New York Fashion Week: Creatures of the Wind channels travel fantasy
Creatures of the Wind designers Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters grabbed the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Women’s Wear at the CFDA Awards back in June, and followed it up by showing a stellar spring collection on Thursday at New York Fashion Week.
Gabier and Peters launched their line in Chicago in 2008. Both are graduates of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Department of Fashion. Gabier gained experience in Antwerp working for Dirk Schonberger and others, while Peters spent two years doing specialty handiwork as a studio assistant to artist and designer Nick Cave.
Combined, their aesthetic has been both broadly conceptual and exquisitely detail-oriented, incorporating vintage fabrics and lace. But it hasn’t always been so accessible.
This collection changed all that.
The inspiration: “The fantasy of travel,” Gabier said, adding, “But nowhere in particular.” “It’s abstract, foreign and familiar at the same time,” Peters added.
The look: Quirky but wearable. Sporty but with special details (fringe, crystal embroidery, sequin stripes) lending an indeterminate exotic flair. In other words, clothes with enough individuality that they don’t look like you picked them up at Barneys, but rather while you were on a grand adventure.
Key pieces: High-waist trousers and tie-front A-line skirts; the first Creatures of the Wind shoes, including sporty-looking platform huaraches. Standouts included a blue tiled silk jacquard skirt with crystal embroidery at the hem worn with a stripe tunic top; a gingham flounce skirt worn with a white cotton mesh sleeveless top; a sparkly embroidered circle skirt worn with a gingham tank; and an ombre plaid gown with black beaded halter.
The verdict: In some past COTW collections, the voluminous silhouettes and fabric weights have made the clothes ungainly. Not so here. This collection was the ideal balance of commercial, everyday basics and special pieces, which should be good news to the duo’s investors at L.A.-based firm The Dock Group.
COTW will be an interesting brand to watch as it grows, because so much of the appeal is in how individual and eccentric the look is. Scaling that will be a neat trick.
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