Yesterday, Brooklyn Royalty debuted its Spring 2009 RTW line at a private loft show attended by CollegeOTR, which may just drive us to extreme consumerism. Designed by Bob Bland, the line features youthful ready to wear fashions with a definitively urban edge. A collision of various motifs such as chiffon overlay, neon acid wash tops, metallic skinny pants, feathery screenprinting, and leather motorcycle jackets, the line was described in terms of a visual narrative:

Meet renegade American Ballet Company refugees as they face-off against the last living moto gang in a rock-fueled journey to see who wins final claim of a post-apocalyptic Brooklyn wasteland. Its like Escape From New York meets The Warriors, after global warming has exacted its final revenge on the city that never sleeps.

 

Key materials include hand-dyed and treated cotton jersey, washed silk chiffon and charmeuse, cotton tulle, premium American denim, Italian leather and lightweight waxed cotton canvas. Key colors are desert tones of ivory, sand, petal, faded grey, gold and silver, with acid pops. Construction is built to last through any natural disaster, and hand-printed graphics have similar staying power.

At times, the line seemed somewhat haphazard. For example, the cuts of many of the leather blazers, jackets, and vests were an unseemly boxy shape and should have maintained a sleeker silhouette, but the rest of the apparel was well-fitted, especially the pants.

Why do we really love Brooklyn Royalty, though? Because the concepts in the show were brilliant and timely, particularly the roughed-up reincarnation of spring 2008’s sheer trend, which involved a metallic fitted garment with a neon mesh overlay. Another notable piece was an asymmetrical gray Grecian dress with mauve embellishment at the shoulder and a mauve print resembling paint. Occasionally, the exuberance for visual juxtaposition was a bit overpowering, such as when Bland showed a neon green chiffon top with a black leather collar, however the spunk and singularity make the line one well worth watching. Bland succeeds admirably in capturing the gritty glamour, zeal for creativity, and energy of Brooklyn. CollegeOTR looks forward to next season’s line.