Comfort was key at the Atelier Designers trade show, held this past weekend at the DoubleTree Guests Suites Times Square.
The three-day show took up five floors of the Midtown hotel, with more than 100 vendors showing off their newest clothes and accessories. The main trend across all categories was easy, transitional pieces. “I’m doing lots of linens with a leather trim on long vests” said designer Lorain Croft. “It’s very breezy and appropriate for all ages. Anyone can wear it really, but there’s still something very fresh about it.” The England-born designer, who custom-makes each garment in New York City, noted that voluminous overcoats were a popular draw. “They have structure and are architectural,” she said. “Its been very busy…and I’ve probably been doing this show for 20 years.”
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Elsewhere at the show, Kiki Verveniotis of Go Lightly showed off her handmade line while knitting within her showing space. “My spring line is about the jet-set lifestyle,” she said. “It’s a Sixties Bond Girl translated for any woman. She doesn’t have to be six feet tall to look really languid. That’s the customer that has money to spend in the small boutiques that I sell to.” Price points for the collection range from $70 to $125 at wholesale.“The crochet is always popular,” she said of the brand’s most popular style. “These women are mature, so they want to be a little covered. I’m doing this wicker stitch, that’s almost like the Dior stitch.”
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For accessories, Tel Aviv-based Erica Harel designer drew in many buyers with her handcrafted leather backpacks, while footwear brand Papucei showed off hand-painted shoes, with a heavy emphasis on flats and booties. “Because they are all handmade, people are able to custom-design their own shoes,” said an on-site representative for the brand (the family-owned business is based in Romania). “This season, [winged flats] have been our most popular style. They have a special wire built into them so you can make them your own. Anything that is painted is doing really well, and the combat boots are always one of the bestsellers.” Price points for the brand range from $100 to $130 at wholesale.
Just a few blocks north, vendors at Designers at the JW Marriott Essex House New York showed off their newest in cocktail, special-occasion and gowns. Though the emphasis was heavily on eveningwear, the theme of effortless dressing continued. “We’re known for a very delicate, very ethereal look,” said New York-based eveningwear designer Carol Peretz. “It’s about not looking like anyone else.”
Added designer Neil Bieff: “Everything is done by hand and is very light and comfortable. They’re sexy clothes but subtly so.…They are really kind of casual. My concept when I’m designing is I think of a women just hopping out of bed, washing her face and throwing it on.”