Fashion designer Michael DePaulo said something that really struck me, and the way in which he said it made me really think about it for a long time. According to Michael, women see fashion as a sort of body armor that allows a woman to be herself, while still having inner protection. I have never had anyone describe fashion to me in that way or with as much excitement and passion that he showcased. He loves to create gowns that represent a strong woman that is not afraid of being in control of all aspects of her life and her choice of ‘body armor.’
I had a chance to chat with Michael before the showing of his Fall 2015 collection during New York Fashion Week and he gave me insight as to why, and how he creates such amazing pieces. Michael believes in dressing women who are assertive and in control. The combination of delicate lace with intricate and geometric detailing in the majority of the gowns truly complement each other. Having graduated with a Masters in Architecture from Northeastern University, DePaulo uses his past experience to create architectural silhouettes follow through on the vision he had when first creating this collection: a strong body armor that the assertive woman can use.
Michael designs for the strong, sophisticated, and romantic woman and this is evident when you look at some of the gowns in this latest collection. The standout of the whole collection is the beautiful black and white custom print grid and rosette ball gown, worn by Marlina, which shows off a softer side of a woman. You then compare it to the tougher ruby red gown that is embellished with armor with padded cascading gold and green beads. This truly represents the vision that Michael DePaulo is going for when creating gowns for women. These two gowns are my favorites of the collection because they are so distinct from one another, and while the ruby red gown with padded shoulder pads is obviously strong and edgy; the black and white custom print rosette ball gown has a quiet strength, as well.
Taking place at The Carlton Hotel, guests had the chance to enjoy drinks and light bites while enjoying the fashion installation. It truly takes a village to create something go off without a hitch (especially during NYFW) and as I walked around the installation, a lot of people were enjoying themselves and really impressed with the gowns and the designer himself. What they don’t know is all the hard work that goes behind creating a show like this and I tip off my hat to every person that I saw backstage making sure that everything was close to perfection, and to the designer himself for creating a line that I envision myself wearing while trying to take over the world.
What a striking collection and an even more talented designer! The evening-wear that Michael DePaulo creates is truly breathtaking to look at. If you want to view some of the past collections make sure to visit the Michael DePaulo website where you can view pictures of the collections, learn more about the brand and the man behind the brand. All the models were decked out in jewelry from Chic to Chic Accessories which is a luxury accessories brand founded by Beth Miller and used by many designers on the runway.
*All images via @thestewartofny
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