Full disclosure: I am from New York, so I wasn’t expecting much at the Go for Baroque Fashion Show, a #DRProjects presentation at David Richard Gallery on April 23. After all, I thought, street fashion in Santa Fe is rather, shall I say, ‘comfortable.’
Designer Kay Khan with model Mark Oppenheimer in her design "Skin" at Go For Baroque Fashion show at
David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM
However, what was presented immediately disabused me of such preconceptions. I was rather blown away by the creative sparks that radiated from all of the submissions. Imaginative use of traditional and non-traditional materials was very much the order of the day. Outrageous fantasy was provided by Kay Khan and Alicia Piller, through their adoption and adaptation of the unexpected. Their work was complemented by the exotic luxury of a hand-embroidered silk robe by Kathleen Ferguson-Huntington.
Alicia Piller, designer and model, Graffiti Baroque in New Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo David Eichholtz)
Kathleen Ferguson-Huntington, Designer (right), "The Mistress of Mercantile A Visual Codex of Silk Road Trade" in Go For Baroque fashion Show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo by tseringchoney)
Ezra Estes led the ‘ready-to-wear’ category with a collection of serious fun designs for men and women. Beautiful fabrics and intricate patterning defined the pieces – clothes that one could conceivably find in trend-setting shops like Barney’s in New York.
Erza Estes, designer and model, Santa Fe Community College Fashion Club in Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo by David Eichholtz)
Upcycle designer Olivia Hawkins presented an embroidered skirt and top resurrected from a past life and one of Estes’ students, Rose Willey, an elegant evening ensemble. Elegance was also the byword for the hand-painted and batik raw silk pieces by Andrea Vargas-Mendoza.
Alicia Piller & Andrea Vargas-Mendoza, designers in front of their creation "After Life (Tribute to Ana Mendieta)" at Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo David Eichholtz)
Rose Willey, designer, Elegent Chiffon, in Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM.
(photo David Eichholtz)
Whimsy was on hand with the OTT leopard-print hoodie and hot pants set by Ann Jag (accompanied by a mutant stuffed animal pull-toy) and the amusing and complex embroidered handbags by Ellie Beth Scott.
Ann Jag, Designer, Glamorized Track Suit and Honey Poodle, in Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo David Eichholtz)
Ellie Beth Scott, designer, "Chick Purse" in Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM.
(photo Greg Zinniel)
For my money the visual highlight was the ensemble created by Dylan Anderson. A black velvet brocade farthingale with a long train was coupled with a painful-looking tightly fitted black corset. A sensational as the outfit was, it was made even more so by Anderson wearing his own magnum opus.
Dylan Anderson, designer and model, Shawl / Neck Piece and Train, in Go For Baroque fashion show at David Richard Gallery in collaboration with @SimplySantaFeNM. (photo Greg Zinniel)
The event was emceed by the super-professional Amy Shea, who choreographed the catwalk and introduced each designer and their pieces with an élan befitting the creations.
So hats off to all of the designers, to Amy Shea, to David Richard Gallery and to social media collaborators @SimplySantaFeNM for showing a very special side of the creative energy to be found in Santa Fe, ‘The City Different.
Follow all of the images from the fashion competition and catwalk at #GoForBaroque. Join us for the photography competition and pop up show at the closing night of the exhibition, “New Baroque: The Imperfect Pearl” on Saturday, May 7 at David Richard Gallery.
Howard Rutkowski 2016 April 25