Daily Front Row

2010 February 13

Runway Reviews: Richard Chai

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Richard Chai
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(New York) Seats were filled early for Richard Chai’s second showing of his ‘Love’ line and more than a few front row poachers were asked to find a home in standing room only. Chai debuted the line at Fashion Week last fall to great reviews and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to create another ‘Love’ collection which he says allows him to create ‘more casual, fun looks.’ The show was littered with light patterned tops paired with heavier wool shawls and coats creating dramatic contrasts. There was no mistaking a masculine presence in the line, but the boy’s coats and heavy sweaters were balanced out at times by a flourish of metallic gold sequined pieces in the middle of the show and injections of similar fabrics in silver to close. Simon Doonan looked on with approval from the front row—the Barneys brain will carry the line in his retail locations in the fall. Doonan said he was ‘very excited indeed’ to let people get their first glimpse but seemed equally as anxious for Barneys' Valentine's party Sunday night in honor of the Love line. He even encouraged members of the press to bring their Valentines.

Chai was in great spirits being mobbed with kisses from his models who all donned the deepest of red lipstick for the show. Chai was whispering to assure a few of them that they could ‘take the shoes.’ “You know it’s a good sign when the models want to take the clothes home with them,” he beamed. He brushed off any notion that he felt pressure to deliver and avoid a sophomore slump with the line. “I’ve been doing this for so many seasons with my own line,” he said. “And with Love it’s such a pleasure to do. I want to have fun with it. It’s all about producing a lot of different looks.”