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Benito’s Summer 2010 Collection features classic Argentine dance influences. Mixed colors and textures conjure the essence of Argentine folk dance Chacarrera, and many of his summer fashion shapes draw upon tango inspiration with big slits, because as Benito says, “I love to show legs!”
With my interview complete, I was no less than mesmerized to watch all this creativity parade down the catwalk in front of me. Adding to the the culmination of Chicago Latino Fashion Week eye candy was a professional performance by Chicago’s own instructors/choreographers Daniel Noce and Ramona Nita of Tango Che Studio. The couple enhanced the Argentine theme with breathtaking flair. Catch glimpses from their performance on the top right column of this page.
CARDÓN’S TANGO COLLECTION
Cardón designer team Florencia Bayá and company CEO & Director José Mutti introduced their stunning Tango Collection. Inspired by the countryside near Buenos Aires, it features colors of the orchards along with Cardón’s signature raw leather boots, significant because of their very Argentine origin. Yellow, white, and all shades of green represented colors of summer with a little purple in all linen and cotton fabrics. Silver accessories indicated the province of Tucumán in northern Argentina.
I asked designer Florencia Bayá, to describe Cardón’s Tango Collection, first introduced in Argentina. This winter line featured characteristics of the 1930’s with rich details for the woman in black herringbone wool and a lot of black wool jackets for the man, very reminiscent of Argentina’s very British immigrant roots.
The feel of tango is represented in Buenos Aires-inspired black wool jackets. True to the tango theme, red is very important and prominent, used in accessories to break the black. The collection substituted knitted garments for summer’s light tan boot colors for a more tailored look, accented by feminine shirts with bows at the collars and cuffs.
Back on the runway, Cardón’s signature look absolutely dazzled with lots of legs peeking through irregular hems, soft feminine transparent layers of fabric, floral lace and ties lacing up corset style back closures reminiscent of the classiest brothel.
This brothel theme repeated and got more stunning with each dress gushing layered bouffant tuille skirts with silky, shiny bodices of creamy peach tones. Short, miniskirt dress lengths carved out one dazzling approach after another of sexy strutting legs, while flowing layers of poufy chiffon trains trailed in their wake. Brocaded, laced up bodices, one more feminine than the other, dangled gorgeous hooped skirts underneath, decorated with delicate feathers.
ABOVE: Cardon's Signature Leather Boots, Chicago Latino Fashion Week ‘09 Below: Cardon’s Orchard colors
BENITO
Famed and most animated Buenos Aires designer Benito Fernando brought Etnia, his 2010 New York fashion collection, to the Chicago showcase. Benito explained in the interview that Etnia was inspired by his travels to Peru, Bolivia and Mexico as well as Salta in northwest Argentina. His flamboyant excitement was an apt representation of his folklorico colored designs. Just as this collection is a mix of cultural imprints, the designs show a mixture of textures with sophistication of satin, silk, and chiffon. Regional influences are seen in handmade elements of folklore found in shoes and details of accessories made from woven wool with silk.
“I LOVE TO SHOW LEGS!”
̶ BENITO FERNANDO
Amazing shoes crafted in this manner, decorated with brilliant layers of textured color, marched down the runway. My sense of awe was unmistakable.
FAR TOP & LEFT: Benito’s earthy peasant look and folklorico color splashes Benito's ETNIA Collection 2010 at Chicago Latino Fashion Week ‘09 BELOW: Benito Fernando & assistant Belén Viñas reflect on Benito’s eclectic flamboyance.
Argentina’s domination of Latin style trends this year was dynamically foreshadowed onstage at the CHICAGO LATINO FASHION WEEK INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE late last fall.
The only USA style event that celebrates a full week of Latino fashion brought the most recognized Latino designers from Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to V Live in the city’s trendy Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood to strut their 2010 collections on the runway with incredible energy and flair.
Argentine fashion magnates Cardón and Benito Fernandez of Buenos Aires stood out most with flamboyant, explosive color creations and ultra feminine fabrics and styles, revealing innovative and classy fresh appeal. I had the distinct pleasure to interview both designers regarding thoughts on their creations.
Argentina represented elegant femininity as well as brilliant color, style, and textures. Buenos Aires’ amazing fashion talent brought hot trends were destined to warm up the cold and bleak Chicago winter.
ARGENTINE FASHION CHIC RULES THE CATWALK
ARGENTINA’S FASHION MAGNATES CARDÓN AND BENITO
Belén Viñas, assistant to Benito, translated the designer’s sheer enthusiasm for his Etnia Collection. It was evident from Benito’s demeanor that artistic soul is an intrinsic part of his design. When asked how tango specifically relates to his clothing designs, Benito responded that tango’s melancholy undertones are embedded into all Latin cultures and thus related in this way.
However, his collections ― and infectious, creative enthusiasm ― are anything but melancholy. Instead, Benito is all about color and mix of textures. Benito’s colors are as vibrant as his dynamic persona and flair, and that’s one of this designer’s strengths. He splashes boldly saturated yellows, blues, oranges, and greens on his fashions for fun, exciting and spot-on contemporary interpretations of Peruvian and other Latin cultures.
If Benito obsesses over one element that truly represents tango, it’s definitely the homage he pays to women’s legs! His focus on this dynamic aspect shows off legs with wonderful big slits and bright mixed colored fringe (not black), also a typical accessory of the dance.
ABOVE: Instructors/choreographers Daniel Noce & Ramona Nita, Chicago professional tango couple, give stunning interruption to the Chicago Latino Fashion Week International Showcase ‘09 with their dramatic onstage dance expertise.
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And just when you thought pinks and creams couldn’t look more romantic, black and coral red skirts would provide breathtaking contrast as well as peach tones punctuated by black shoes and accessories with shiny, reflective textured fabrics.
For more information on CHICAGO LATINO FASHION WEEK INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE and this year’s upcoming event, visit www.latinofashionwk.com.
