Virtual travel
Cesar Galindo has a fashion week moment — with the help of some Houston friends
NEW YORK — Houston native Cesar Galindo had a fashion week moment when he showcased his Czar by Cesar Galindo spring 2014 collection in an intimate space known as The Box at the tents at Lincoln Center.
In the dramatic setting, Galindo positioned a model in a long pleated gown in bold colors of red, blue and teal at each corner of the dark space, while, in the middle, models in an array of designs, from a casual neon green onsie to sparkly dresses in white and shocking pink, drew the attention of photographers and fashion editors.
"We're living in a fast-forward technological world and that was the inspiration for the collection. It's about living in the moment you're in."
In the center, one model playfully straddled a bicycle in a playful nod to Galindo's theme of virtual travel.
"We're living in a fast-forward technological world and that was the inspiration for the collection," he said. "It's about living in the moment you're in. Feedback is instantaneous now, everything goes out immediately, whereas before it was a process of time."
The collection includes draped pants, sheer tops and rocker jackets. But party dresses are where Galindo excels, and this collection had a slew of fun looks that his clients can wear whether they travel or go out in Houston.
"I kind of pushed the envelope a little bit. You can tell by my silhouettes," he said, pointing to a seamlessly draped black-and-white dress. "It's two pieces made into one."
Some of Galindo's Houston friends made it up for the show, including fashion producer Bambi Lynn; photographer Jay Marroquin, who has shot the Zang Toi, Christian Siriano, Ricardo Seco and Irina Shabayeva fashion shows this week; and Shannon Hall and Marcus Sloan. Galindo's handbags are carried at their Sloan/Hall Houston store.
The Chic Sheet fashion blogger Roz Pactor was in the building and had plans to make it by Galindo's presentation but was held up at a taping of Fashion Police, with Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne, George Kostiopoulos and Giuliana Rancic, when it ran long. (Pactor's brother, singer Steve Tyrell, is a close friend of Rivers, so helped her get coveted tickets to the taping.)
During one break in the taping, Rivers posed for photos with Pactor and told her how much she likes Houston.
River's humor often skirts the edge of questionable taste, and some of her quips left the audience at a loss of words. The audience would gasp and, they'd do the joke again and ask us to laugh instead," Pactor said.