“To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub.” But what happens when sleep alludes you? When the mind is deprived of rest? These are concepts examined by up-and-coming designer Christina Mannino for the Spring/Summer 2012 presentation of her Deivie label last week. The former Zac Posen intern showed a 15 piece collection curated by Tali Wertheimer, Curatorial Director of the Rivera Gallery in Los Angeles at the Mixed Greens Art Space in Chelsea. The presentation also served as small tribute to the late Lee Alexander McQueen.
The juxtaposition of romance and violence was apparent in the collection with a mannequin dressed in a soft silk robe but handcuffed to a bed post; another installation featured two mannequins, blind folded with embellished sleep masks, holding gasoline jugs engulfed in flames by way of a projector softly casting moving images simulating fire onto their bodies. The collection felt uneasy, which was Mannino’s intent, because the lack of sleep takes you to places your conscious self would not.
Mannino used polka dot prints, florals and pops of pinks and greens as an allusion to femininity inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Donnie Darko, and Nocturnal Terror. The collection was sexy without being overtly so. Vibrant colors peeked through sheer fabrics; a high waisted skirt complemented a polka dot top with a sheer cream overlay.
Mannino also played with textures, pairing a blue floral silk mini skirt with a sheer lace panel with a polka dot cap sleeve crop top. A high waist pant with soft tulle overlay looked sophisticated yet youthful with a floral bra top. These pieces were made for Zoe Kravitz, Naomi Nevitt, Piper Marshall and even Kirsten Dunst. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen could channel their Boho Chic aesthetic in the sheer skirts and tulle pants.
The piece de resistance of the Deivie Spring/Summer 2011 collection was a gorgeous black tulle gown with a green bra top attached. This one of a kind piece had a cotton blend fabric in the back instead tulle all around, to accentuate, leaving the voluminous effect in the front. The dress was worn by an artist, who wrapped her face with pink yard to the point of asphyxiation before ripping it off.
All the pieces in the Deivie collection are very wearable as separates. Solange Knowles would have a field day sporting some of the pieces to events and outdoor concerts come Summer. Check out Mannino and her Deivie collection at http://www.deivie.com.
