The Candela Collection shown today was my last show before fashion night out was to begin, and due to the arid heat of The Box creative space of Lincoln Center, I was more then happy to end on this note. Candelas vibe was very Havana meets Che’ meets Sexy meets playfully cute, which by most standards sounds like allot but wonderfully so, it wasn’t. Although there were allot of military themes that held the collection together, it was the intricate detailing of the simple pieces that really added some depth to it all.
I particularly loved the floor length almost maxi styled dress that was in a tangerine hue. What made this piece so kewl was that when the model turned around, you could see the time and diligence that went into that macrame back and that alone was astounding. Also there was a pair of six button sailor styled shorts that was done in a tan battenburg cotton lace which mirrored the detail of the tangerine dress. Elephants also akin to the climate and environment of the assumed inspiration, was also prevalent in the collection, whether hand beaded or on a pair of paisley shorts.
It was refreshing to see a collection that could have been so simple and downplayed due to the nature (literally) of the collection and its somewhat repetitive theme of late take a detailed turn for the best. Although Ive noticed allot of handy work and detailing being a major turning point this season, it was nice to see the meticulous attention being taken to things as everyday wearable as denim and cotton pieces. Also inspiring was the collection of shoes (some of which were also detailed with antique brass ornaments and fish skin) that was set on display that matched everything in the collection and surly things you already have which to me made more sense then a little bit. In this ever changing economic climate, not everyone wants to continuously re-do their wardrobe. Sometimes its nice to add to what you have, Candela did that but also remixed what you thought you had while sneakily making you want to buy their version as well. That’s a great collection if you ask me, and I’m seriously interested in seeing whats next.
V Vernard is a wardrobe stylist based out of NewYork and LA and currently the house stylist for Alisha Trimble. For contact info please visit www.wix.com/vvernard/lookbook
