Fashion Funhouse Emporium

Sally LaPointe

Sally LaPointe, born in Massachusetts, started her line in 2009 with her roommate and now business partner Sarah Adelson. Recently her line has been picked up at hip under the radar boutiques like Oak and Convent.  This is her debut runway collection.

Colors: Opalescent, black, white, metallic

Materials: silk, vinyl, organza, "horsehair"

Loved Looks

Photos: © Dan Lecca

Photos: © Dan Lecca

Photos: © Dan Lecca

Photos: © Dan Lecca

In a fashion week that has shaped up to be a fan of minimalist fashions, Sally Lapointe's show was something to look forward to. A real show, with out of the box fashions.  Since Sally's cuts of each piece are simple, her use of distorted fabrics and textures are wearable without being too outlandish.  I loved the opalescent printed dress as well as the cuffed shorts. And of course, one can never go wrong with anything black with a funky cut.

Unloved Looks

I don't like clothing with anything reminiscent to hair or fur. To me, its the equivalent to getting someone else's hair in your salad. But that's just my own personal issue.

Considering this was not your stuffy uptown department store collection, there will be only the coolest people rocking those "horsehair" boots and pants suits. They fit in just fine with this mix of "beauty and distortion" inspired collection.

Music

Mr. Wilson DJ is one busy man during fashion week.

People and Scene

Me, taking a picture of my boyfrien's head in front of the invite, that includes the reflection of the rest of my apartment.

The tone for Sally LaPointe's show was set with these rad invitations. They remind me of the hypercolor tees that were the hotness in the 90's. This "opalescent" plastic transparent square shows different colors depending on how the light hits it.

I was running late, but the cement stairs leading up were a bit crooked and scary, almost like this stair case was chosen on purpose. As I came in the models were doing their final walk, criss-crossing and moving through the cinder block labyrinth while dry ice fogged up the place. It was a well done, on point show (no pun intended) that told the story of Lapointe's inspiration perfectly "accepting madness."

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Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is approaching quickly. Like past seasons, the tents will compete with Milk Studios shows and other off-site locations.  Fashion Funhouse Emporium's credentials as a legit source of coverage have finally been approved. Yay! I suppose this means I can officially talk about who I want to check out with some "street cred!"

Here are the women's designers showing at Spring 2011 fashion week that I am curious to see. Good, bad, and in between, this is what the shows are all about.

YUNA YANG

Photo: Yuna Yang Blog

This New York based fashion designer has two past collections on her site. This season, she'll be showing at Lincoln Center.  When I checked out her collections, I see potential from this Central Saint Martins grad, yet there is some question to who she wants to be as a designer. Her pieces range artsy, structural suits to very basic looking ready to wear. I'd like to see her go full throttle,with Galliano couture, if she's really not focused on selling as her biography states.  We need some more craziness at New York shows.

JENNY PACKHAM

Photo: Jenny Packham

I am familiar with Jenny Packham's lacy and ultra feminine luxury wedding collections from when I worked at In Style Weddings. Of course, I'm ready to see what this British designer (also a Central Saint Martins alumni) will send down the runway for ready to wear again this spring. Her past couple of collections showcased red carpet ready dresses, which isn't too much of a stray from matrimonial gowns. So far, she's a bit of an edgier Carolina Herrera, keeping with the high end evening wear aesthetic.

WILLIAM TEMPEST

Photo: William Tempest

Another Brit on the New York scene, this designer's past collections have been pretty basic geometric influenced body conscious dresses. He's worked with some heavy-hitters, like Jean Charles de Castlebajac and Giles Deacon. He's even designed accessories and clothing for Miss Madge, Madonna to you others. It will be interesting to see this guy evolve, hopefully away from Alexander McQueen/ Balmain style dresses and into his own signature.

PARKCHOOMOO

Photo: Parkchoomoo

So I'm not only giving preference to the British designers this season, enter Seoul, Korea's Parkchoomoo. This designer has been around fashion for a while. Her family owned a children's apparel company in Kimje, in the southern part of the country.  She opened her first retail store in 1988, but since then has had a mostly Asian following. With a less rigid Calvin Klein simplicity, and little less fear of color, she's not about getting better, for shes already established. She's about taking over a new market. I'd like to see what she has in store for the US.

IRINA SHABAYEVA

Photo: Irina Shabayeva

She's trying hard to shed her Project Runway affiliation and become a force in fashion. Last season she crept quietly on to the runway with an off-site show that showed off what she can do with a little financial backing from Tupperwear. I'm assuming this year, she may not be sponsored by the plastics company since she's no longer a newbie. But it is my guess that lack of petroleum based synthetics will not hinder her.  With the imagination showcased last season, as long as she keeps to her own without compromise, she'll be around for more than 15 minutes of reality television fame.

READ MORE PAST FASHION WEEK COVERAGE:

Spring 2011 Men's Designers to Watch

Irina Shabayeva Runway Fall 2010

Fall 2010 Condensed Report A-L

Fall 2010 Condensed Report M-Z