Richard Chai F/W 09

This is a great collection, I will be all over it.

Originally Posted by jet

Click to expand...

This is a great collection, I will be all over it.

+1. Very wearable.

Faust on SZ compared it to Dries, which I think is true but in a good way.

Loved the show, was at his women's today and I could see the girl wearing that being the girlfriend of this boy. Will be in the showroom next week and let you know if anything is better up close and personal. I compare it in ways to older Raf as an American. Mood shot from the show:

Also up until SP09 his stuff was made in the US...not anymore so the prices are dropping. The grey herringbone drawstring pants I picked up from Fall were like $600 retail...this fall they will probably be half that.

^^ Or Raf if he was designing for humans and not "gay astronauts"

As would be expected from an American designer, the use of layering, and texture are strong. The play on proportion in the outerwear and trousers is unusual and interesting though. It is rare that you see carrot top and slim trousers and boxy and slim jackets all in the same collection. I haven't been reading SZ in a long time, but if Faust is refering to the use of colors in his comparison of Richard Chai with Dries van Noten, then I would agree. That rust color, especially, is very reminiscent of som Dries van Noten collections (though not so many recent ones.)

^ that and the layered cardi's I would imagine.

I feel like Vanna (did he go to the show?) should be all over this.

Originally Posted by Magician

Click to expand...

^ that and the layered cardi's I would imagine.

I feel like Vanna (did he go to the show?) should be all over this.

I can't be seen with him around my peers!!

I love the collection but I would tent to disagree and say that it won't retail that strongly. Specialy if the target audience is SF.
The majority of people who shop from me at least tend to be more conservative and this collection is hardly that. Yes it's pieced for runway but its still aggresive even if bought piece milled.

Originally Posted by Mauro

Click to expand...

I love the collection but I would tent to disagree and say that it won't retail that strongly. Specialy if the target audience is SF.
The majority of people who shop from me at least tend to be more conservative and this collection is hardly that. Yes it's pieced for runway but its still aggresive even if bought piece milled.

I agree, it's not very mainstream. But I feel that it's right on for the Odin/Blackbird customer that it's intended for. If he can knock down the retails and make it more recession-friendly, then I can see this doing well.

Spring was so much better. Chai's last fall collection was pretty lackluster as well. I'm thrown off by a few of the proportions but there are a few pieces i'd consider. I'm just not that excited by this and don't see much it's bringing to the table that i don't see from a bunch of other on the cusp and already big time designers. At least ss09 had a definite theme with some pretty unique pieces.

Chai fw08 sold like ****, and i don't see this doing that much better. Maybe slightly with a bit more hype from ss09. I still would like to hear more for the quality of the pieces. I think i've only talked with 3-4 people who have delt with items.


Loose fit rust pants and loose fit steel blue pants are nice. I like this black old raf looking shirt that was on the runway but not in this thread.

Originally Posted by Magician

Click to expand...

^ that and the layered cardi's I would imagine.

I feel like Vanna (did he go to the show?) should be all over this.

I actually really like it. But it looks like Dries x Neil Barrett x Lanvin x CdG.

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Click to expand...

I can't be seen with him around my peers!!

I'm not pretentious enough to partake in the fashion festivities anyway.

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Click to expand...

I can't be seen with him around my peers!!
Why not??? You two gals would be the Fab Dynamic Duo... half of that stuff posted looks like it was made for GS. That navy over aqua cardigan with the velvet (or suede?) pants... geesh.. that's like out GSing GS.