Art out in Laurel DeWitt

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Whenever you see creativity on the runway you can’t help but stare or drool over every last detail. I’ve been a fan of Laurel DeWitt for some time, I mean come on she does metal apparel, how cool is that?. We cover her show every season and for Spring/Summer 2016 her collection did not disappoint. Her ever evolving-craft and attention to detail makes every piece a work of art. A romantic fantasy with regal jewel tones takes you to a modern day take on medieval fashion. As if the knights amour mixed with the Queens jewels and was reinvented for the 21st century. Laurel_dewitt_gold_flower_top_spring_2016_nyfw

Striking a distinct 1930s note taking colorful cue from Elsa Schiaparelli, Ms. DeWitt’s current collection débuts not only a deeply hued array of elegant separates — introducing shagreen, leather, and fabric lacing to her already complex repertoire — but also doses the collection with metal flowers, entirely hand-cut, hand-rolled, and hand-painted to create a stunning display of incredible appliqué work rivaled by few in its detail and labor. I’m completely obsessed with the gold flower pieces, especially this outfit above. It’s beyond amazing!

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We also saw in this collection two new accessory categories for the designer: Eyewear and Millinery, where meticulous metal work on a smaller scale is of remark. In her world, dimension is best when juxtaposed, and Ms. DeWitt conflates these tiny techniques against the generous, tulip-like curves of a ballgown’s skirting, or the wide, preciseswoop of a structured cape, evocative of the scaled breadth of a butterfly. Also of note are the wasp-waists and draped contours of the late 1940s New Look, reflected in the slim bodices and grand red carpet gowns which, though made of metal, reminisce a fluttery, petaled lightness. 

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Like the two aforementioned legends above, Ms. DeWitt is also self-taught, but in the craft of metal mastery. With fashion at top of mind – wearable, elegant clothing with metal at its core – this season’s soft spectacle lays witness to a collection of eternal flowers, of heirlooms for life.

ABOUT LAUREL DEWITT

Established in 2010, Laurel DeWitt’s hand-crocheted metal apparel continues to rail against our classical conceptions of ‘clothing’, awing season after season with ever-evolving silhouettes boasting pioneering and jaw-dropping construction techniques.

Known internationally for her custom collaboration work with celebrities, as well as her pervasive social media presence,DeWitt unequivocally claims the rarified place of not only fashion designer, but also sculptor, architect, artist, visionary, and marketing aficionado for her wearable art.