If you missed Sacramento Fashion Week 2013, fear not. The Sacramento Press was on hand for Friday’s Spring/Summer and Saturday’s Fall/Winter Showcases, live blogging all of the action.
Friday night’s Spring/Summer Showcase highlighted some of the hottest trends in fashion, from the edgy separates of KingsTribe, to Maisha Baharait’s bold prints and the sultry sheer textiles of Nelli Rosh.
Here’s what some of Friday night’s designers had to say about their collections:
“Some of the biggest trends are very form fitting and flattering to the curves and shapes of a woman’s body, which is something that I play off of in my personal style,” said San Francisco designer Rebecca Cahua. “I love crop tops, which are really hot right now, as well as big chunky wedges.”
“The UK flag is everywhere,” said Parris Harris, creative director for Britboy Fashions. “And we can’t seem to get enough of neon, or military print.
Jason Powers of The Rampant Cooperative was inspired by the contrast of tribalism and Mother Nature cast against stark city scapes.
“I like using what we are calling ‘material blocking’,” Powers said, “and using denim and leather, or very classing mens suiting and leather to create shapes and lines into a piece. My line is really a peek into the future of classic looks.”
Joanna Durkee looked to a different set of contrasting relationships for this season’s rendition of her line, Niv Elliot.
“My collection started with a study on bodies and how they age…Each item in my collection reflects either strength or fragility, and sometimes a balance between the two. I’ve been very purposeful in my use of colors and materials to reflect a ‘strong vs. fragile’ approach."
“I’m always inspired by the lifestyles of both the city and the open country,” said Samuel Parkinson of KingsTribe. “The colors and shades I chose are natural with splatters of color…I want the audience to question my intentions of using traditional silhouettes with nontraditional materials…I researched the traditional to make sure I could go against it.”
What was trending for spring and summer on Friday? Lots of white as well as mint and peach or nude for spring/summer, separates, bold graphics and florals, peek-a-boo cutouts and of course, sheer is just hot right now.
Live coverage of March 1st Spring/Summer Showcase:
Saturday night’s Fall/Winter Showcase did not disappoint. There were beautiful gowns from LOVE by Janelle Cardenas, Nolan Kouri and Vasily Vein. There was also quite a bit for the boys in terms of menswear. Of note were Dottie Charles’ comfortable yet chic urban streetwear and R. Douglas’ impeccably tailored suits modeled by local businessmen.
The evening was rife with historical throwbacks complemented by modern twists, as well as a touch of tailoring and feminine silhouettes. We spoke with some of the designers about their collections prior to Saturday’s show.
Yennie Zhou, the first of eight designers to send a collection down the catwalk on Saturday, has a background in architecture and gets her inspiration from, “nature, art, architecture and life itself.”
9-1-1 dispatcher turned designer Karisa Gold enjoyed her debut at this year’s SACFW.
“For this collection,” said Gold, “you can expect to see ultra feminine silhouettes, a tight color palette of rich hues, opulent embellishments, and romantic textiles…I always like to create a fusion of sophistication and sensuality in my designs…I like to say that I mix the class of Audrey with the sass of Marilyn.”
Tawnya Jackson’s line, Dottie Charles Co., is a tribute to her grandmother Dottie Beverly and her father Charles Jackson.
“What inspired my collection this year was the pop culture of various decades. I hope to provide the feel of the 1930s and 40s but still stick to the style of Dottie Charles, which is urban chic…I like the luxury look with brocades, beautiful beaded work on dresses.”
Like Jackson, Hawaiian-born and Sacramento-raised Janelle Cardenas also looked to historical references for her collection, LOVE.
“The collection I’ll be showcasing is my interpretation of Studio 54 with a modern edge,” Cardenas sad. “My explanation of LOVE is that it can be smooth at times, yet has its hills and valleys…I have always been a fan of contrast…I love the mix of soft with an edge.”
Northern California designer R. Douglas designs clothing based on the individual wearing it. (Editor’s Note: R. Douglas will showed a spring/summer collection on March 2, as opposed to fall/winter. He was the only designer to do so.)
“As a custom clothier, I differ from ready-to-wear designer,” said Douglas, “and offer unique styling and designs for each of my clients…Oftentimes they permit me to include subtle styling details and color accents to bring a bit of fun to the mix. This Saturday’s runway show will feature local celebrities and successful businessmen in the greater Sacramento area. Real people, wearing appropriate clothing for their lifestyle…My clients bring the most inspiration.”
Michael Kouri is the Sacramentan designer behind Nolan Kouri, and he too looked to the past for inspiration this year.
“What inspired me for this collection was old Hollywood glamour and in particular, Veronica Lake,” he said. “I used a lot of 1940s silhouettes with a little modern update such as silver metal zippers and silver hardware and buckles.”
Bygone eras also sparked creativity for Russian designer Vasily Vein.
“I was inspired by European Renaissance Art in my newest collection,” said Vein. “When I use the word fashion trend, it means something very specific to me…It comes down to a level of respect for design and the actual art of creating beautiful clothes. There’s not one mode that’s better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference.”
With so many iconic periods being touched upon, the Fall/Winter Showcase had a little bit for everyone. Creative Director WIll Rodriguez closed the week-long event by telling the crowd, "We want to change Sacramento. Why not bring a new fashion hub here?"
Why not, indeed. Bring on the next year of Sacramento’s fashion scene.
Live coverage of March 2nd Fall/Winter Showcase:
