Daily Front Row

2011 February 10

Gary Graham Channels Joan Jett

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Gary Graham Fall 2011
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(NEW YORK) “Todd Oldham wrote a book about Joan Jett. It was about making your own things and learning how to take things and change them. To me, I always go back to those things,” explained Gary Graham at his studio presentation on February 9. The designer’s Tribeca locale was transformed for his fall collection with a leaning house that doubled as a backdrop and a private dressing station. As models exited the chic shanty, elements of the wild-child rocker could be seen in jet-black Joan wigs worn by each girl (paired with vintage tees, punky-hued Chucks and rolled ankle socks.) But the collection’s inspiration didn’t stop with Ms. Jett. “I was also inspired by the idea of the folk hero myth. It’s the idea of the orphan, the shepherd, the mother-father influences, the messiah, and how we leave our origins,” said Graham. Print-on-print matchups, “old man” suiting riding against flowing silk slip dresses, and signature slouchy knits evocative of a Ukrainian shepherd had the folky blending harmoniously with the rock references. One ensemble of the night in particular—the batik patchwork print leggings paired with a marron alpaca knit blanket dress—had everyone singing a happy tune.