By Amalie Rhebeck
Photos by Sophie Schaeffer
An alien crash-landed… onto a velvet couch. Designers kicked off Planet Chic on Feb. 9 with an electric blue model in a striking red shift dress. As she curiously stumbled, danced, and eventually, catwalked down the runway, the audience audibly gasped. This is what we were here for — something eccentric and otherworldly.
Desert Designs
Some designers, like Nyx Krosting, took the idea of the unworldly and spun it on its head. Dramatic sleeves and loosely hung fabrics in white, mauve and brown hues reminded me of a desert not known to man. The ornate white makeup on each model did not distract from the designs but instead complimented them.
Flashes of the Past
A majority of the looks in the show were reminiscent of retrofuturism, which was to be expected in a space-age-themed show. Sabrina Marie Designs brought flared sleeves and chain belts to the runway, whereas Linnea Joy Productions designed colored tights into various space bombshell looks, even including a deconstructed pantsless design. Despite being predictably on theme, each look was still incredibly personalized by each designer, and found the blend between vintage and cutting edge.
Perhaps some of the effects of these collections were enhanced by the music on the runway: Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams,” Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love,” and “Blue Monday” by New Order, reminded the audience of the soundtrack of the past while providing a glimpse into more futuristic fashion.
Setting the Scene
The theme of Planet Chic was emphasized by the design of the runway. A plush vintage couch complete with end tables, magazines, and even a lava lamp not only elevated the runway but also allowed spectators to view all of the models staged together in one place after they walked.
Soft Edges
An outstanding element of the show was the bold use of texture from a few notable designers. One of the most creative looks on the runway was an entire line crocheted in white, by Giovanna Manzo. It was a fresh revamping of soft fabric, making it sexy and eye-catching with one-piece, cutout mini dresses and knee-high leg warmers.
One man’s trash…
I was shocked to see a collection of corset tops in the show that I did not find underwhelming or mundane. This collection by EGR was full of front-lacing ones, paired with slouchy shorts and flowy skirts, and was constructed from repurposed fabrics from tablecloths, lampshades, and curtains. The creativity and thought behind each look were palpable, and gave the illusion of expensive materials, while still being incredibly sustainable. EGR managed to take a look that had been overdone in recent years and give it a new life.
Color, Keyboards and Chrome
Arguably the crowd favorite of the show was by Inversion Studios, as the collection emphasized technology– and not the cutting-edge kind.
Inversion seamlessly blended the Y2K style of layered clothing, colorful hats and scarves, with the technology of the time: a computer keyboard chest plate, a mouse as a belt, and headphones both around the neck and over the ears. It was fresh, untraditional, and yet pointedly on theme.
Perhaps the most exciting portion of the show was saved for the end, as Inversion Studios had one last look to perfectly bookend an eccentric and exciting collection: a model painted entirely silver, in a bikini matching her iridescent skin.
There was no better way to end a space-age-themed show, and it left me applauding along with the rest of the audience as the show came to a close.
Planet Chic was everything to be expected from a higher-end fashion show, put on by a majority of college students and designers. No two collections were the same, but all paid homage to Planet Chic. The designs were sleek, creative, fashion-forward and sustainable. It made me believe that maybe if aliens landed on Earth, it might not be that bad.