Kaleidoscopic Vision

Mary Katrantzou is from Greece. Does this give her an edge in the creativity department? Utilizing her technical expertise and vision on several levels - design, digital print, construction - she brings fashion into a new millennium, never mind a new century! In her collections, Mary sees potential design value in what has previously been considered mundane, even ordinary, and elevates these inspirations through her intensive digital process to a new level of heretofore unthought of wearablilty....

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Who's Your Daddy??

Do you know Thom Browne? Does ANYONE know Thom Browne? Thom Browne has an agenda/collection checklist that goes something like this: 1. subversive - check 2. perverse - check 3. attention-grabbing at all costs (coffins!) - check 4. lobster-claw mitts to the floor (where appropriate) - check 5. linebacker chic - both men AND women - check 6. androgyny - check Just your typical Thom Browne throw-down. OK, Thom - we get it.  Just don't put us in a headlock!! In the reviews of these collections from the...

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Ethnic Treasure

On my European trip after graduating from college, I had the classic "Europe on $5.00 a Day" itinerary all mapped out, with my sister and college roommate. Luxembourg Airlines, Eurailpass, and enough money for three months of travel down to the minute of the return flight, 1970 prices to be sure! Everything went according to schedule until we decided to go to Ibiza. The money and the plans got a bit curtailed after that, but that is another story! After a boat trip from Barcelona to Ibiza, with...

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The Eye of the Beholder

Given the nature of fashion and the apparency of newness that must be served every season, the burden is on designers to create something memorable that will move the game in a different direction. That's a lot of pressure. While some designers have figured out their message long since and know their niche and their customer intimately - Ralph, Oscar, Armani, to name  just a few - there are others who respond aggressively to the idea of creating something "new" and proceed accordingly. Let's...

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