Lauren Bagliore’s Spring/Summer collection takes inspiration from her recent trip around the world! We love the culturally inspired designs. There’s something so simple about the fabrics, but still luxurious. Lauren is the ultimate draper, and her collection focuses on a more muted color palette, or hard & soft looks.
1. Welcome back to Toronto fashion week! What did you take away from your past experiences during fashion week?
Thank you so much! I am so happy to be here. Last spring when I showed on the main runway, it was such an incredible experience for me. Coming from the New York fashion scene as my frame of reference, I did not know what to expect at LG Fashion Week–but honestly, I felt it was up there with NYFW as there was such a sense of professionalism across-the-board with all who were involved. Also, I really felt a sense of confidence in presenting the message we wanted to share with our audience. It was–and always is–a very personal and intimate thing to me. I find that distinguishes me in some ways as I invite my audience in to gain some understanding of where I am coming from, and what I am experiencing when I design each season. It makes is more personal I believe.
2. What was your inspiration for your Spring/Summer 2012 Collection?
My inspiration for S/S 2012 titled “Le Strade della Decsotruzione” came from many things but mainly from a recent trip I did around the world (literally) in 30 days. I considered the streets of the Oltrarno in Firenze, the posh 3rd and 4th quarter Marais district in Paris, and the damp and dingy streets of Khao San Road in Bangkok and found similar inspiration amidst all of these culturally and geographically diverse places. All had a similar story of war, demolition, and destruction, but are now among some of the highest places of art and culture. I like the idea of how war and demolition could not completely rob the identity of these incredibly unique places, but could only help them to define who they are in a more unique and literal way. Despite the historical happenings and changes these places went through over the years, they still had that sense of preserved identity. It is similar to what I do with my clothes–they convert and go through changes according to the wearer and how she chooses to wear each piece, but they never change whom she is. They only act as a tool help her express her own unique identity in a way that suits what she is presently going though or experiencing. It is like what we go though in out lives–no matter how trying the times we are in–they can be used to grow us–to help us to become stronger, to allow us to become more beautiful even. So that is a brief synopsis of what I saw among these streets…I think you will get a sense of that Parisian effortless street-style sophistication as well as that Asian edge–it is really signature what I do.
3. In past seasons we saw more of a muted color palette in your designs. Will this continue into SS’12?
People ask me about this all the time…but I think the more people get to know my aesthetic approach and get to know what I do, then they will begin to understand it. For me it is more about design, concept, and the art of how convertible each piece may be–or also how simple it may be if one chooses to wear that piece in its most simple state. That is my challenge as a designer. The color palette always changes and trends and come and go, but for me design is the most important thing. My customers completely get that–they do not question what I do and are truly excited season to season to see what I will create. They are not into color and love the tones I choose and get excited about the architectural elements or the contrasting fluidity in the pieces I create. I want women to be able to build and layer from season to season when they wear Lauren Bagliore. I am not interested in a color palette to make my clothes interesting–they do not need that to tell a story.
4. What have been your favorite SS’12 trends that you’ve seen during past fashion weeks?
I do not follow what others are doing–it is part of my process, as I like to be unbiased and have my inspiration be as unpolluted as possible.
5. How has having worked with multiple designers, including Vivienne Westwood and Zac Posen influenced your design aesthetic?
Working with these designers really opened my eyes to what it is like to operate a design house, and each has offered some inspiration. For Zac, it was not in aesthetic–but really it was the energy and the team there. It was inspiring to see everyone–so many talented people–cutters, pattern-makers, drafters, sewers, design researchers–all come together to create one vision. At Westwood, being there was an honor and a dream opportunity, so that in and of itself was amazing. She really is something special, and I love and respect how “different” it was there. For example, here is this world renowned, punk ‘Queen of Fashion,’ operating in such a humble way that is still all about design; I love that. It was a really intimate team, and to have been a part of that– was a beautiful and inspiring thing.
6. What is your fashion week regime to keep you going & motivated?
I try to prepare as best as I am able in advance. I think I am pretty organized for a creative person! But I make sure to make deliberate time to be still and have those moments of peace a midst it all. This way I stay grounded.
7. You also have much styling experience, how does this influence the looks you put down the runway?
Styling is easy for me. It just comes. I suppose it is because I have such a strong vision and know the message I want to convey. We really have a brand already–a well-known buyer in the industry told me this in my first season. “You design like this is your 7th or 8th season,” she said. That was such a compliment to me as a designer, as I always knew I had that vision but when others “get it” it is quite encouraging. When you have that vision, no one can sway you or influence you to style or change something in a way that does not suit what you do. For me it would just be false and I cannot create something I do not believe in.
8. Who influences your designs and whom do you design for?
I love looking at how people put themselves together–it is a form of self-expression and I really appreciate that and recognize that in the individuals I observe. I love travelling and often do, so enjoy the cultural differences between each geographical place and how it effects how people dress–looking at real people and how they creatively put themselves together. I design for the modern woman who loves to travel, appreciates art, cultural diversity, who wants to make a difference in the world by helping others. She loves the more conceptual approach to fashion and wants to wear something different. She does not want to look like everyone else. She is not swayed by trends and has a strong sense of who she is. She takes on the world one day at a time, and dresses according to how se feels, as it is a means of self-expression to her.
[Photos via Lauren Bagliore]
