02 08 2014 The Quest For "It"

THE QUEST FOR IT February 8, 2014 Unique Visitors Per Month: 20,049

"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014: Academy of Art University" Fall 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week http://www.thequestforit.com/the_quest_for_it/2014/02/mercedes-benzfashion-week-fall-2014-academy-of-art-university.html

It may have been a slightly larger group designers than previous seasons but this simply made it all the more exciting. Academy of Art University Fall 2014 began with breathtaking bursts of color that dazzled the senses, courtesy of Nina Hann Btesh and Jaci Hodges team up to show an authentically retro group of vibrant, retail ready garments. Drawing on the 1960s Hodges succeeds on capturing the fun carefree spirit of pop culture and true chic.

Avante Garde menswear comes complete from head to toe, via the designs of Frank Tsai and Andrea Nieto as with the work of Elizabeth Castellon. Castellon's brocade coats and jackets, for men, were bold statements pieces for those with a discerning eye-simply exquisite.

Lush oversized cable sweaters designed by Jasmine Gonzales are a must, they spell Fall/Winter in a very plush yet easy going way.

Gonzales Most recently interned with Rodarte (Spring 2013) and it shows. She was inspired by the idea of all cultures combining as one. Arijana Kajdic, woe we met backstage this season with Gonzales, has similar feminine aesthetic--though her collections displays an immense amount of hard work involving hand beading and hand-dyeing. Kajdic's results? Fabulous.

Cultural prints on a sleek floor length coat or cape jacket are the work of Joseph Khawane, whose textiles were created with military elements where he often uses fabrics in unconventional ways, manipulating them and giving them new life. Khawane's collaboration with Minghu Du, who used an army tent, a wool blanket and a parachute, and cotton canvas, was a wise one.

Standouts include: a patchwork wool coat, over printed pants and printed shirt; a velvet knit sweater, wool shirt, wool pant; a printed vest over printed pant.

Designs by Lori Sclem, Earnest Huang, and Hong Ni, were also fashion forward.

Â