Richard Chai Love

New York Fashion Week

Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week: Richard Chai Love

Richard Chai's sporty chic girl grew up a bit this season, albeit in her slightly rebellious way.
Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week: Richard Chai Love

Richard Chai's sporty chic girl grew up a bit this season, albeit in her slightly rebellious way. The Chai elements — oversized silks, maxi skirts, cozy knits — were layered one over the other to create long proportions and a sort of louche sophistication. What was interesting was the menswear: oversized blazers met slouchy pants, with a sheer blouse in between. Colorwise, Fall was relatively dark, although one appreciates the infusion of lightness — via sparkly beige tops and a lovely floral print — all the more when paired against such serious tones.

  • Trends: Menswear, maxi skirts, layering.
  • Colors: Gray, olive, cream, navy, purple floral.
  • Key Looks: Cream sweater and vest layered over gray maxi skirt with cream boots; menswear suit.
  • Accessories: Cream booties with brown socks.
  • Who Would Wear It: Sporty, comfy-chic girls who seek polish without compromising coolness.
Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Asymmetrical Hemlines

If you're looking for a way to add a little drama when you dress it up, you don't have to go to any crazy lengths.

If you're looking for a way to add a little drama when you dress it up, you don't have to go to any crazy lengths. Just do like Rumer Willis did and flaunt a little style flair via an asymmetrical hemline. It's not a huge outfit change, just a subtle update that gives a skirt or dress an artsy, avant-garde feel. Keep the rest of your ensemble the same, no major change-ups necessary; the awesome asymmetry speaks for itself.

BCBG

One Big Gallery of Models in Their Natural Habitat: Backstage (at New York Fashion Week)

>> Greg Kessler is an old pro at shooting the backstage swarm.

>> Greg Kessler is an old pro at shooting the backstage swarm. Now that the first half of New York Fashion Week is through, he's amassed quite a stack of snaps — and we got a choice few. Among the moments captured: Anja Rubik having a quiet moment alone pre-Wang with her Blackberry, Prabal Gurung's model powwow, gratuitous shoe shots from Ohne Titel, Abbey Lee Kershaw still in her street style, and more than a few models goofing off. Gallery from backstage at Alexander Wang, Doo.Ri, Altuzarra, BCBG, Prabal Gurung, Richard Chai Love, Jason Wu, and Ohne Titel, at left.

New York Fashion Week

Richard Chai Pared It Down on His Love Runway, But Still Has Prints in the Showroom for Spring 2011

>> Richard Chai is a master at layering, and making clothing that appears layered: for Spring 2011, he mashed his primarily neutral collection up with bandeau bras, sheer "body stocking" slouchy leggings, knit "cummerbunds" at the waist, and even did dresses over pants — which Joe Zee Tweeted he was into.

>> Richard Chai is a master at layering, and making clothing that appears layered: for Spring 2011, he mashed his primarily neutral collection up with bandeau bras, sheer "body stocking" slouchy leggings, knit "cummerbunds" at the waist, and even did dresses over pants — which Joe Zee Tweeted he was into.

Although Chai's signature prints and embroideries were nowhere to be seen, he didn't drop them altogether. They were just hiding out in the showroom: "All the prints, the embellishment, the embroidery, all of those things are still in the collection. But what I'm showing on the runway is not that." He added: "It’s just a cleaned-up, stripped-down aesthetic."

Chai loves to pair flats with his Love collection — last season it was Timberland boots, and this season, every model was in metallic or black brogues made in collaboration with New York-based label Heutchy. And there was the requisite Phillip Lim sighting — the designer was, as usual, front row: "I'm only making it out to Richard's shows in terms of catching other shows. I always just do Richard’s. He is my dear friend, so I move mountains to try and get here!"

 

New York Fashion Week

Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week: Richard Chai Love

What better way to herald the beginning of New York Fashion Week than with a little love?

What better way to herald the beginning of New York Fashion Week than with a little love? A little Richard Chai Love, that is. Chai hasn't strayed too far from his trademark feminine roots, and the result is downright gorgeous. I was happy, giddy even, to see Chai's version of delicate layering as it practically floated down the runway! Highlights: sheer pants billowing under light gray shorts, perfectly tailored boyfriend blazers paired with soft blue tees and maxiskirts, and navy bandeau tops peeking through nude maxidresses.

As a bonus, models wore metallic oxfords for just the right amount of accessory sparkle. As the finale looks filed down the runway, I spotted Style Rookie's Tavi Gevinson and Phillip Lim across the way. I'm sure they will wholeheartedly agree that Chai whipped up a dreamy collection of Spring 2011 must haves.

