Tenby designer Kara Janx cited an “enchanted garden” as inspiration for her debut collection. Presented in a Garment District studio transformed into a botanical space with grass and flowers, the spring lineup focused heavily on eveningwear, namely lace dresses and beaded shells paired with voluminous, silk faille skirts. The message was unabashedly romantic — there was a certain bridal quality to the room — which made a short, multicolor beaded dress and the bright red floral motif on an-off-the-shoulder ruffle blouse and A-line skirt feel slightly incongruous.
The modest, carefully constructed silhouettes were most sophisticated in black lace, communicating the juxtaposition “between hard and soft” that Janx said she was after. Formerly design director at Elie Tahari and an early season “Project Runway” contestant, she offset the preciousness of the clothes with cool cornrows in the models’ hair. While this lent the presentation a slightly more modern vibe, styling alone couldn’t justify Tenby’s designer price point.
Dolce & Gabbana Holiday 2024: Awar, Felice, Lulu, Kit and Mathieu by Gordon von Steiner (3 Viewers)
