Gustav Von Aschenbach: A New Line by Robert Geller

August 01, 2017 by Eric Acquaye in fashion

This season a designer we know and love decided to introduce something new to the world. Robert Geller unveiled his new line entitled, Gustav Von Aschenbach. Personally I think it’s kind of a mouth full of a name for a clothing line, but Robert said he named it after a character from one of his favorite childhood books, so I suppose it includes a level of nostalgia for him.

Regardless of the name, it’s the clothes that stand out here. Pretty different from his namesake line, this one has a more casual, baggy silhouette. I think the goal was to produce something that was a little more diverse and ready to wear. It’s also priced significantly lower than his other line, making it a bit more accessible to the public.

The presentation itself was what really got my attention though. Starting with the casting- we all know that diversity hasn’t always been embraced in fashion, but lately I’ve been noticing a lot of designers casting more diverse and interesting young models in their shows. At this particular show, Geller’s choice to cast all black models brought a smile to my face. It’s not something you see often especially when the designer isn’t a person of color. I’m not sure if the choice was made to make the clothes look more urban and cool, but in all honesty I don’t care. I’m just happy to see more of these young models getting booked.

Aside from the cool casting choice, the set was interesting to me as well. Each model was placed in front of a solid color door. Each door matching the color of their garment and representing one of five colors that made up the palette for the whole collection. Overall I thought the presentation was clean and cool. I didn’t love all the color choices, but I think there were some pieces in there for everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing where this new line goes for Geller and if it will match the success that we all know he is capable of.

ATLANTIS By Nick Graham: NYFWM S/S 18

July 18, 2017 by Eric Acquaye in fashion

Picture yourself at the beach on a warm summers day. You can hear the waves crashing against the shore, the slight call of a seagull or two in the distance while feeling the sand in between your toes. We all love a great day at the beach, but have you ever looked out at the ocean and wondered what lies beyond your line of sight? Whether there was more to life under the sea or a part of the world that remained untouched by the modern man? These were all thoughts provoked during the intro to Nick Grahams most recent presentation at New York Fashion Week Men's.

Mobile images of deep ocean life and phenomenon’s around the world were projected on the walls before the show; taking us into a place of unexplored fantasy and beauty, and setting the tone for his new collection entitled, Atlantis. "What if the lost city of Atlantis wasn't lost at all, but around us all along just waiting to be discovered?"

With the mood set, the show began and he took us on a journey through his interpretation of the mythical world of Atlantis. He showcased all of the beautiful colors of the rainbow that one might encounter below sea level. Suits in bright hues of yellow, orange, green and red were shown with blue being the dominant feature throughout the show. Then accents in the styling like little sea creature accessories and bubbles on the runway all helped to create the scene and complete the vision.

I'm always a fan of how clean and well-tailored Nick’s collections are, and this season was no different. We saw some of the accents we know and love him for but in a whole new world of possibilities. To top it all off, he featured a few women's pieces this season which we’re not used to seeing from him. I think this is a good indicator that Nick still has a lot to say and I’m personally looking forward to hearing it.

Men's Fashion Week: The Message Behind the Message

March 01, 2017 by Eric Acquaye in fashion

I recently wrapped up what is now basically known as “fashion month” here in New York City. I started with the men’s week, which is a fairly newer installation in the process. Men’s and women’s used to showcase side-by-side, but curators in the past couple of years have decided to separate menswear, giving those designers their own time to shine! You can imagine the excitement from menswear enthusiasts like myself. However this season we saw something even more interesting then your usual collections. A lot of designers used this opportunity to say something more with their work. Given all the political controversy in this country currently, a few designers used this as a chance to take a stand against the current administration and give voice to those that currently need it. I think that art and politics have a special bond and I really enjoyed watching artists like Robert James and Ricardo Seco use their work to stand up for something they believe in.