“SHIMMER”
West Chelsea, NYC September 14th 2009
Words, Images by Judith Ecochard
Norwegian Elise Øverland likes her music very, very loud, and her clients' attire full of tour ready, sexy separates.
A former leatherwear tailor for rockers like Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler, Øverland really shook it up textile wise- in this late night Valentine’s Day outing. Deep dark tones, plus what we think of as mardi gras purple…. and the interplay of light off the hard/soft…matte’shiny surfaces of fabrics in the tableau vivant presentation---was striking. Indeed…we were thinking “My Bloody Valentine” by pop rockers Good Charlotte ---the whole time we were there (not the 3D slasher film remake). Romantic, sad, yearning and uplifting optimistic feelings all bundled up.
And as noted in WWD, her inspiration was “…a sushi book I was given. The sexy dark, macabre Japanese fish.” Nothing like a palette we would want to eat with the Yakuza.
Amidst Øverland’s signature hip chick ready leather leggings (in dark grey), dresses (in a white stretch version that looked amazing)…and jackets (like a very wearable cool purple leather blazer with strong shoulder, and an algae green biker), are shimmery silk pieces we would wear with everything- like a black silk georgette tank, a sensuous detailed oyster silk charmeuse dress…. and moody velvets-as in a high waist smoked oyster sample and fitted leggings.
Pant silhouettes were clingy fitted, not loose-y pajama style---- a trend that seems to spill over from Spring 2009 that we don't think will sell so great. Øverland’s contribution from what we could tell- are dropped crotch jeans that managed to look on trend not a Hammer time redux. There are some metallics too- as in a super sexy silver lame top and a bronze lame and black silk bustier dress.
Special kudos to the MAC makeup artists, supervised by Nadine Luks who had the ladies' rimmed eyes dark smokey green and glowing.
MODEL COMPLAINT: The black patent leather spiked heel Trannie shoes that had the models feet throbbing. Turns out----Øverland got them online for $22 apiece.