Monday, February 13th, 2012
80 Essex Street
When I learned that Nicki Cozzolino had left Richard Chai, where she was credited with launching the LOVE collection for the designer (a collection that has proven season after season, to be a TFL fave!), we had to check out what she would do on her own. Making her runway debut at the “Exquisite Corpse” event during New York Fashion Week – not our idea of a great launch venue – but one never knows…
In this case, the venue didn’t matter! Staged on a very professional runway setting & styled to a “T”, the Fall 2012 collection evoked just enough hints of the Turkish inspiration Cozzolino credits & firmly plants her collection as a noteworthy new entry into the Contemporary Fashion arena.
Colors were predominantly in the Tan & Sand range with other colors used being Stone Gray, Sable Brown, Black, Gold & accented boldly with a Red that the line notes call Bright Poppy. Cozzolino crafted the color palette into some novel takes on her inspiration that may not be immediately noticeable lest the observer be familiar with the Turkish “experience”. Examples include the subtle use of the stars in prints as references to the Turkish flag or the use of Red, White, Gold & Black to create a humorous take on the classic “Evil Eye” that literally every tourist ever to visit buys as a souvenir (I have one in my kitchen as we speak!).
Overall, the silhouettes were drapey & looser on top with a slimming lower in most pants. Outerwear, was seasonally trend appropriate, aka large & roomy, but not sloppy & oversized. The one note of criticism that can be offered would be to drop the golden cats that read like a motif from an urban collection launched by a former model who married a music mogul… we know of whom I speak… they seemed cheap & gratuitous. Golden cats aside, this collection is one that we want to watch in the future & I suspect one we’ll be seeing in a more white hot venue in seasons to come. Bravo!
-Scott French
Designer website: www.nickicozzolino.com
Photographer Donald Rockhead DonRock Photo
