New York Fashion Week Fall 2011: Kimberly Ovitz, RETNA, Buckler

Kimberly Ovitz was inspired by the architecture designed by Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil, which entails aspects of futurism and circularism, which can directly be interpreted through Ovitz’s latest collection. Circular cut-outs made in the back of the garments and in the front of the shoes (designed by Camilla Skovgaard) reverberated the theme of a futuristic world with the models decked out in primarily black, white and grey stretch performance fabrics standing tall, intimidating, and stoic around the circumference of a painted black circle laid on the floor of the Pace Gallery in Chelsea, with pops of fluorescent yellow in the slashes of paint placed on what could be seen of the models’ hair-and-net-covered faces, shoes, and tid-bits incorporated into the design.

RETNA Exhibition

On the evening of Thursday, February 10, 2011 Graffiti artist RETNA (Marquis Lewis) debuted in his first exhibition in America during nothing other than New York Fashion Week. The warehouse-style gallery was large and spacious enough, but the crowd was larger. Champagne-held hands flew and waived everywhere, threatening to spill it’s contents all over the metallic monochrome-themed canvases and 3-D installation that resembled various abstract combinations of the male and female gender signs painted on canvases and large wooden blocks set in the right-hand side of the middle of the space.

Buckler

Demanding the shut down of Grand St. between Greene & Mercer, Andrew Buckler required the attention of both the media and unknowing passer-bys. With a majority of grungy, deconstructed black and white pants, shirts, jackets, and combat boots, Buckler interposed pops of bright yellow via large headphones, a jacket, or tight-fitting pants.  Grandly-sized backpacks with flaps wider than they were long added a flair of the quintessential “New York City wanderer” look, a posh vagabond that aimlessly roams the streets in New York City grunge-style. Well-fitted and draped shirts, a hooded pair of overalls, round-collared sweaters, encircling scarves, and tight-fitted jeans paired with a multi-strapped combat boots ran the gamut.

– Rose Lou