Y & KEI opts for an arty presentation over a catwalk show
Timestamp: Wednesday, September 5
Location: Celeste Bartos Forum, the NY Public Library
Rating: ++
Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Photographs courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
The tiny backstage was super-squashed but worth it to get a close look at the models in these exquisite clothes. There was a rainbow fish scale knee length dress with a nude chiffon neckline.
Also of note was a black evening coatdress jacket worn with a black sequin skirt. This was the first time we saw sequins, which continued to appear at show after show later in the week. All the models wore towering double strap patent leather platform wedge sandals with baggy knee-highs that were so quirky that they worked.
As far as the presentation went, the team at Y & Kei made it easy. The models were posed on the perimeter of a giant glass mirror that was smack in the center of the room. In the center was an interesting sculpture composed of unpainted ladders, which added to the art gallery feeling. This season has already been dubbed "the season of the presentation". In the case of Y & Kei, they made the right choice by having a quiet presentation rather than a traditional runway extravaganza.