70s Style
Pink Tartan Spring 2015; Image: George Pimentel
Much like the European runways (especially Milan), the 70s made a funky return to the catwalk. Pink Tartan jumped on this trend with disco-addled vigor, presenting fringed accents on vests, skirts and scarves, plunging V-neck bodysuits and yes, even the dreaded culottes — though when paired with stacked heels they look just this side of cute. Peasant blouses and sexy jumpsuits rounded out the retro offerings. To top it all off, models sported feathered Farrah Fawcett-inspired hair that looked contemporary and sexy.
Back to the Future
Mikhael Kale Spring 2015; Image: George Pimentel
Futurism was alive and well at Mikhael Kale, who used iridescent and light-reflecting fabrics in a collection that was modest while also employing a lot of risqué transparent details. There were modern, formfitting dresses that played with sheer contrasts and cut-outs, long skirts paired with cropped tops and edgy 3-D pleating details. Exposed midsections accented with transparent obi belts made the overall look sexy yet empowering.
On a more dystopian note, Thomas Bálint showed a drab though cerebral collection of deconstructed separates in a palette heavy on black, white and red. The men’s and women’s offerings wavered between unstructured and formfitting with no middle ground to speak of. Standout pieces included a striking red men’s trench, a black and white striped, deconstructed and belted men’s jacket and a similarly striped one-button women’s blazer with a shawl collar. Overall, the aesthetic seemed to borrow from the Japanese masters and showed Bálint‘s reverence for sculpture. Truly a collection that can go anywhere at any time.
