“SMOKE & MIRRORS” -SCOTTISH EQUESTRIAN RIDES for Men & Women
FEBRUARY 14th, 2009 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Bryant Park NYC
Words, Images Judith Ecochard
A few years back, we were in Los Angeles covering LA Fashion Week…and caught a Monarchy RTW show. That outing was largely packed with denim separates every which way. Fun to wear but not particularly memorable in a city where there a loads of hip denim lines.
Jump forward a few years…and Monarchy’s got a new bag (backers?), veteran David Cardona formerly of Rock & Republic- as the women’s wear designer joining Eric Kim…and an upscale autumnal assortment of ‘aristocratic equestrian’ inspired clothes for men and women---
a make believe niche mastered by Ralph Lauren.
Many of the pieces we saw will work off the runway and outside of dressage riding rings. Key pieces we like along those lines--- a 3 piece wool plaid suit and cape, natty waistcoats and a double breasted overcoat, leather and puffed jackets, cropped trenches, suave dress shirts, and blouse-y cowl neck dresses/sweaters are ageless (and timeless) designs.
Magicians’ illusions aside, it will be interesting to see how this bumped up Monarchy Collection plays out on retail shelves.
We certainly look forward to what Eric Kim and David Cardona come up with for next season.
BACKSTAGE
HAIR: We had an engaging chat with Sean James, an LA based hairstylist (plus the team from the Santa Monica A-list Frank's Studio)---- who clued us the flowing tresses attached to the heads of globetrotting princesses “that likes to go out…you’ll see her in London, Paris, sometimes she goes to Sydney.” James elaborated. (Note to selves-our next lives). “Most of the time it’s ‘anti-hair’ that’s dressed a tiny bit.”
James used Joico products… “a tiny bit of Texture Spray” to smooth out/straightened hair, and put on a little “Forming Polish to get rid of flyaways” on locks pulled off to the right side with a little bit of volume at the crown. The finishing touch was a spritz of Flexible Shaping Spray.”
For gal models not wearing hats, hair was twisted into a casual bun “not too done” and secured with pins (and blonde ones for blondies).
“Any girl in NYC has this look…not too done,” James noted, “…a nice contrast between the smooth and the loose. This is something anyone can wear and look sophisticated.”
Other models sported a casual elegant ‘do with a 1 ½ inch barrel Rusk curling iron providing soft waves/curves and a light tease adding a bit of volume.
Guys got a polished look with Joico’s Forming Polish “pushed in” with the fine end of a comb.
MAKEUP:
Gregory Arlt, Director of Makeup Artistry for MAC Cosmetics, had the models looking more pampered gorgeous than urban edgy. Though the “guys look like guys,” the gals were treated to “a beautiful eye” with MAC’s Satin Taupe eye shadow imparting a hint of metallic, and MAC’s Print gray eye shadow at the lash line for a “diffused sexy eye.”
Lips were muted…with a bit of concealer applied to neutralize the natural lipcolor.”
INFO: MONARCHY COLLECTION
Sean James and Gregory Arlt EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS MANAGEMENT (323) 436 7766
CELEB ALERT: AnnaLynne McCord (TV’s 90210 “Naomi Clark)
with Eric Kimand Kellan Lutz, best known for his role as Emmett Cullen in the smash movie "Twilight."
