We get to know the new line up for Gen Art’s Fresh Face in Fashion show.
ANN YEE
Describe your aesthetic.
It’s all about architectural cuts juxtaposed with effortless draping. Plays on proportion and texture are always apparent in every collection as well as an interesting color palette.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
I’m always a fan of chunky knits, a never-ending trend. I love layering when it gets cold out, it’s kind of my signature.
Who do you think has great style?
Iris Afel hands down. Her style is so unpredictable and fun. She definitely doesn’t take fashion too seriously and I respect that.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Hussein Chalayan. He’s been through a lot in his career- many ups and downs, yet still manages to be at the forefront of fashion. He has the ability to create pieces that are undeniably innovative yet wearable, which is such a challenge for so many designers. He is definitely someone I look up to.
ACE&JIG
Describe your aesthetic.
Effortless styling with a strong textile bent.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
Navajo textiles!
Who do you think has great style?
Alexa Chung and Lou Doillon.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Vivienne Westwood.
Baron Wells
Describe your aesthetic.
Clean and understated.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
White oxford shirts – always on trend.
Who do you think has great style?
Anyone who is confident yet quiet.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Margiela
Collina Strada
Describe your aesthetic.
I like to combine a vintage feeling with an architectural design.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
High-waisted bell bottoms– prepare for a massive comeback!
Who do you think has great style?
Jade Castrinos from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s. She has a great taste for vintage.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Rei Kawakubo… no explanation needed.
Eighteenth
Describe your aesthetic.
Minimal, but not basic. Exaggerated, but wearable silhouettes. Simple, bold lines. Lots of asymmetry.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
T-shirts. Always a trend.
Who do you think has great style?
The blogger from vanillascented.com. She does minimal so well.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Maria Cornejo. She seems to have it all to me. Excellent designer, has her own boutiques, photographer husband, cute kids, townhouse in Brooklyn. What could be better?
Falconiere
Describe your aesthetic.
Modern Medieval
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
The tuxedo trend, a la 70s YSL and Helmut Newton.
Who do you think has great style?
Daphne Guinness
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Phoebe Philo
Jennifer Chun
Describe your aesthetic.
My aesthetic is a very structured look with softer, feminine details to balance it. I like to create a casually polished look with preppy, tomboy elements. My collections tend to include interesting prints and always outerwear. I love a well tailored blazer, but I always add another fabric on the pocket or some other small detail that pulls the preppy and feminine together.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
I am loving all the graphic prints and colorblocking. I also really love the structured, 60s look that was everywhere on the FW11 runways.
Who do you think has great style?
I think Natalia Vodianova, Vanessa Paradis and Clémence Poésy have great style. These women are very feminine, but have mastered mixing the feminine, pretty piece with something very structured without being overstyled. They mix high and low very well.
Who’s design career do you most admire?
I admire Nicolas Ghesquière for his fearlessness and adding a strong boy-ish feeling to his collections. I love how Phoebe Philo has been able to bring something new to Celine and has made minimalism interesting without being basic. I also admire Derek Lam, he has really stayed true to his vision and season after season creates beautiful clothing.
Sunghee Bang
Describe your aesthetic.
My aesthetic is minimalist, a bit androgynous, with an interesting mix of textiles and shapes. I like contrasting the masculine quality of carefully tailored pieces with the softness of knits. My palette is always simple, neutral colors.
What’s a trend for fall you’re loving?
I love conservative looks such as full length skirts and layered top. It’s versatile and comfy!
Who do you think has great style?
Kate Moss, she’s confident and not afraid to try new styles.
Who’s designer career do you most admire?
Alexander McQueen. He had a unique vision and created the most amazing collections.
William Okpo
Describe your aesthetic.
The William Okpo structure is easy going. It is important to dress for fun, but maintain a neat and clean look.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
Monochromic colors. We love the idea of matching with one color head-to-toe. Like a big ol’ crayon.
Who do you think has great style?
Darlene: Shala Monroque.
Lizzy: Giovanna Battaglia
Who’s design career do you most admire?
We both love Tsumori Chisato, she puts her all into every single piece.
Wool And The Gang
Describe your aesthetic.
Basic timeless designs that are easy to knit and easy to wear
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
We never stop loving big chunky hats and scarves!
Who do you think has great style?
Vanessa Paradis
Who’s design career do you most admire?
The brand Supreme.
OSBORN
Describe your aesthetic.
Folk craft grows into future.
What’s a trend for Fall you’re loving?
Sandy weaves and caramel suedes.
Who do you think has great style?
Paul Manza
Who’s design career do you most admire?
Jean Touitou
Elizabeth Shaffer co-president of Gen Art takes us though some of the new crop of Fresh Faces this season.
Ace & Jig is a great line, every piece of their collection you can just slip on and go. This is definitely a line for all women. They’re total textileophiles (I made that word up just for them!) as well which shows through – all of the fabrics in their designers are hand-woven and to die for.
There’s a wearability with Eighteenth that I love. Alexa Galler started off making t-shirts and has grown organically from there while maintaining a focus on making each piece easy and fun to wear. She plays with symmetry in a way that’s wonderfully architectural.
The ladies from William Okpo are astonishing. They have a great energy that shines through in their work. Their line was inspired by their father and seamlessly blends their cultural background with the feel of the moment.
One of our accessory designers, Collina Strada, is launching a ready-to-wear line for Spring and will have those new pieces in addition to her handbags at the show. We’re super excited about that – the fashion team has been drooling over her stuff, which is a good indication the public will as well!
I think the men in the crowd will be very excited about Baron Wells, their collection bridges the gap between causal and stuffy. Every time I see a man in Baron Wells they look comfortable and put together, but there’s a uniqueness to the pieces that adds an extra dimension of character too. Although Baron Wells is our featured menswear designer, the line is actually unisex and plays with preconceived notions of masculinity and femininity – something that is very now but also a very difficult balance to achieve. They do so flawlessly and impeccably.
