Romance is one of the most popular concepts when it comes to almost any artistic art form, whether it’s music, paintings, or cinema. While fashion is very much an art form, aside from princess gowns when heroines get their prince in fairytales, romance isn’t always the first word that comes to mind when people think of fashion.
There is always the date night dress, but when people think of date night dresses, they often think of words like sexy or chic. Romance might be the act they are trying to achieve, but it’s not the adjective used to describe their clothes.
Frederick Anderson sought to change our association of the word romance when it comes to fashion. For his latest collection, the designer opened his show with Grammy-winning opera singer J’Nai Bridges singing “The Habanera” from George Bizet’s “Carmen.” The opening lyrics to “The Habanera” are “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle que nul ne peut apprivoiser” which translates to ”Love is a rebellious bird no one can tame.”
With a show just a few days shy of Valentine’s Day, Anderson chose an excellent time to celebrate love and romance. He also showed hints of a Valentine’s Day theme as he opened the show with a red suit with a black ruffle collar. Red was a key part of the color palette that made up this romance-inspired collection, which also featured black, white, green, and silver.
Outside of red, the color choices didn’t immediately say romance, but where he lacked in more statement colors, Anderson made up for in romantic details. Signature lace details were found in many dresses, and several dresses also featured floral prints. While floral prints are nothing new, flowers as a gift are a signature romantic gesture, so it was a subtle tilt to the act of flowers on a first date.
Images courtesy of theimpression.com
Beyond his romantic inspiration, there were his dresses fit for his jet-setting clientele, like a zebra print dress that would be perfect for a resort vacation. After-party worthy cocktail dresses rounded out the collection because Anderson couldn’t forget his New York socialite ladies who helped make his brand popular.
In a time of political and economic turmoil, is a little romance necessary? Anderson seems to think so as he took us to a fall and winter season of love. Love lifts us up where we belong, after all.
Kristopher Fraser
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