Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Images, Dan Lecca, Courtesy of Mercedes Benz
TIME & PLACE, Saturday night, September 6, 2008, at the big tent at Bryant Park
THE THEME: “Redemption”
Ashley Olsen also braved the rain to come out and see what was new at Rock & Republic. Like us, maybe she experienced a bit of a letdown and left a bit puzzled about the conservative direction Michael Ball, the Creative Director and CEO is taking Rock in.
He started the company on a back of a pair of jeans [now legendary] that he designed for his girlfriend back in 2002.
[View the 3 images from the fall 2007 collection in this post we found on www.nymagazine.com and see if YOU can’t see the difference too. HINT: one model is wearing a hat and the other 2 models are wearing sunglasses.]
THE SPRING 2009 SHOW: “REDEMPTION”
The hair and makeup by EUGENE SOULEIMAN and JEANNE LOBELL respectively were rock and roll all the way.
The clothes themselves were subdued and restricted to a black and white palette.
SILHOUETTE
Tight and short – okay that’s definitely rock & roll as were the black leggings and fitted shirt that the Olsens would probably incorporate into their wardrobe as basics.
DETAILS
Ruffles – these were a bit off-kilter and a bit oversize.
Studs – these were used conservatively in the cocktail dresses and gave them a bit more edge.
ACCESSORIES
Next to the toned-down clothes, the accessories really popped and shone. Best in show goes to the ATHENA shoe in black patent with a Lucite heel and to the black stamped leather clutches you could wear with just about anything.
Also of note was the white nipped in jacket, a nice separate which would look good with the Rock jeans you already own.
THE MEN
As the women, offerings for the guys were super simple. It’s hard to go wrong with a pair of skinny white jeans or a white dinner jacket and a pair of slim black pants that boasts a very rock & roll name – “the slim fuck pant in angst”.
To read more about Rock & Republic, visit their official website,
www.rockandrepublic.com