Forte Fashion Show

Okay, I get invitations to many fashion shows by emerging and lesser known designers and often I don't have the time to attend. But as a Project Runway fan when I heard that Kenley Collins from Season 5 -the girl you hated to love or loved to hate- was going to be showing her collection I decided to attend this event...because after all, who doesn't want to "watch what happens" after the show is over? That being said, Kenley was one of four designers who showed their work that evening.

Kenley's collection was the first down the runway. Inspired by the 1940s and Amelia Earhart the collection was fun and flirty with fabrics that moved with the models. Waists were cinched with skinny belts and the emphasis was on shorter, fuller skirts that had a girlish quality. One of my favorites was a dress made with a black and white striped fabric. The stripes changed from moving horizontally on the top (which also has a beautiful fullness in the sleeves) to on a diagonal on the bottom. It is this sort of attention to detail she showed throughout her collection that made it stand out.

The next collection, by Sheila Frank, was a study in greys and blues. At one time Ms. Frank had an internship with Charlotte Ronson and although her work isn't the same it feels as though it's created for a similar clientele: the hip downtown girl who is cool and confident in who she is. She had a great utilitarian romper with large silver snaps down the front and brocade detailing. This brocade was also seen in a cropped tailored jacket. It was a cohesive collection for spring and summer in the city.


Elizabeth Rynish's dresses are a mash up of the 60s. The cuts reference the ladylike first half of the decade but the vivid colors and swirling prints are suited for the "free love" or latter part of the decade. And yet somehow it works brilliantly. In addition to being a designer Ms. Rynish creates textiles and she created these for her collection. The colors are rich with great tonal variety and the dresses feel like wearable works of art: because even though they are pretty as a picture you still feel the woman is wearing the dress, not overwhelmed by it.

Marissa Erskine's label is RisSa and this collection was inspired by butterfly, cocoon and tulip silhouettes. It was filled with delicate fabrics and colors and beautifully executed. The attention to detail was flawless and each look seemed to balance at an intersection of delicate femininity and sophistication.

Overall I was impressed with the designers and with the event itself. The show was emceed by Sinsu Co and was a benefit for Gilda's Club NYC presented by SEAM COLLECTIVE an organization dedicated to aiding female designers break into the fashion industry. An excellent event for a worthy cause full of inspiring clothes...what more could you ask for?