Chris Benz, Parsons Alum, Hits #NYFW

By Victoria Petersen, Design Management, 2013, @victoriaptrsen

Chris Benz, known for his quirky aesthetic, did not fail to please his eclectic-loving bohemian fans this season with unique looks composed of mix-matched prints and endless layers. While a few of his pieces featured a neutral palette, the 2004 Parsons graduate favored outfits which exuded a multi-colored canvas.

Single rectangular sheets of fabric were draped over skirts in some looks and long A-line skirts fell over cropped pants with rolled up hemlines in others. Any curvy lines of the female body were lost under the loose-fitting layers of Benz’s styling. However, the loss of femininity in shape instead materialized in fabric, where floral printed pieces were aplenty. Benz’s love for feminine and masculine contrast was also manifested through looks such as a beautiful floor length pale yellow dress casually mixed with fabric tied in knots at the waist and chunky black flatforms.

With a collection fit for the girl who is not afraid to draw attention, Benz attracted like-minded celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Paula Abdul to his presentation Monday at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Aside from the fascinating looks, another crowd pleaser was the Cambridge Satchel collaboration bags paired with select looks featuring two color tones of leather composing the recognizable double-buckle design.

Benz’s collection will appeal to a variety of customers due to the fact that many of the items can be tamed by being worn on their own with a basic item such as jeans or a white t-shirt.  Success is expected for the Benz team in the American market largely due to this versatility, as well as new lower price points, announced by Benz at the presentation.

See the full collection at Style.com