Raul Peñaranda
Neighborhood: West 40s
Type of Place: Designers
Fashion
Description:
It has of course been a notably mild winter across the east coast so far. But nonetheless, winter here has still meant coats and boots and early darkness—and the looking forward to spring flowers and brighter summer days.
On fashion's calendar, Spring 2012 began to arrive in September of 2011 with the Fashion Week shows, and I was happy to jump into the presentation of up-and-comer Raul Peñaranda. Born in Colombia and raised in Venezuela, Peñaranda moved to Miami as a young man, and a sultry body-consciousness associated with warmer climates can be seen in his creations. Before starting his own line, he worked with Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta—not surprising given the vibe of elegance and luxury in his designs. If you're looking for something to wear to work, this is probably not the collection for you. But if you need to dress for a once-in-a-lifetime event (or to find an "I've been wearing this gorgeous dress to formal parties for years" staple), you're in luck. Deliciously luxe fabrics, in pretty shades ranging from pale (creams and greys) to kapow (gold and turquoise), make the pieces in the collection stand-out choices. I loved, among the many other notables, a short grey dress with a beautiful light gold train; an ivory-and-gold gown with sheer gold sleeves; and a pale green floor-length dress with such classic lines that I can't imagine it ever being outdated.
Peñaranda has said that his line's motto is "Dream, Vision, Reality." These clothes are pretty darn dreamy; and he has made them into realities that floated down the runway. To add a note of practicality into the proceedings: Though this is a spring/summer line, some of the pieces (especially the knee-length shifts in neutral shades) could be adapted to cooler temperatures with tights and a shawl. Classic beauty!
- Pamela Grossman; Feb 9, 2012
Raul Peñaranda
312 West 48th St
New York, NY 10036
xxx-xxx-xxxx
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