Charleston Fashion Week 2009 Begins!

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“The future of fashion” boomed from the sound system seconds before the first model took to the runway, brazenly announcing the start of the third annual Charleston Fashion Week. The hotly anticipated event took place under the tents in downtown’s Marion Square Park, South Carolina’s version of Bryant Park, with the presentation of six collections by the semi-finalists of the Emerging Designer Competition. Open to designers living in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, the competition gave the South a chance to showcase it’s talent and validate itself as a burgeoning fashion capital. The models emerged from behind a futuristic façade of colorful and rhythmically flashing LED lights. On one side of the stage a DJ Spun upbeat music to which the models bounced down the runway. Several bars were set up around the tent to serve cocktails, wine and champagne, creating an audience that grew increasingly enthusiastic through the evening. I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of both the garments and the models. True to its earlier boasting, Charleston proved that it is indeed the future of fashion!

North Carolina’s Amanda deLeon’s opened the night with her Spring 2009 collection. The designer’s story was based in tranquil earth tones with occasional pops of vivid blue and the models slicked back ponytails created an air of icy sophistication. The collection of mostly dresses, modernized classical bodies through architectural embellishments; it was the alien love child of Vera Wang and Narsisco Rodriguez. Each piece seemed to toy with the feminine form through three-dimensional details; such as a black, asymmetrical, A-line dress reshaped by a neckline of contrasting gold that continued the diagonal line from beneath the model’s right arm, out over her left shoulder tapering off at chin height. Another outstanding piece was a sexy low-cut, drop back halter dress that’s otherwise fitted skirt jutted out at the top of the leg where a hoop was sewn inside to accentuate the hips and buttocks. It was haute couture on Mars! I loved the use of hard, masculine lines to exaggerate feminine curves.

The show notes described the collection as inspired by the sensation of being underwater and the garments captures the mystery and calm of deep ocean submersion. Most literally translated through bright lacquered blue fabric used primarily in several skin tight pieces, blue was also used to accent otherwise subdued looks; for example, A gray silk drop waist dress with a short bubble hemmed skirt was reinvigorated by the fabric that looked almost slimy as it rose of the garment and wrapped, eel-like, around the collar and down the back of the dress into a low, V-neck back. A black short short was paired with a sleeveless boat neck blouse that looked as if it was made from a quilted down comforter – think Norma Kamali’s sleeping bag coat’s of the 80’s in blouse form. The blouse was cinched at the waist with a thick black belt and fanned out at the bottom, as if an exotic sea anemone opening up underwater.

DeLeon's background in architecture was can be seen in her ability to shape materials – She is a pro at transforming soft fabrics into stiff shapes hard materials into round, soft shapes. Her collection is rich with sharp angles and three dimensional details. My favorite garment, and one of the more wearable pieces, was a sleeveless, form-fitting aqua colored asymmetrical mini dress with what appeared to be strands of fishing line wrapping around the bare shoulder to shape a sleeve. The lovely, classically draped sleeve shaped with an ultra contemporary material created a delightful juxtaposition.

A strong presentation from Amanda deLeon and wonderful start to the night!

Article by Maggie Winterfeldt & Photos by Chris Clark

….Check back often as I will update the blog with reviews of the other semi-finalists’ collections throughout the day!