Out on the runway it was all about Courtney Love hair and makeup (circa 1993), and glam pieces combined with grunge touches like oversize trousers and close-fitting maxi-skirts. We particularly loved how designer Richard Chai cleverly layered with his own leggings and shirts from Alternative Apparel. No surprise, the Atlanta-based brand is one of his personal favorites, hence the LOVE collaboration. "I've always loved Alternative Apparel T-shirts," Chai professed, tugging at his T tag. "I wear them myself. Plus, they want to support emerging designers, which I think is so important. It's what New York fashion is about."
One standout look that really captured LOVE's sexy tomboy aesthetic was a drapey gray sweater that spilled out from under a slim-fitting Alternative baby tee. Chai smartly styled them with a pair of over-sized trousers with the waistband rolled down--a new sort of of casual-elegance. The collaboration was logical for Alternative Apparel founder Greg Alterman. "We like and respect each other," he said. "A lot of our fabrications lend themselves to being paired with the higher-end designs that he has." Another piece from Alternative, an angelic pink tunic with long sleeves, was layered under an asymmetrical sequined crop-top and gray wool vest. Love, literally!
It seems the art-school chic vibe, was actually inspired by Chai's girlfriends from art school. "I wanted to capture that real nonchalance about the way they dressed and messing things up in a very carefree way." Easier said than done. But if you want to swipe the look, you're in luck: A selection of LOVE shirts will be available exclusively on Refinery29shops.com in March, so stay tuned!
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