Phoenix Fashion Week Recap: Part Two

 
 
 

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The Rocky Gathercole finale brought Avant Garde to Phoenix. Photo by Steve Yap.

 

The final night of Phoenix Fashion Week at Talking Stick Resort was all about drama and sparkle. Almost every collection that hit the runway had sequin embellishments and fashion-forward details. It was a fashionable night to remember, and we’re giving you all the designer highlights straight from the runway.

 

 


 

 

Emerging Designers:

 

Adoire by Saba

After a trip to Pakistan, Harvard grad-turned-fashion designer Saba Iqbal decided to launch Adoire with the goal of manufacturing luxury women’s clothing in a sustainable way. Each modern artisanal piece is handmade by Pakistani workers who are paid fair wages. The 12-piece collection hit the runway featuring globally inspired prints in modern turquoise and hot pink colors, with gold or jewel embellishments.

 

Hues of Ego

Entirely based on long-sleeved luxurious full-length gowns, Hues of Ego brought feminine yet edgy unconventional looks to the runway Saturday night. The collection set the tone with a model in a crystal mask and a white tulle gown. A theme of simplicity continued with white and blush statement coats with large silver buttons and fierce leather skirts.

 

Jacqueline Nicole

One of the more girly collections, Jacqueline Nicole brought back a little bit of the 80’s with sequined mini skirts and dresses and hot pink crop tops. Each wearable look, such as a white crochet maxi dress or a blue fur cropped jacket, would easily stand out on the street as it did on the runway. The makeup made a statement with blue and gold metallic eyeshadows as well.

 

Lillienne Lang

Designer Lillienne Langford understands the modern woman, delivering updated business suits in modern silhouettes. The fashion-forward collections accentuated the hips and shoulders, but remained simple with monochromatic fabrics while the models strutted in feathered eyelashes. The most memorable look was a modern LBD with a front and a pencil-style back —bringing a whole new meaning to business in the front, party in the back.

 

RAYAN

Dreamy dresses walked the runway during this part of the show, with pretty black gowns with a draped back and long-sleeved dresses with lace cuffs standing out. Our personal favorite pieces were colorful peplum floor-length dresses with pockets —an element every girl loves. Overall, RAYAN delivered updated versions of jumpsuits and evening gowns in bright, fun colors. 

 

 


 

Established Designers:

 

Kenneth Harion Couture

This portion of Phoenix Fashion Week marked couture designs with unique details such as a white gown lined in giant pearls, a red tasseled and beaded dress, and a black and beige graphic sparkling ensemble. Despite the over-the-top details on every piece, and models with three-bun mohawks, the collection remained elegant and stunning with bejeweled cuffs and embellished corsets. 

 

Yen

The most beautiful and well-put together show of the night, Yen presented a texturized and sparkling collection that was anything but simple. Coming straight from London Fashion Week 2014, each look was polished, from a tea-party style floral-embellished dress and a number of sequined mermaid gowns and minidresses. In its entirety, the collection was cohesive and thoughtful.

 

Rocky Gathercole

Filipino designer Rocky kicked off the spectacular and surprising finale with a red Avant Garde ensemble with large horns on the model’s head and a weaved ribcage. The collection was not short of color, with multicolor, hot pink and red beaded and tasseled looks brightening up the runway. Rocky’s use of large pink roses and pipe cleaners (and even a Hello Kitty embellished dress) in his designs could have easily looked cheap, but instead were works of art. Safe to say, Rocky Gathercole knows how to please a crowd and close a show.