On a Tuesday evening, less than an hour before the second NOLA Fashion Week presentation of the season was to begin, I was faced with an unexpected task. With a camera in my hands I was attempting to ready myself to take photographs of a runway fashion show. I love photography, but I am an amateur at best, so for me this was a very daunting task. However, the photographer originally intended for the event was unable to make it so I felt that my photos could be no worse than none. Still, it had been a long time since I’d been behind a camera.
The runway show in question was the premier of Andrea Loest’s Spring 2012 line. A talented visual artist turned fashion designer (Is there really much of a difference?), Andrea Loest is known for producing truly wearable art. Part of her philosophy is creating clothing that reflects each individual’s personality and conveys its own narrative.
As soon as the show began all my worries disappeared. I found myself eagerly shooting as the models graced the runway wearing a colorful array of dresses. The whole presentation was quite a spectacle. Many of the models showcased hairstyles that must have taken hours and gallons of hairspray to tease. Remixes of artists such as Feist, The XX, and Crystal Castles kept the mood upbeat. The garments were made from materials of varied color, shape, and material sewn together to form thirty amazing looks. Like a patchwork quilt each dress stood alone as one solid piece made up of many different elements. It was organized chaos – each garment was an abstract piece, like paints of various colors seemingly hurled at random onto a canvas that creates a work art. It was clear that though each piece was a medley nothing was crafted at random. The unique, fragmented quality of each dress was very appealing. These were clothes that could certainly be worn, but were eye-catching as well. The whole line was very visually appealing, yet wearable. All of the dresses were crafted to fit and flatter each model. Shooting such a splendid line turned out to be quite easy.
After the show, Andrea emerged with a smile proudly wearing one of her own creations. I couldn’t help but feel Andrea’s excitement was infectious as the crowd clapped and cheered. New Orleans is known for many things including its food, history, culture and now I feel like it is a solid contender in the world of fashion. Andrea Loest is only one of the many talented designers whose work I saw this week. Now, more than ever, is truly a great time to call this city home.
—
Brooke Larsen is a New Orleans-obsessed native who aspires to simultaneously be a comedian, photographer, teacher, writer and a professional unicycler. Brooke has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of New Orleans where she now works as an Academic Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts. hellobrookelarsen.com
