|
From the Obama-dress to Lace-edged Trenchcoats & Floral Prints Michelle Obama recently gave new American designer Thakoon Panichgul a welcome shot in the arm when she wore one of his Resort 2009 print silk dresses at the DNC. Since his appearance on the fashion scene 4 years ago, American designer Thakoon has quickly become a favorite with celebrities and stylists, whose customers include Rachel Bilson, Demi Moore, and Sarah Jessica Parker. He has become known for sensual, feminine designs that are modern and innovative, which also reflect his Asian roots. Michelle Obama’s raspberry, lavender and black print Thakoon dress was beamed around the world from the Denver stadium where she joined her husband, Barack Obama on stage at the end of his big speech. Washington Post’s Robin Givan in his September 7, 2008 article “First Ladies and the Fabric of the Nation,” estimated the price of Michelle's Thakoon outfit to be around $1,500. Thai born Thakoon is a relative newcomer to New York Fashion Week, with his first collection launched onto the fashion scene in 2004. He is known for his ability to combine unusual fabrics and for feminine, modern and quirky simply-shaped outfits with jarring prints and gimmicky flourishes. Thakoon moved to the USA when he was 11 years old. After growing up in Nebraska he graduated from Boston University, and then went on to become a fashion writer. After attending the Parsons School of Design he launched his debut RTW collection in 2004, at the tender age of 29. In 2006 Thakoon earned a CFDA nomination from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Thakoon Panichgul Spring 2009 at New York Fashion Week Michelle’s appearance in a Thakoon dress proved a real PR coup for this up-and-coming designer. However, his Spring 2009 collection revealed at this week's New York Fashion Week, included many designs which could not be worn by a First Lady at the White House without raising eyebrows! His modern approach to the use of textiles showcases an ability to combine unusual fabrics with feminine, yet modern and innovated, simple outfits. From surreal floral prints to his trademark transparent nude and beige, corsetry and bra-packed dresses, Thakoon's Spring collection played to the growing “budding Boudoir” trend. Thakoon Resort 2009 Collection Style.com “Resort 2009 Runway Report,” quotes the Thai born designer as saying, "I always like a bit of the coquette," before presenting his Resort collection, on the June 2008 runways, with his abundance of greenhouse florals and abstract swirls, which the designer dubbed "cabbage roses on acid." His quirky trademark style of sports plays elegant in the genre of the Luxe sportswear trend, included a beige trenchcoat piped with black lace, sweatshirt-like blouson tops, slouchy black playsuit and gray pants. Other designs included a naughty-but-nice black knit dress worn over bustier and briefs and the now famous DNC convention outfit Obama-dress, and a coat in the same raspberry and lavender print. Thakoon Stockists Worldwide In addition to the U.S. and Canada the Thakoon label is distributed internationally to the U.K., Australia, The Middle East, Russia and South Asia. A detailed list of stockists is available on the designer’s official website. The copyright of this article— Spring 2009 & Resort 2009 is owned by Gill Hart. See http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/liveandlearn. |
On Thursday, October 30, 2008, a diverse group of Atlanta's renown and emerging fashion entrepreneurs arrived at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce's F.B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavillion for AFI's "Business of Fashion" forum to candidly discuss the struggles and accomplishments they've exprienced on the road to success.