#bryanhearns

(images via can)

although i'm admittedly bleak on the outlook with regards to los angeles fashion week, there were a couple of decent carrots in the moldy bag, and, if not exactly on the level that has me screaming at their brilliance and promise, then all the better for having shown next to a raft of unfortunately-named collections, d-list celebrities (and their lines), and more sweat and lounge pants than ought be shown in a lifetime's worth of shows.  and one of these bright spots was young designer bryan hearns with his s/s 2012 range. 

i wasn't able to find much information on the subject, but wwd declared that "(f)or his fifth collection, 21-year-old Bryan Hearns combined structural elements and whimsy in pieces such as a double-faced satin geometric dress with a feathered skirt, or a frayed chiffon top with tailored shorts," while racked professed that they were "pleasantly surprised" before writing that "(w)e can't exactly explain why the collection seemed to work: funky, unconstructed [sic] polos were paired with ostrich feather skirts, and there were silk and feather dresses that appeared sleek and dramatic rather than costumey...the kid shows a lot of promise." 

the eclectic styling was a large part of the charm (although the footwear seemed more akin to weapons than actual shoes), and though i would have liked a decent explanation as to the inspiration, the site la catrina did perhaps the best job in describing it as, an, ahem, among other things "tough girl" approach.  the juxtaposition of that with the daintily ethereal, almost tutu-like skirts made for a more interesting combination than yet another hashing out of masculine-meets-feminine or something.  especially impressive is the fact that mr. hearns is a relatively new hand at all this; let's hope he continues to grow, and, again, worse for la, but better for him, takes the act on the road to nyfw.