Oct 15, 2007

The Lions, The Bitch, and The (Great) Wardrobe

Friday was the second of the major Chicago runway shows, hosted by Macy's. These were the lions—the most professional of the locals—sending their stuff down the runway: Lara Miller, Pamela Vanderline (Zone), Katrin Schnabl, Michelle Tan, Melanie Nicole, Orlando Espinoza, and Cyndi Chan (Ori'en). Check out the show, in condensed form, here.

A design by Katrin Schnabl

As for the bitch, I mean it in the nicest sense of the word: a little dog. Designer Cyndi Chan sent a moppy lil pup down the runway. Silly, I know. But it was nice to see a Chicago designer having fun. Most of the up-and-comers take everything so seriously and they send models down the catwalk with nothing but a dress and a grim expression; the accessories are drab, if there are any. Chan broke out the hats, the gloves, the glamour. Plus, there was a pet!

As for the great wardrobe, that title belongs to designer Katrin Schnabl. If I didn't have such an aversion to that little appliance known as the iron, I would sink a month's earnings into her pieces, which are sculptural and angled and thus likely require a lot of pressing. German born—and with a resume that includes work with Jil Sander, Robert Danes, and Caroline Herrera—Schnabl is the stand-out designer in town.

Note: Photo gallery from the show coming soon

Photography: Cassie Walker AND MIRAH KANG

Posted at 12:53 PM in Coda | Permalink