Providence Biltmore
Jan. 22-28, 2012
Style Week Providence was a fascinating and fun look into the upcoming couture and ready-to-wear styles coming up for Winter/Spring of 2012. There were hundreds of people milling around in L'Apogee, atop the Providence Biltmore.
Bear and I attended three days of the seven-day event, and we were impressed (and sometimes a little intimidated) by the fashions, not only on the runway, but in the crowd. It was everything we'd imagined a fashion show might be, from the tall, slender women dressed all in black, to the avant-garde jewelry and clothes that swirled through the halls and among the vendors in the Accessories Showcase. I felt every extra pound.
There was wine everywhere, as well as Vitamin Water Zero (a sponsor). I did learn that the XXX and Spark are both pretty good. The rest... eh.
Our time at the shows was limited due to Bear's midterms the same week - you'd think Providence school district would schedule their midterms around Style Week... but no.
Nevertheless, we were able to see some very nice runway shows:
Sunday night we saw Jess Abernethy's "Alpine Dream" collection. It seemed to be targeted to the apres-ski set, and all the models wore white earmuffs.
Tuesday was a very special show called SEED, where design students from local schools got to compete for prizes including cash, an installation at another show and publicity from Style Week.
From the Style Week Providence site: "Students were asked to support that theme by exploring recycled and sustainable fashion."
The entries were conceptual, and as you might imagine, unique.
I think this was my favorite. The model seemed exceptionally tall, and I think was probably on high platforms. The back detail is wonderful, too.
I also got a kick out of this one.
Naturally, some of the contestants took the term "recycled" quite literally, and we saw clothes made of magazines, empty juice packs, garbage bags and so forth.
I found this one the most intriguing. The top is made of folded newspaper, and the skirt appears to be a kitchen trash bag with grocery bag flowers.
But for Bear the star of the show was this number. Apparently the judges felt the same way, because it took home the prize for the evening. If you're wondering, yes that's an industrial mop and clothes pins.
Thursday night I was back by myself (darn those midterms!), so I was able to stay for all three shows of the evening.
First up was Karen Sabag. She had a line of evening and wedding gowns that was just dazzling. The dresses were flirty and feminine, but the biggest reactions of the walk were for a barely-there red lace number with a flounce at the waist
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| via EastBayRI.com |
and a fluffy skirted wedding dress with a crystal beaded bodice.
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| via EastBayRI.com |
Next was Candice Wu, with a collection that was definitely edgier, with lots of leather and black, and focused on day wear.
I really liked this outfit, especially the OD green shirt.
She also had a lovely gown that played in the same style, with the leather gloves and jacket toughening up the soft falls of fabric.
The look carried through to the straps and buckles on the back of the jacket.
Last, but not least, was Chances R, by designer Toni Lyn Spaziano. I'd gotten to meet with Toni before the show and was eager to see her designs.
Most of it was daywear, with a definite vintage sensibility. I could see inspiration from the mid-century in the suits and dresses. The color scheme was mostly black and white.
I thought it was charming that a couple of her designs included age-appropriate matching dresses for girls.
Her eveningwear added some green, metallics and feathers.
Prior to and between shows was the Accessories Showcase (by Blue Suede), a collection of accessories vendors from around the area. Bear and I talked to most of them, and are looking forward to featuring their work individually.
We had a great time at Style Week, and hope we get the opportunity to go again this summer, when the 2013 Spring/Summer fashions will be showcased.
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