More and more exhausted by the
grind of the seasonal brouhaha, some savvy
designers are focusing their expertise towards
pieces that work well as separates rather than
entire "collections" that have to be worn like
Garanimals. Gone are the days when women have
entire ensembles by one designer in their closet.
Modern women want to put their own blend of independent style to
use. Dressing is like dating. Seldom do you find
all of the fabulous qualities that blow your skirt
up in one person (and when you do, marry them
immediately). The big problem with marrying most
designers, is that for reasons of
incompatibility common to the trade, a girl could
have serious problems between the hours of midnight
and 8AM with a designing spouse. The ever-so handsome Robert Danes would not create such problems, but
alas is already married to the very lovely Rachel
Danes, who partners his business. Robert is busily
working on expanding his line to include an array
of wearable separates. Known for his beautifully
orchestrated biased cut gowns that make ordinary
women appear otherworldly, these new pieces are cut
closer to his heart. With this group of clothing
he's doing what he likes first, with an art before
commerce approach, rather than letting the majority
vote lead the way. The best of his tried and trued
basics that he's done before, combined with new
ideas that he truly loves, these year round
wearables have become an integrated part of the
collection, and are exactly not, seasonal. Salon
visits by appointment. 212-941-5680 @476 Broome
Street N.Y.C.
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Designer Kalinka, owner of one of the
best giggles in town, is often inspired by fabric
that grabs her soul and makes her cry. "If you're
not going to wear black, then there has to be a
good reason". Her collections revolve around pieces
that can stand alone. THE skirt, and the right
jacket for now are within every collection. She
doesn't want the pressure of doing a lot of styles
as peripheral line extensions, but cuts to the
chase by delivering the right pieces. Figuring it
all out for you, her favorite skirt length for now
falls right above the knee. Kalinka offers a salon
shop area where you can buy most suits in regular
sizes, and order custom, by appointment. She finds
that most customers are starving for the personal
attention that can't be found in many stores, and
"won't let them out of there unless they look
right." From actresses to stockbrokers, she serves
it up to a new generation of business execs who
need confidence with a modern edge.
212-564-7112; Open 10-7:30. |
Eau de Kalinka: 333 West 39th Street. |
Once upon a time, Terri Gillis opened a baseball cap venue on Ludlow Street. After tireless renovation and constant expansion TG-170 and its clairvoyant proprietress have become renowned for their ability to launch the careers of new designers - based on foresight lightyears ahead of the rest of fashion world. Using her finely honed sense of cutting-edge style, the industrious Ms. Gillis has developed a wholesale line of personal favorites to launch for Spring '98, with a few immediate pieces for die-hard fans in the now. The collection stems from her need for yet another creative outlet, combined with market voids that she felt were necessary to fill. Everything is reasonably priced and there's always an awesome sale bin. 170 Ludlow Street@212-995-8660. |