Parsons Produces Another Great Pair

The work of Cushnie et Ochs is not what I would really wear. However with that said, their designs are extremely inventive, creative and not what many of us have seen before. Like dynamic duo, Proenza Schouler, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs of Cushnie et Ochs graduated from Parsons with the Designer of the Year Award and immediately jumped into the scene with their Spring '09 collection. The very edgy and seductive line has been worn by celebrities like "Gossip Girl" leading lady Leighton Meester. What makes Cushnie et Ochs completely unique is the way their clothes are designed. Each piece is tailored to accentuate the female body in a beautiful and flirtatious way and bring out their inner confidence. As the designers told Vogue's Esther Adams, "It's a reflection of the duality women face daily: the librarian and the vixen."  

The Spring '10 collection follows this concept while also drawing inspiration from German artist Peter Zimmerman. The silhouettes and colors of the dresses featured here 

deeply reflect the style of Zimmerman's paintings. Take the painting to the right, titled G.E.M. The way the colors compliment each other in his works can also be seen in the way the differing elements of Cushnie et Ochs' pieces, in not just the colors but the textures as well. For Zimmerman, the concept is to mix together colors that can stand out to the naked eye out without creating a harsh effect. When looking at the pale blue dress to the far left, one wouldn't imagine cutting it up and replacing the missing fabric with that darker texture. However it is completely innovative and does not carry a harsh effect at all.

Cushnie et Ochs carries an originality that is daring and has produced some of the most artistic work I have seen in Vogue in a while. It will be very interesting to see how far this line expands and what the come up with next.

xoxo Miss Honeybun

Original article: "New Guard" by Esther Adams. June Vogue 2010, pg. 90
other links: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/09/cushnie_et_ochs_isnt_a_fan_of.html;
http://www.sundancechannel.com/fullfrontalfashion/blog/2009/12/market-appointment-cushnie-%20et-ochs-spring-2010/
photo credits: Stewart Shining (Vogue), Peter Zimmerman