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Robert Cary-Williams: Alternative Chic
By: Boyd Davis
Photos by: Javier Mateo
Robert Cary-Williams is a master deconstructionist.
As a teen-ager he used to "chop up" clothes and then remake then.
He is now in his 30s and he is doing the same thing, except that
today he is recognized as a major talent in the fashion design world.
For Fall 2001, Robert Cary-Williams created a trashy runway at the West Lawn Tent, literally!
Using scrap paper, plastic, leather and aluminum foil, the runway looked like a beltway for a recycling
plant.
And with that atmosphere, Robert Cary-Williams brought to his audience deconstructed clothes
using recycled objects!
As always, the designer chose a very simple color palette - black, white, red, silver and olive
green.
As expected, his clothes oozed with intellegence and attitude.
The unexpected - they are actually wearable!
His answer to the transparent trend - a gown made of netting with black polka dots on it.
It showed a lot of skin but covered those "parts" that mattered so the wearer did
not feel naked.
The recycled item - the necklace! It was made of chains, the one you can buy from hardware
stores.
Robert Cary Williams made it into a choker.
For military chic, the designer created black jumpsuits with slashed sleeves and slashed at
the legs.
The recycled items are rivets which were used as buttons.
And here comes the much awaited tea dress from Robert Cary-Williams.
A red ensemble with assymetrical hemline and white piping that run from diagonal from the
left soldier to the right hip.
For accessories, the model wore a chain (yes, the one from the hardware store again) and parts
of handcuffs as charms.
(Suggestions of S&M?)
It's something you can where anywhere except having tea with the Queen.
There's a little bit of romance, a little bit of Victorian, a little bit of urban wear.
Surprisingly, the collection has big commercial potential.
There were one or two pieces wherein I wonder where someone could wear it.
But this collection showed that Robert Cary-Williams can go mainstream if he wanted to,
and still keep his integrity as master deconstructionist and alternative designer.
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