Bonjour Paris!!
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In keeping with my current theme of “no trend is on trend, “next
up is LOYD/FORD who has created their own trend, their own DNA and most
importantly they have become a brand that has a secret weapon and that is … the
“shit” sells! Despite little to no coverage from the media due to not playing
by the pervasive rules (meaning no freebies to anyone and with no an ad budget),
this brand has cultivated a devoted following at the wholesale and retail
levels. No blah blah blah here ... just clothes that actually sell... what a
concept! (This cannot be stressed enough)
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Okay so you have a little background and now let’s talk
clothes; Franck Ford and Steven Loyd are an “evolutionary tale” of a team who
has grown their brand by presenting their own individual take on fashion. Part
of their vision is that there is no trend except how the brand will move
forward which means this season is about the “subtle explosion” of
embellishment, techniques and silhouettes. Their base fabrication has always
been lace but for Fall 2016 they have branched out to include georgette, gazar,
4 ply silk and tulle. What needs to be noted here is that all beading is
executed by hand and not by machine, no shortcuts are taken during any part of
manufacture and all beading designs originate from the designers. Even the
pearls are single knotted and applied one by one. In other words, this is
pretty damn as close to actual couture as one might get.
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The LOYD/FORD team offers a variety of silhouettes, lengths
and shapes which are all unified by the singular vision of the 2 designers and
their clients who have embraced them open armed. The clothes skew to a body
conscious woman who is not afraid to be sexy nor is she a sheep or in other words
she doesn’t want to follow the flock; she is a fashion independent, possibly a
warrior, who wants to be seen as such. These clothes are germane to the brand
and celebrate women’s femininity in ways that few others can achieve.
Please understand that the clothes are deceptively simple as
these are the kind of clothes that do not require am “how to wear” manual. The
“sweatshirts” are a perfect foil to the materials they are made from combined
with their treatment as are the more “sport wear” pieces, the easy peasy tee
shirts dresses, the pleating, the exquisitely designed and rendered fishtail
gown and much more are this brand’s evolution. It would be almost foolish of me
to not mention the ultimate pleated tux shirt in gazar or the one shoulder black
‘n white.
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The timing of the collection couldn’t be more of a well thought out
offering as so many other designers have delved unsuccessfully into evening
clothes while others have practically ignored or abandoned the category. One
extra feather in their collective cap is that not an inch of the ubiquitous
nude beaded tulle/soufflé is present. By the way, they focus on evening because
that is what they do and not as a lark .
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All in all LOYD/FORD offers its clientele an almost casual
way of dressing up and not looking like just another me too collection. These
guys deserve their due and not be held hostage by a very broken fashion system/
business that glorifies the untalented and turns their nose up at the very talented.
KUDOS to you both!
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