Towering mules, frayed denim, and woven raffia in a hippie stripe were some of the era's usual suspects, along with an afghan or two.
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Towering mules, frayed denim, and woven raffia in a hippie stripe were some of the era's usual suspects, along with an afghan or two.
Jen Kao had "serendipitous matches" in mind for Spring, and one of her favorite kismet couples, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, contributed to her collection's groovy sixties-to-seventies vibe. Towering mules, frayed denim, and woven raffia in a hippie stripe were some of the era's usual suspects, along with an afghan or two. As in, the dog. Get it?! Suffice it to say, the hounds and the models both had perfect Marcia Brady hair.
Good vibrations aside, Kao focused on versatility, designing pieces she envisioned the wearer being able to personalize. This meant the long black apron skirt Kao was wearing—a plaid version of which appeared on the runway with a fluttering white silk dévoré overlay—was actually a dress. Though everything else seemed to be worn as it was originally intended, you could see how the unstructured dresses could just as easily transform into skirts. The collection's one unabashedly sexy moment was a brief, two-look window that had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the clothes. But what a window! Kao embroidered children's book hero Bunnicula (the vegetable-sucking vampire bunny, in case you weren't a fan) on a miniskirt and a tiny peekaboo tank dress. And then, just like that, we were back. A wispy georgette sheath dress—gussied up with a pretty dahlia print that was picked up in a silk cotton dévoré—and roomy black pants with ample pockets in washed crepe de chine seemed to float down the runway. It may have been the calm pace, filtered light, and the gentle breeze of many fans, but this collection felt like a breath of fresh air.