-Model at the Jay Godfrey Fashion Show. Credit: Catherine Lynch.
DOWNTOWN kicked off New York Fashion Week by attending the Jay Godfrey fashion show at the Hudson Hotel. The collection was a mixture between Country Chic and Rock’n’Roll.
Common themes in the styles included lots of fringing, denim hues, tea stained lace, a little bit of meshing, and a lot of bold prints. One of DOWNTOWN Magazine’s favorite looks was the bright green asymmetric hem dress with fringing on the sides. If you want to be the epitome of bold- this dress will do the trick. Looks like midi skirts and dresses are here to stay and we are loving it!
Check out our exclusive, backstage interview with Jay Godfrey below to read about some of his inspirations, mantras, and of course, favorite spots Downtown!
-DOWNTOWN fashion editor Catherine Lynch, designer Jay Godfrey and DOWNTOWN brand ambassador Irene Bogdan.
-Irene Bogdan
What is the inspiration behind this collection?
This is a collection I’ve wanted to design for a long time, but I didnt have the courage to do it actually until now. Really it’s all about a Rock N Roll and Country mash-up. I am a big Rolling Stones fan, and they went through this period where they were touring the South and created a “honky tonk”/blues sound, like “Let it Bleed” and “Dead Flowers” all these songs when you listen to them you can’t help but notice, “Hey, this is Country”, but it’s also super rock and roll. So, I pictured kind of like Mick Jagger in a cowboy hat or Keith Richards is a wrestling shirt, a lot of influences like fringe, denim, and tea stained lace. You’ll see, this is one big country/rock punchbowl.
What is your favorite look/piece from this collection?
There are so many looks, originally we had over 300 something looks. So we really, really had to edit it down. So, it’s really hard to say what’s my favorite. I really like these looks that are either really down home causal takes on Western Americana, like the wrestling shirt, or these tea stained lace pieces which are really rustic but also really couture. I always loved the idea of rock n roll somewhere in the collection.
What are the trends for Summer/Spring 2015?
It’s interesting, whether we show during fashion week or not we get the question about trend. And, we do what we feels right to us as a design team, and right now this feels right. I can’t tell you whether it’s a trend or not, it might turn out to be. But, I’m loving this Western Americana thing. I want every woman to be wearing a pair of leather pants, lots of denim, and a wrestling shirt down to their belly button.
How do you keep your cool during fashion week, what is your motto?
For me, this is exciting. This is what designers live for. But at the same time, you know this is the culmination of three months of work by my team and by myself and every body involved. This is exciting, not stressful.
What is your favorite spot downtown?
I live in Chelsea. Downtown to me is even further down than that, but I have to say there are a lot of places downtown I am really loving right now. I love Locanda Verde in TriBeCa, Smith and Millers right across the street which is pretty cool, there are so many amazing places. I could go on and on about restaurants I eat at downtown. The Spotted Pig is one of my favorites too.
-A spread of models in their positions at the Jay Godfrey Fashion Show Event. Credit: Catherine Lynch.
