09/17/12 - 0 Comments
Renzo + Kai: A Fashion Affair to Remember
“Rooftop please,” I say to the operator as I step into the elevator with a handful of other fashionable young women, obviously there for the same reason I am. We are at the Empire Hotel in Manhattan, right across the street from Lincoln Center, which is where Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week happens twice a year (ever since they outgrew the tents at Bryant Park, anyway). Renzo + Kai, a relatively new—and incredibly vintage-chic line specializing in extravagant eveningwear—showed their Spring 2013 collection on the swanky rooftop with a standing presentation.
The theme this season is Falling in Love Again—and, boy, did we do just that. The collection stood before us in a dazzling display of models arranged quite strategically—and all rotated on occasion—on a center stage of faux grass. Most remarkable was the backdrop against which the clothes were set: the skyscrapers. They added to the element of modernity and impeccably emphasized the clean structure of the silhouettes in a way that might never have been communicated on a runway. The clear blue skies and perfectly bright shining sun didn’t hurt in spotlighting the looks, either.
If there’s anything to note about this collection, it’s the over-the-top intricacy of each piece. From delicate beaded and sequined designs and suede cut outs, to precise ruching and leather trims, you not only appreciate the design aesthetic as a whole, but also you can’t help but be drawn in a little closer to admire the craftsmanship of each and every thread that makes up each ensemble. Hand beaded and sequined tops and cocktail dresses make up the core of Renzo + Kai. The looks were both wearable enough to be in a trendy young woman’s closet and elegant enough to be worn by a Hollywood actress for her red carpet premiere—quite the feat for any young designer.
True to the upcoming season’s biggest trends, the collection was rich with sheer fabrics, pastels and muted palettes, color blocking and even a few tuxedo details throughout. A pair of mint sequin gym shorts with leather trim caught our eye from a distance and a creamy, white look in particular—a blazer, blouse with fagotting detail, white silk t-shirt with a black sequin stripe and tuxedo shorts—was nothing short of celestial under the bright sun.
If you’re interested in checking out the collection yourself (by all means, don’t take our word for it), click here.
Photo credit: Lindsay King
