We say: If only neglect and isolation felt as good as this collection looks. We’re in lust with the dress with the asymmetrical hem in the metamorphosis print. A mix of burnt orange, gold and grayish blue it feels almost military on top but transforms into a softly flowing hemline. This balance of angular and soft is seen throughout her collection that is created in fabrics such as neoprene-backed wool and felted cashmere. From white leather to laser cut black lace Sally shows a collection that is full of standout pieces.

Runway photos courtesy of MAO PR. Top photos StyleDefined NYC

What we say: We admit it. Prints can sometimes scare us. But we’re thrilled with Ann Yee’s subtle “cave print” that anchors this collection. The color palette of slate, concrete blue and dusty purple in both the print and throughout the collection beckon us away from the standard black wardrobe. Her chunky knit sweaters and gauzy skirts and dresses balance each other perfectly and the asymmetrical hems add visual interest and intrigue.  These are pieces you’ll want now and will continue to love for the long term.

PRIESTESS NYC is the zany avant-garde brand that makes hysterically cool
clothing for a great cause!

CODY ROSS is the cult-proprietor behind PRIESTESS NYC, a unisex fashion
brand that pushes the parameters of artisanal design and champions good
causes. He’s also a stylist, advisor to fashion start-ups and cultural
excavator for i-D, Bullett and China Vogue.  Cody recently combined
efforts with video artists BRITTANY KUBAT and CHARLES BILLOT to make a
short but sweet fashion film for the sake of promoting Designers Against
Aids (DAA), a wonderful non-profit charity that seeks to put an end to
HIV/AIDS through education and out-reach programs, especially targeting
youth culture in developed and developing countries. This collaborative
fashion vid is possessed of an avant-garde zeal filled with sassy and
seductive clothing and coaxes every detail—visual, sartorial, sound and
ambience—to perfection.  In just under 2 minutes you a get a throttling
vignette with razor sharp synths and pulsating strobe, abrupt tempo
changes and an all-out magnetic mix of unisex gear (styled by Aussie vixen
LISA NGUYEN) boasting dapper proportions, nifty silhouettes and
mesmerizingly sexy models caught up in a flirtatious vortex.  The best
part, however, is that PRIESTESS NYC is seeking to make a B-I-G difference
with proceeds from the clothing going toward DAA’s educational arm.
Peep-out the video here. Pledge your support. Get involved! Word up!

But the first few collections I wanted to share are some that have a decidedly downtown vibe translated into completely different aesthetics –at least one of which you’re sure to fall in love with. (Click on their names to go to my fuller review/images)In the order of the show schedule:

Katie Gallagher

If you read this site you know I’ve been a fan since day one and this hasn’t changed. As a relatively young designer from RISD, Katie had some haters who claimed that all she makes is leggings only appropriate for her enviably thin frame. However if  you’ve actually been watching her development what you see is a quietly formidable designer who is developing a unique aesthetic. Shorter and more form fitting is juxtaposed against longer and looser and her jackets are f***ing amazing.

Jen Kao

Out of the 4 collections here Jen Kao’s is easily the most eclectic and also the most wearable. She is as fearless when it comes to mixing prints and textures as she is with mixing the East & West references. An insanely sequined jacket paired with a brocade pant or schoolgirl plaids with a severly cinched waist. Her designs define ‘je ne sais quoi’ -or at risk of cliche- effortless cool and to me, very New York.

Kevork Kiledjian

When you click on “THE HOUSE” on his website the following words fill the screen: Contrast/Leather/Opposite/Harmony/PASSION/Addiction/Freedom/Adrenaline/Lace/Sensuality/MYSTERY. This seems as good of a description of his aesthetic as any I could write. The recently transplanted Parisian presented a collection of mostly dresses that seem to dare you to live life more fearlessly, play with addictions and embrace freedom and passion. An assertively sexy collection, it demands boldness from the wearer and feels ageless. Neither catering solely to “it girls” nor grand dames it seems to invite both groups and all women in between to become Kiledjian women.

threeASFOUR

threeASFOUR are the veterans of the group having been on the scene since ’98 and in their current formation since 2005. Yet despite, or perhaps because of their longevetity they felt the freshest.

With fashion show tickets now for sale to the general public (or at least American Express cardholders) at both Lincoln Center and MiLK and fast fashion at H&M getting as much attention as major runway shows the  stereotype about NYC being the overly commerical fashion center is getting frighteningly close to true. threeASFOUR, with their intricate and innovative designs show that you can push boundaries without sacrificing quality of the work. Using materials like mushroom colored felt, platinum leather and rubberized wool they create beautiful clothes that remind me of what fashion can truly be and why I fell in love with it in the first place.

We say:  From a long black leather dress to a print on print ensemble of a striped sweater vest worn over a dip dyed plaid dress it could seem at first as though this collection was all over the map –literally not inspirationally! But we could see this style mashup living in one girl’s closet. A very cool girl who can remix her style at will. And there is a little something for everyone else as well. Our favorites are below!