Friday night marked my very first Fashion Week experience, so my excitement levels were through the roof upon arriving at the Charlestown Navy Yard for the ready-to-wear and sportswear shows at the Boston Fashion Exposé. After following the Harborwalk while taking in the picturesque cityscape across the Charles and making my way to that unmistakable white tent, I settled in amidst a swarm of dapper gents and their equally as stylish lady sidekicks.
A steady stream of fashion enthusiasts made their entrance while the photographers readied their cameras for some serious action and the DJ blasted a mix of upbeat house, hip hop, and pop tunes. Certainly showcasing a sense of humor and flair for the ironic, he even threw in Laurent Wolf's "No Stress," and I laughed a bit just imagining the backstage mayhem. Running about half an hour (fashionably?) late, the show started to get underway when the DJ played Kanye West's "Flashing Lights." Now that's more appropriate.
May Mon Aye's designs kicked off the show. The models, in all their tousled, bed-head glory, paraded down the runway in sassy underpinnings and fishnet stockings with black and white and red all over. The designer's keen attention to tailoring was evident in the plentiful corset tops with lace-up backs.
Lily & Migs soon followed, shifting the focus from lingerie to beautifully draped dresses with asymmetrical ruffles and flutter sleeves galore. Not all the pieces, however, exuded this particularly girly touch; many emphasized a more utilitarian feel with button and piping details. A brazen rouge jumpsuit even made its way along the catwalk, along with a gorgeous satiny olive bubble-hem dress.
Kyleah Toraye's line continued the satin trend with solid blacks and purples, frequently accented with a skull-and-roses design, adding a punk-rock touch to the oft-feminized fabric. Standout ensembles included an Arabian Nights-style off-the-shoulders blouse paired with breezy balloon pantaloons, and, for the extremely unabashed, a red ruffle-sleeved one-piece pantless number that could have come from Lady Gaga's closet.
Catalina Fashion conjured a more casual-yet-edgy atmosphere with "Forbidden," a line of predominantly black-and-white creations with a slightly gothic feel, consisting of shredded tees and leather tights aplenty.
Catalin Sullivan produced, in my humble opinion, the most consummately styled show of the night, with her perfectly layered, dreamy, ladylike looks that resulted in a sort of Marc Jacobs-cum-Luella hybrid. Though sticking with a subdued palette of abundant blacks and grays, she added wonderfully girlish touches that provided a refreshing dose of whimsy while still remaining sophisticated. I was most particularly enamored with the stretchy, knotted headbands in black and mustard that crowned the heads of a few of the models.
We may witness a revival in T-shirt appreciation thanks to Kortney Williams, whose line of singular, statement-making designs proved that a tee need not be a cause for style ennui. His collection channeled a home-sewn feel, with many a flower and heart applique. I specifically recall a sleeveless men's tee with a wittily placed patchwork broken heart.
After a brief intermission, the second half of the shows commenced with Sparklle Thames, who created a line primarily of corsets, playing with plaid and pin-stripe patterns and innovative structuring.
Michelle Idrovo's collection stands out as the most high-spirited and color-saturated, boasting a veritable rainbow of ensembles, including a breezy linen yellow-orange dress that made me long for eternal summer.
Lindsay Jones's most praiseworthy fabrications consisted of a series of white stone-furbelowed, lacy ruffle-tiered evening dresses. The collection shifted with more Aladdin-inspired white balloon shorts, superimposed with a shimmering floral pattern. My favorite piece was a sheer, flouncy peasant dress, and while I failed to see one coherent vision run through the collection, there were certainly individually notable designs.
Ty Scott produced an extensive streetwear collection, infusing urban style with that of the Far East, exemplified in a pretty kimono robe and chopstick-supported coiffures. If not for his apparel, Ty Scott certainly won the crowd over with his adorable black-and-white terrier pup, who made three cameos throughout the show.
Loza Maleombho's collection was another personal favorite, without a doubt. The ruffle trend ran rampant throughout the line, made all the more beautiful with a subtle tie-dye-and-scribble pattern that was unlike anything I've ever seen. The color palette ranged from blue and pink cotton candy combos to darker purple-navy-black mixes, and she boldly played with prints by pairing tie-dye with polka dots and tribal designs.
My first Boston Fashion Week event turned out to be a magical whirlwind of an evening. I left feeling optimistic that a few of these rising stars will soon be big names in the fashion world and that ruffles are here to stay... at least until next season.
