Outside, the stresses of New York City – traffic and the hassle of getting a taxi – seemed to melt away as BCBG Max Azria released their Spring/Summer 2013 collection. One of the first shows on the first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, it was a full house of the full range BCBG Max Azria fans, from bloggers to editors. Though styles and identities of show goers ranged greatly, everyone was equally moved by the display that was to come.
It was an epic runway collection portrayed as an epic tale, with equally moving music playing in the background, “Concerto Pour Violon: Deuxieme Mouvent” by Adela Anthony, Ulster Orchestra, and Takuc Yuasa. Models didn’t march, but seemed to flutter down the runway in understated but still statement-making outfits. It was, in the truest sense of the word, a real show.
Continuing the theme from the BCBG Max Azria fall/winter 2012 line, the new collection was rampant with sheer chiffons, paneling, sheer materials, subtle pleating, and both subtle and bold colors such as black, white, coral, pink and orange. Fabrics seemed to be utterly weightless – silk, tulle, lace and light denim – and it showed on the models in long, fluid shapes.
Subtle and not-so-subtle leather pieces gave the whimsical collection some edge and structure. One model wore a leather midi skirt while another wore a leather pair of overalls in black and white. Several wore leather capri pants, and more still wore harnesses in black or white. Another went down the runway in a tuxedo jacket with a leather lapel. All in all, the show was ethereal but also showed strength, fit for a graceful warrior princess – think Athena, not Xena. The selection of minimalist portfolio clutches in white was the perfect accent to the outfits as they added just a touch of menswear and a whole lot more structure to the looks. The line was said to be influenced by femme fatale muses and high contrast of Helmut Newton’s black and white photography.
In attendance for this event were some of fashion’s most influential. In the front row, one could see Brandon Holly of Lucky Magazine, Kate Lanphear, Bryan Boy, Natalie Joos, Leandra Medine of Man Repeller, Cory Kennedy, Sanya Richards Ross, DJ Kiss, Whitney Port, Annabett Duvali of Seventeen Magazinr, and Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast.
Everyone seemed to go home (or go to their next show) happy and inspired. As Ania Witkowski, Assistant Children’s and Accessories Editor for StyleSight told me, “I liked the shades of coral, and I loved the structure.”
By Sarah
Images 2 through 5 via Style.com
