#jenawad

(images via can)

oh, gumdrops.  okay, so even though i'm not going to call jen awad's s/s 2013 collection, like, the biggest aesthetic shakeup of the moment, i am pleased to see that it has been getting some good press, especially when we consider how difficult it has been to get background on many of the los angeles fashion week shows we've been discussing of late. anyway, the blog got glam informed us that the presentation was held at macarthur park's carondelet house, and gave us a bio on the designer so long (seriously, go there if you'd care to learn more of her background) a five year-old would soon be ready to attend college after finishing, should you sit her down to read all that noise.

so!  shall we discuss the proceedings at hand? in a pleasing turn, wwd professed that "Jen Awad refined her often costume-y aesthetic into a more focused, if still whimsical and funky, collection of Eighties-inspired cropped jackets, short, full skirts and cutout dresses," while the blog visual harassment (in addition to some nice snaps from the show) termed it a "60's cocktail hour".  for my part, i'm going to say that i saw the range as more of a 'fifties-as-seen-through-the-lens-of-the-eighties', with perhaps a good dash of betsey johnson love thrown into the mix (if this was a more pared-back display), but as far as i could tell, no one was citing, like, specific inspiration.

alors.  in probably the best write-up on the collection i was able to uncover, the blog fashion trend guide described how the range "blended retro A-line shapes from the 1950s with modern details such as fringe trim, lace, bows with cutouts, and tulle. The color scheme of pink, white and black figured prominently, and styles ranged from floor-length gowns to playfully short and skin-baring silhouettes." and the blog bj panda bear, too, seemed to get it: "a very 80’s valley girl look was present and clashing with her more clean lined Breakfast at Tiffany’s-esque classic style gone street gone cocktail. Bows, Fringe and plenty of peek-a-boo cut outs were the bases of her collection."

meanwhile, according to la racked, the designer "pleasantly surprised us this season by swapping her signature avant-garde look for a more vintage aesthetic that felt very timely...Highlights included mixed checkered prints, bow front cutout dresses, sheer lace and killer cat-eye sunnies." if anything, though, i was frankly surprised that no one really seemed to make any lingerie or rockabilly connections, both of which came up for me almost instantaneously whilst viewing the collection. the closest we got, perhaps, was in the blog la splash name-dropping dita von teese, although in the context, i'm not sure they really associated it with ms. awad's aesthetic. 

no matter, i suppose, as we all found the presentation cute and sweet, and i especially liked it when the designer amped up the sex-ay with sheer lace (as in the schoolgirl-esque transparent frock, at top), or layered a little cropped jacket over a full skirt trimmed with tulle and dainty little black driving gloves.  there was nothing really 'new' here, i think most of us would agree, and yet, it was ms. awad's verve that really carried things through, made us see it as if for the first time.  it was like slightly naughty zooey deschanel-wear, and honestly, if we're really to see this designer expand into more thoughtful, full-on story-type collections, i'd like to see more silhouettes from her, more separates, and both more and less coverage, to give her customers more of a variety.  but it's lafw, and let's at the moment just focus on seeing her again next season.  and i hope that we do, as this one shows some real promise, wouldn't you say?