“THE REAL LIFE OF ANGELS”
Bebelplatz, Mitte
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin
July 2nd, 2009
12:00
Words- Judith Ecochard
Images-J. Ecochard and Courtesy of Designer
Born in Germany, Anja Gockel –like so many Europeans- is a woman of the world. She received a Masters in Fashion Design at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London…and has labored at labels ranging from Vivienne Westwood to Agatha Ruiz De La Prada.
Oh, and speaks four languages and has four kids.
Which all goes a long way to explaining the easy mix of sporty and glam that we saw in her sophisticated RTW show of day and “Red Carpet” eveningwear.
Thematically speaking, we got a clue as to whom the ‘Angels’ are when we chatted with Anja Gockel (and her team)…at the fab Gala Brunch at the Hotel Ellington…a few days after the show.
“The real angels are here on earth…we are here,” the designer informed us. “It’s not in a romantic way…but it is about doing things to make us-and others- happy.”
In other words (like the press release)-“They are women like ‘You and Me.’
“Their feet are firmly on the ground and radiate something that can hardly be described.
They mesmerize us with their inner and outer beauty.”
We loved the mixture of textiles like the clever mix of sparkling gold sequins (in a skirt, one shoulder blouson-for example) with more casual white trousers or silk cotton knits-in a deep v-neck lightweight sweater for example, in one look. Specifically the look Gockel was rockin’ at the Brunch.
This is the way real women dress…a fusion of day to night attire...with separates “one can dress up or dress down.”
“I design everything to work great with jeans,” Gockel said. Which is terrific because that’s practically all we wear---very “California Formal.”
TOP PICKS:
We are particularly drawn to the “exotic ray” print, the black/white combo, and the painterly floral patterns “sketched over ink-blue illustrations” we saw in various formations.
Solids- black, satiny green, and white tones in trousers, blazers, skirts are modern separates that will work in any wardrobe.
WEAR IT NOW:
The slim silhouette in a flattering ruched/draped dress with an asymmetrical neckline.
Gockel ended the show with knockout dramatic long gowns of with floating trains. And because there is a distinct practical side to the collection (i.e. one can wear the clothes, not suffer in them) …the models-in a nonchalant manner- draped the trains on one arm, as if oversized shawls, for their final bows.
INFO: ANJA GOCKEL
ACTRESS DIANE KRUGER