Gina Velasco describes her Spring 2008 Ready-to-Wear collection “Bolero Breve” as being inspired by the 1920s and the work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. In theory this may seem like a strange converging point, but Velasco managed to pull it off flawlessly. The twenty-nine piece collection was presented on Wednesday to an intimate crowd who seemed to receive the designer’s collection warmly.
While the first few looks of the show included sportswear items, it was the series of evening dresses that I was most impressed by. Velasco incorporated embellishments like crochet, embroidery and beading in a very fresh way, without seeming derivative or tacky. A long pale pink silk gown has pink crochet along the chest. A knee length gray sheath features beaded vines twisting up the bodice. A v-necked mini dress has a pink crocheted top and a white chiffon skirt embroidered with blossoms.
Velasco spoke of balancing her two inspirations. “I used braiding to bring in the Mexican theme but I twisted it with the 1920s by using silk charmeuse. I experimented with crochet and embroidery, mixing silky and matte textures. Perhaps what allows Velasco to design with such a unique voice is the fact that she is not attempting to cater to the teenage set.
When asked how she imagines the woman who wears her clothes she responded that she would be “in her 30s and 40s. Women today do dress much younger. I have customers in their 50s who are fitting into sample sizes! Expect to see Velasco in the future. “We are trying to go big. We have the capacity to do large scale orders.
