Stephen Fairchild: Cozy & Gentle
By Michelle Taylor
Photo by Giovanni Pucci
MILAN, Sep 30, 2003/ FW/ --- Third day into Milan fashion week and Stephen Fairchild, with the exception of only a few is the most interesting name on the calendar. Not only due to his lastname, or that he is part of the Mariella Burani Fashion Group, but because he has become a fashion designer in his own right.
His 2004 spring summer collection is a mix of the comfortable and casual with hints at the American west. 1920’s wave hairdo’s for his girls in lace up boots reminiscent of those worn by all time favourite Mary Poppins are teamed with everything from roomy grandpa pants to the figure hugging black evening dress.
His American heritage manifests itself via belts and buckles, hints of turquiose mixed with earthy colours, a blue jacket with white piped slit pockets and pink dress tied in a side knot around the neck.
Relaxed does not necessarily mean sloppy as Fairchild pays particular attention to detail regardless of classic cuts. Embroidery on shirts and dresses, tiny jackets complete with pleats and in one instance differing sleeve lengths and overlays on tops.
The fabrics are light and whispering allowing his fashion to move in almost any direction. Baggy comfortable shorts teamed with transparent tops which often glisten show the delicate vunerable female, instead of the too often banally encouraged femme fatale of the catwalk world.
Predominately naturals and pinks are his colour scheme for the season with the expected appearance of by now seemingly unavoidable black. Fairchild succeeds in showing a cozy and gentle collection.
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