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American View: Young New York Designers Get Another Chance
By Karin Nelson
Photos by: Dimitrios Kambouris-FWD
Sep 24, 2001/ FWD/ --- Vogue and Carolina Herrera came to the rescue of 11 young designers last Friday,
helping them re-stage their cancelled New York fashion shows. With Vogue underwriting the event, Carolina
Herrera lending her Seventh Avenue showroom, and stylists and models including Maggie Rizer and Karen Elson
waiving their fees, the designers - who had been left with insufficient funds to re-schedule shows on their own -
were able to properly present their collections (highly edited as they were) to editors and retailers.
Patriotically entitled "An American Way," the event showcased the designs of Benjamin Cho, Christine Ganeaux,
Elisa Jimenez, Pierrot, Behnaz Serafpour, Tony Smith, Michael Soheil, Peter Som, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, and Maria
Cornejo for Zero.
And though it's difficult to critique collections that are five-looks long, there were some noteworthy designs.
Giving bondage a look of sophistication and innocence, Benjamin Cho criss-crossed ribbon to create beautifully
bound tanks and ornate detail on the back of a simple white linen dress.
Behnaz Sarafpour, formerly of Isaac Mizrahi, presented strong black and white looks combining lacework artistry
with sharp tailoring. Of notable mention was an intricate apron-overlay skirt, paired with a corseted tank.
Perfectly low-slung trousers put Christine Ganeaux on the style map, and she continues the tradition with her
downtown working girl looks. A simple black shift dress was made modern and sexy with side zipper detailing.
The darlings of the junior jet set, Bryan Bradley and Josh Patner of Tuleh, gave their girls impeccably
tailored coats and denim suits in bold graphic shell designs that screamed of Fort Lauderdale getaways.
For Zero, designer Maria Cornejo combined geometric cuts with fluid ease reminiscent of the Japanese Avant-garde
designers' clever cutting: A stiff bodice dress billowed at the bottom, or a poncho-like T-shirt draped over white
and red check kilt.
Tony Smith
Tony Smith
Tony Smith
Tony Smith
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