Ladies Who Lunch: 4 Corners of a Circle Fall 2012!

A Native of Osaka, Japan, designer Natsuko Kanno graduated from the Kobe Art University before moving to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology.  She then went on to work for DKNY Jeans, Liz Claiborne and Doo-Ri before launching 4 Corners of a Circle in 2007.

Natsuko Kanno often draws upon her Japanese culture for her inspiration with a Spring 2012 Collection inspired by director Akira Kurosawa’s film DREAM.  For Fall 2012, Kanno looked to Japanese mythology for her theme and took her inspiration from the mythical Tengu, a supernatural creature with both human and avian characteristics.

The 4 Corners of a Circle show began with a traditional dance performance which set the mood for a collection that married a Japanese aesthetic with a New York practicality.  Which translates to a very wearable collection with an artistic edge!

Video Photography by Cassandra Past

ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Brandon Sun Fall 2012!

A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Brandon Sun began his design career at J. Mendel working closely with Gilles Mendel on the ready-to-wear, tailoring and fur collections.  After 5 years, he joined Oscar de la Renta  as the Design Director of the fur division.

In 2011, Brandon Sun launched his signature collection which was picked up by retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.  His collection has continued to grow from a line of luxury fur accessories to a complete line of clothing for a sophisticated and confident clientele.

For Fall 2012, Brandon Sun took his inspiration from the heroines in the Chinese epic Kung Fu movies he grew up with and titled it “Silent Assassins”!  Sun tried to capture the elegance and violence that are juxtaposed in the films.

Using a color palette of blacks, ivories, greys and dusk rose, Brandon Sun layered furs over chiffon skirts and gabardine pants.  The contrasting of soft fabrics with leathers, wools and armour-like accessories created an image of femininity and strength!

ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Ann Yee Fall 2012!

Designer Ann Yee grew up in Michigan, where her parents immigrated to from Hong Kong and that mix of cultures has been the most significant influence on her sense of fashion, giving her designs a unique blend of mix-and-match elements that come together in harmony.

Her life long interest in fashion led Ann Yee to intern with Jill Stuart and in London with Ebru Ercon, while receiving her design degree from Philadelphia University.  After graduating, Ann Yee moved to New York to desing knitwear for numerous companies including Barney’s and Alice + Olivia. Her knowledge of knits, added to her understanding of fabrics and the art form of draping.  

Ann Yee describes her style as an architectural mix of proportions and that is evident in her Fall 2012 Collection.  Structural cuts mixed together with soft draping has given this designer a distinctive look that is gaining a following with celebrities like Anna Maria Perez de Taglé and with a fashion forward clientele.

Anna Maria Perez de Taglé

Designer Ann Yee w/ Fans

Video Photography by Natalie Kaufler


ladieswholunchtravel.com
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Ladies Who Lunch: Katya Leonovich Fall 2012!

A native of Moscow, designer Katya Leonovich began her fashion career in Rome and Paris before making New York her home.  The winner of numerous competitions, Katya Leonovich takes the couture techniques she developed in Europe and uses them to create her signature Beautiful Garbage style, the embedding of her fabrics with an assortment of materials including torn paper, pieces of aluminum, strands of cotton, feathers and fringe.

Also a painter, Katya Leonovich meshes art and fashion together and nowhere it that more evident than in her Fall 2012 Collection.  Leonovich painted architectural details from the Flatiron District of New York and those paintings became the guidepost for the collection.

Creating a print based on her paintings, the vibrant colors Katya Leonovich is so well know for all pulled directly from the paintings to create tops, cocktail dresses and gowns.  Complimenting the bold prints, the rest of the collection focuses on black, white, a shiny khaki, metallics and even a snake print.  Leonovich plays with proportions mixing formfitting garments with boxier jackets.

For Fall 2012, Katya Leonovich presented a collection that once again showed the artistry that has made her a winner in so many competitions!

ladieswholunchtravel.com

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Ladies Who Lunch: Duckie Brown Fall 2012!

Since founding Duckie Brown in 2001, designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver have developed it into one of the major trendsetters of mens fashion and has garnered it nominations for the CFDA Menswear Designer of the year award.

The Duckie Brown menswear line has developed a reputation for fine hand tailoring, its use of unique fabrics, bold colors and most importantly its sense of humor.

For Fall 2012, all of these elements were once again in place for a collection that incorporated rich textiles with innovative cuts.  Traditional tweeds and plaids were cut into trim tailored jackets and juxtaposed with voluminous pants.  Admittedly, when I first saw the billowing pants on the catwalk, I was a little taken aback.  But after reviewing the looks and video footage, there is something that clicked for me and it just looks right for the times.

In a show that played with proportions in a very dramatic way and blended modern cuts with classic fabrics, Duckie Brown proved once again why they are a leader of the fashion pack.

ladieswholunchtravel.com

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Ladies Who Lunch: Nicholas K Fall 2012!

Marrying traditional quality and design with a modern downtown edge, Nicholas K’s distinctive layered look, has become a well known line of women’s and men’s clothing.   Designed by the brother/sister team of Nicholas and Christopher Kunz, Nicholas K is one of the shows that fashionistas flock to during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

For Fall 2012, the team drew on their Southwestern roots to present a collection that evokes the old west in a completely chic and modern way, accentuated on the runway by Stetson wearing models.  Inspired by the 1920‘s Taos modernist artists like Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams, the collection was full of Western references.  Fringe was a key element in the collection, appearing on sheet knit dresses, geometric leather jackets and in metallic on glitzy tops and dresses.

The team loves outerwear and that was evident in a gorgeous showing that included a fresh take on parka jackets and long and short coats inspired by duster jackets.  In keeping with their theme, the Nicholas K Fall 2012 colors relied on earth tones drawn from the Taos desert including sand, greys, reddish earth tones and sage greens.

Nicholas K Fall 2012 is chock full of wearable pieces that have a modern edge to them, making them classic and contemporary at the same time.  And as usual, the Nicholas K layered look feels especially right with this theme and for this coming season.

ladieswholunchtravel.com

Ladies Who Lunch: Prete & Bruno Fall 2012!

Presenting their FIRST EVER collection after forming the company a mere 10 months ago, Prete & Bruno took New York by storm at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  As a designer, eveningwear has always been one of my passions.  So the debut of this new collection was of particular interest to me. 

For Fall 2012, Prete & Bruno presented a collection that emphasized femininity and a return to dressing that is both chic and elegant.  Speaking with the designers, they said that they were inspired with the great female icons of glamour such as Grace Kelly and Marlene Dietrich and the inspiration was evident in their work.

The Italian design duo worked with a minimal color palette of black, gold and their signature color for the collection, an intense jewel tone green.  The collection silhouettes included tweed and bouclé sophisticated suits, sexy form fitting pieces, and flowy feminine dresses and gowns.

While the collection certainly concentrated on eveningwear, a lot of the dresses and suits can easily be worn for day and late afternoon by the woman with that certain “je ne sais quoi”!  Prete & Bruno created the collection utilizing only the finest fabrics, giving their collection that true luxe feel.

Prete & Bruno know who their customer is and have created a line that will definitely take care of her lifestyle needs!  An impressive first collection, I will be keeping an eye on them to see how they evolve!


Video Photography by Anna Marie Nguyen

ladieswholunchtravel.com