Stephen Fairchild: Urban & Nostalgic
By Michelle Taylor

MILAN, Feb 24, 2004/ FW/ --- Sax playing, champagne drinking and chocolate eating: the setting for Fairchild’s presentation for his women’s 2004/05 fall collection yesterday in Milan.

The man’s father may be one of the world’s most successful names in publishing, but as credit to the young Fairchild, he has made it on his own in the design world after years of experience with giants of the industry such as Armani, Lauren, Valentino and Klein.

Stuck somewhere in transition between couture and the active, with the 1930’s as his key point of inspiration for a female that is elegant and practical, he places evidence on the bodice, elongating it through details such as piping and zips, making them fit tightly to the body. Skirts are short and tops small and appealing.

The collection is sorted into colour schemes, warm burnt oranges, yellows and sunsets, blacks and grey and then there are the sportive blues.

His woman is sexy and delicate in transparency and thin knit. Stylish in her choice of fabrics that range from silk georgette, flannel, fur, corduroy and variations of wool, and yet practical in piecing it all together, fit for any fashion conscious metropolis.

Urban and nostalgic, Fairchild manages to throw together details while remaining energetic and vigorous.