When I think of fall, the first colors that come to mind are not royal blue and electric lemon yellow combined with black and gray, respectively. For that reason, the Kimberly Ovitz fall 2011 show at The Pace Gallery in Chelsea was a pleasant surprise.
Ovitz mixed unusual cuts (tanks and hoodies whose hems curve at the bottom, umbrella like; free-form cardigans) with clean lines and the aforementioned colors for a collection that really thought outside of the box. I adored her grey leggings punctuated at the shins with that electric yellow and wisps of dresses halved into geometric sides of black and yellow. The collection also featured piping and seams in contrasting colors, with an occasional garment in a solid color block.
Despite my love of Ovitz’s use of color, however, I found her neutral pieces just as smart. I was especially fond of a white sweater woven tighter and looser in places to impart the visual of a curved line pattern resting on the skin.
Pieces in the collection positively emphasized the shoulder while not imparting an idea of heavy musculature or a return to Dynasty-era shoulders. Ovitz’s motorcycle jacket and tanks do this well in particular. While she received attention when Lindsay Lohan wore one of her dresses to a court appearance the week before fashion week, her designs this season are less about overt sexiness and more about allowing fabric to curve, twist, drape and on the body to create a sensual sculptural effect.
-Elyssa Maxx
©photos StyleDefinedNYC
