Individual Elegance
Local designer Orlando Espinoza has an eye on the future. “It’s time for fashion to stop looking to the past for inspiration,” he says. “It’s time to look forward to new and different horizons.” His work is sleek, sexy, and subtly futuristic.
Designed with an eye for the details, his elegant dresses and separates are the perfect day-to-evening items that are essential components of every woman's wardrobe.
He says that "it is essential for a woman to always feel sexy and be able to express her sensuality and urban lifestyle. Modern style does not change drastically from season to season; it develops and matures instead, very much the way women do."
Orlando's inspiration comes from women around him, "I have to live up to their expectations," he says. "I personally design for a modern woman who is interested in experimenting, in trying new silhouettes. I do what I truly believe women are going to love.”
Chicago itself is another source of ideas. “It’s very important for fashion to match the surrounding landscape,” he claims. “The technology, the cars, and the beautiful urban architecture of Chicago all influence my designs.” In fact, though Orlando is originally from Los Angeles, his carefully constructed pieces echo the modern look of his adopted hometown. “There’s a definite correlation between the environment and fashion.”
Who else in the industry does he look up to? "I think Nicolas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga is a leader in the field right now; he has amazing ideas." Orlando also admires the work of Narciso Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler and Peter Som. “I like designers who have a distinct style that slowly evolves with the changing seasons, like Olivier Theyskens.”
For the upcoming fall/winter season, Orlando himself is evolving too. “It’s the first time that I’m doing full-length dresses, as well as accessories.” He’s using belts to cinch the waists of his already body-conscious dresses.
The color palette is sophisticated and dark – all smoky grays and moody blues, and the shapes are just as sleek as previous seasons, but updated with some unusual sleeve treatments, necklines, and contoured cuts. “For fall, I took everything to another level,” he says. “I looked beyond the current trends and designed what I wanted to design.”
Another important aspect of Orlando’s latest offerings is the subtle sex appeal. Carefully shaped to show off a woman’s figure without being the least bit vulgar, many of his dresses feature narrow cutouts at the back and shoulders.
It’s the details that make these clothes stand out; the precision tailoring, fluid fabrics like silk jersey and matte rayon, and unique silhouettes ensure that even his simplest pieces are incredibly special.
Espinoza restrains himself from merely following the trends each season; instead, he "goes with my instinct to create pieces that will become modern classics that women can wear years from now." Considering the current dizzying pace of the fashion industry (and the simple fact that some trends are just borderline impossible to wear), following his philosophy seems like an excellent idea.
Check out his work at www.orlandoespinoza.com and at these Chicago boutiques:
Malabar Chicago
1880 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773.321.6685
www.malabarchicago.com
Handle with Care
1706 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60614
312.751.2929
Photos courtesy of Brian Choi Photography.
SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – J. Zenn.
We recommend checking with stores for product availability. Suggested prices may change without notice. SeeMore Shopping strives for accuracy, but is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ. 06/07.
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