. If wasn't supposed to be that sort of print, then I missed the point. Either way, it cheapened an otherwise luxurious collection of leather jackets and gowns with must-have accessories including leather wrist bands and cool bags.

Music

There was a rotating mix of music including Goldfrapp's Happiness.

People and Scene

Alice Temperley's presentation was held off site at MAC & Milk Studios fashion week. The venue was a studio set up with glossy black mannequins and no real-life models.  People stood around chatting with drinks in hand from the small bar set up in the back, while two areas were set up for Alice by Temperely and her signature line Temperely London. The Alice line stood above a red circus-like marquis of lighted letters, while Temperely London stood above broken mirrors.

Billy Reid

Billy Reid was named GQ magazine's 2010 best new menswear designer in America. Its not without merit. To most of us Yankees, when hear Mr. Reid was born in the South, we don't associate it with high style. Though, we are mistaken when it comes to Billy Reid's rugged yet preppy menswear. Along with his GQ credentials, in 2001, he won the CFDA's award for best new men’s designer. With handmade Italian shoes, and coveted men's boots that look quite sexy tucked into boots, and button downs for every man, Billy Reid proves that style doesn't just exist in the New York bubble.

Colors: navy, khaki, red, brown, gray, ivory

Materials: jersey, linen, cotton, denim, chambray

Loved Looks

Photo: Bradley Dean

Photo: Bradley Dean

Photo: Bradley Dean

When it comes to dressing men, Billy Reid has a knack for outfitting guys with style but not too much pretension. Even if guys aren't into the look as a whole, piece by piece, the well constructed basic garments like the tonal plaid cotton dress shirt with heirloom tank. Suspenders on a guy are always kind of hot to me especially paired with a no fuss shirt and rolled chinos. At this presentation, Billy Reid also revealed two collaborations: one with K-Swiss sneakers and the other includes six piece bag collection called "Made in the USA" available exclusively Gilt MAN in November.

Unloved Looks

Photo: Bradley Dean

Is anyone else as tired of madras as I am? Actually, I never liked it. It looks clownish.  Nice jacket though.

Music

No songs listed.

People and Scene

I always prefer presentations over runway since they have more of an intimate atmosphere. With Reid's simple sophistcate style, the MAC & Milk Studios spaces suited his aesthetic welll. With wooden slats for the models to stand on in front of antique doors provided by some buds at Southern Accents Architectural Antiques (set design was based on the photographic work of Clarence John Laughlin.) people mingled and took photos and chatted with Magic Hat Beer in hand. Hip guys and gals attended along with model Selita Ebanks and Food Network's "Five Ingredient Fix" host Claire Robinson.

Tweet