A very relaxed Steven Alan presented his collection at 9am at the studios at Chelsea Piers. Wearing jeans, Adidas sneakers and a plaid shirt from his own collection, Alan greeted guests and explained his collection with ease. And, this is exactly what the clothes reflected: ease.
Transitional pieces, separates to mix and match, plaids, and color blocking ruled the room. Women wore airy chiffon dresses, and backless tops were beachy. Prints, designed in-house, were sporty. Men were retro, sporty, and classic, in light, summer suits. Denim, linens, light twills, and chiffon showed range and an ability to carry a spring/summer collection well into fall.
Hats included fedoras, raffia, and short brimmed, all made of straw. Polos, button downs, collared shirts, and ties displayed a sense of "gentleman". Shorts and the shoe choice of loafers extend the feeling of ease for men. Cutesy mary janes, earthy criss-crossed sandals, and wedges were the shoes of choice for the women.
While speaking with Mr. Alan, it was learned that the collection was inspired by the artist Alex Katz and his water color paintings. Alan quoted early 1960s america as a time period reference, while there was definitely a feel of the 1940s due to the longer hemlines. Seemingly reminiscent of summers in Montauk, this collection certainly hits on a "hipster" vibe. Williamburg will rejoice.