To see all of the pics from the Richard Chai Love show, read more

New York Fashion Week

Richard Chai Goes Glunge for Fall 2010 Love Collection

>> For the second season in a row, Richard Chai chose to send his secondary line, Richard Chai Love, down the runway rather than his main line.

>> For the second season in a row, Richard Chai chose to send his secondary line, Richard Chai Love, down the runway rather than his main line. "It just made sense," Chai explained to Style.com. "I want to nurture the [Love] business. The women's collection is already established."  Another thing established: the gray-washed boots from Timberland Chai paired with his looks this season had quite a few fans even before they hit the runway — during fittings, the models were all asking to take them home.

Chai's close friend Phillip Lim sat front row chatting with Poppy Delevigne, Harley Viera-Newton, and Derek Blasberg, while on the runway, Meghan Collison made a return with a lighter head of hair; Liu Wen, meanwhile, sported a few chunky strips of reddish blonde on the back of her head. Long knit skirts, turned down waistlines, and cozy scrunched fingerless gloves added a taste of grunge to the collection, promptly counteracted by the glamour of shimmery tops and bits of fur.

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Richard Chai Loving Grunge-Inspired Layers For Fall 2010

From his first look out—a printed powder blue shirt buttoned up to the neck and paired with an ankle length ribbed tube skirt and taupe combat boots—Richard Chai's Love collection declared the return of grunge.

From his first look out—a printed powder blue shirt buttoned up to the neck and paired with an ankle length ribbed tube skirt and taupe combat boots—Richard Chai's Love collection declared the return of grunge.

Against a white runway in the tents at Bryant Park we watched look after look of Nineties favorites, though a bit more polished than they were the first time around. There were perfectly slouched floor-sweeping pants, funnel dresses in ribbed wool, asymmetric tunics, flouncy georgette dresses worn over long sleeve tee shirts and tube skirts, and cropped pants over knit leggings—all paired with thick fingerless gloves and the aforementioned, need-to-own-them-now boots by Timberland.

The layered, long, and lean look was consistent throughout the Richard Chai Love collection with an army green cargo jacket, shawl collar furs, and a plaid boyfriend trench acting as perfectly proportioned toppers to his narrow silhouettes. At Love's contemporary price points, sometimes major fashion movements look even better the second time around.

New York Fashion Week

Runway Report: Richard Chai Love Spring 2010

For spring 2010 Richard Chai debuted a lower-priced secondary line, Richard Chai Love, rather than show his namesake designer collection (which can be seen by appointment in his New York showroom).

For spring 2010 Richard Chai debuted a lower-priced secondary line, Richard Chai Love, rather than show his namesake designer collection (which can be seen by appointment in his New York showroom).

As Chai told the WSJ, "The line is really about the girl who falls in love with the men I design for. The idea is that she grabs an item out of his closet, rolls up the sleeves, and dashes out the door."

Indeed the look was more casual and sportier than Chai's pulled-together designer line, and there was an effortlessness to the collection in loose-fitting anoraks and slightly rumpled lightweight blazers, pants, and shorts. All together very wearable separates — with entry prices at $150 — that will surely please diehard Chai fans and no doubt attract a few new devotees along the way.

New York Fashion Week

2010 Spring New York Fashion Week: Richard Chai Love

I was there — I promised I would be.

I was there — I promised I would be. Poppy Delevigne, Lauren Santo Domingo, Karolina Kurkova, Phillip Lim, and key fashion players, were there. How exciting was the news about Richard Chai's lower-priced contemporary line for guys and gals? Today, I witnessed the women's collection and was completely impressed. Then, I remembered the price point of $50 to $425, and got straight up giddy.

Inspired by boys, the collection still preserved Chai's cool femininity. What I loved most: the jackets. Hooded parkas, cropped parkas, boyfriend blazers, tailed waistcoats, boyfriend shirts worn as jackets, army jackets, and long cardigans put my jacket collection to shame. Crisp fabrics like cotton, twill, cotton/poly, wrinkled rayon, and leather were completely Spring-ified. A fresh indigo crystal petal print broke up the neutrals, and embroidered pieces provided the perfect glam finale.

Funny, I had the perfect seat right at the front of the runway so I could witness Chai adjusting models right before they walked, sipping Diet Coke amidst the excitement. Richard Chai — I love you, man.

To see more from Richard Chai Love, read more