Op ed: Art imitates life at Imitation

A model dresses among the Mirrors at Imitation Spring 2013/image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

 A special report from fashion week, Style Wylde editor Cynthia reflects on Imitation by Tara Subkoff.

Among the thousands of presentations and runway shows that take place during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, there are always a few that strive for artfulness almost as much as they strive for a mention in Women's Wear Daily. Unfortunately these 'arty' shows often fall into cliché gimmicks such as the use of dry ice fog and strobe lights, ear shattering sound tracks of car crashes and screeching birds, "guerilla catwalks" in the middle of Times Square, or possibly the worst offense, staging the whole thing in a bar or restaurant during regular business hours. (No, it's not cool to have models emerge from the kitchen with waiters and chefs scurrying in the background!)

With all the possible pitfalls and faux pas of attempting a performance art style fashion show, it's downright shocking when someone actually pulls it off. It's like seeing someone land a quadruple axel at your local ice skating rink; you've heard it's possible but never thought you'd see it in person. 

This was my reaction to the Imitation by Tara Subkoff Spring 2013 presentation, which featured models of all ages and sizes simply 'getting dressed' in the pieces as if no audience existed. 

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde 

Initially, the set-up was bewildering, and a bit frustrating (especially to a certain  high-profile journo from a MAJOR publication whom expressed her anger in the form of near-yelling at the actor/models) as it appeared models had been instructed to not break character for any photographer or audience member that asked for a 'posed' shot. But after a few minutes of angling around the mini dressing 'plays' scattered around the room, the whole scene became mesmerizing, like stepping through the looking glass into a whole new world where we the audience were utterly invisible.

Suddenly, all the aspects of clothing that are deftly denied during a runway show, the actual facts of dressing in real life,  struggling into skirts, fighting with zippers, the moment you try something on, look in the mirror and suffer a giant wave of self doubt, were on display. Gone were the spotlight ready wigs and false lashes, the Brazilian stomps and half turns, the perfect pacing and the catchy sound-tracks, and in their place a roomful of seemingly real women putting on Imitation.

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Of course like life, Imitation was not 100% perfect. Actually viewing the pieces, to an extent that a normal review would possible was difficult to say the least, and a great many of the models were still very typical (young, thin, pretty, would look good in anything etc.) a fact that might have some bloggers scoffing. But there is no denying that the overall impression of the Imitation Spring 2013 presentation was one of creativity, art and fashion coming together in a way that will stick with anyone who saw it for many seasons to come. 

For more information on Imitation by Tara Subkoff visit the label's official web home.  And for a full rundown of all the shows Style Wylde covered in New York during the Spring 2013 season, check out the feature articles and photo spreads in Fashion.