TADASHI SHOJI S/S 2013

By: Alexis Schroeder
Images by: Rebekah Schott

Simply put, WOW. Tadashi did it again. He took us on an ancient tour around the world all in a matter of minutes and without leaving our seats. Brilliantly, he catered to our anticipatory butterflies with a trance like edgy cool beat. The shows ambiance of breezy blues and blacks that swirled on the walls catered to a mystical oasis setting.

The music took us from Lincoln Center to an upscale exotic paradisiac.  As the show was about to begin, the rhythm subtly pounded throughout the waves of people.  Our first stop on Tadashi’s Spring/Summer collection docked in Venice for vintage Venetian cutwork and embroidered lace.  His desert bloom embroidered banded lace sheath dress was just the right amount of youthfulness, yet sophistication.

As we made our way through the ancient cities, we ventured to Xi’an, China.  Here, after procuring elegantly printed chiffon inspired by the caves of Dunhuang, he mastered the craft of combining materials, creating ethereal gowns.  Models look as if they were floating down the catwalk surrounded by explosions of color.  Particularly, the rose dust chiffon and lace piecework strapless tea length circular skirt dress was an elegantly playful woman’s dream.

Other colors included in his palette consisted of jade, China blue, pale iris, ivory, black, nude, terracotta, and paprika.  Working with light, airy materials he draped his models in lace, gazar, printed chiffon, tulle, silk georgette.  Capturing the audience in wanderlust, Tadashi married antiquity with modernity amalgamating ancient culture with that of the 21^st century.  Truly inspiring his crowd, he not only created clothing that was perfect for Spring/Summer, but he captured our hearts with this purely innocent and cultured collection!