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Instead of the usual show notes, attendees of the Vena Cava Fall/Winter 2011 show were given a copy of Zina Cava, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai’s answer to the archetypal 90s
maga'zine'. The content inside was exactly what we’ve come to expect from these mistresses of downtoon cool - fun, different and, well, very cool. More importantly the message on the
inside cover read, “All content inspired by the 90s” wasn’t just talking about the pages that followed. Vena Cava’s Fall/Winter 2011 Collection was inspired by the design duo’s memories of
the 90s fashion they loved. Referencing the decade’s design powerhouses like Azzedine Alaia, Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan, Mayock and Buhai took the fashion smash hits of the era
and presented them in a vibrantly modern way.
As for the clothes, the silk jersey square neck dresses were winners ‒ timeless enough to look like they’d just been found in the back of a closet, yet clean, modern and beautifully simple.
The crepe de chine palazzo pants in jewel tones looked elegant and breezy while the strappy bodices and wool knit tanks could have been taken off Claudia Schiffer’s back. Mayock and
Buhai did well to carefully consider their color palette, which was grungily subdued and gave the collection a discreet, modern appeal. Vena Cava’s umber hue, a gilded terracotta, was a
modern classic, especially when paired with a silky soft slate grey leather skirt. Print was used to full effect but in a very controlled manner. Ubiquitous 90s polka-dot added softness to
pieces while the color-block print with its twinkles of neon lent exotica to a luscious crepe de chine skirt. Outerwear options were also highly covetable. A roomy leather biker jacket had the
much copied off-duty model look all wrapped up.
While Mayock and Buhai clearly know their Gwen Stefani from their Gwyneth Paltrow and their TLC from their SWV, through careful editing, clever colour combinations and a hotline to
what’s happening with the hipsters, Vena Cava have created a collection for the thoroughly modern woman.
maga'zine'. The content inside was exactly what we’ve come to expect from these mistresses of downtoon cool - fun, different and, well, very cool. More importantly the message on the
inside cover read, “All content inspired by the 90s” wasn’t just talking about the pages that followed. Vena Cava’s Fall/Winter 2011 Collection was inspired by the design duo’s memories of
the 90s fashion they loved. Referencing the decade’s design powerhouses like Azzedine Alaia, Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan, Mayock and Buhai took the fashion smash hits of the era
and presented them in a vibrantly modern way.
As for the clothes, the silk jersey square neck dresses were winners ‒ timeless enough to look like they’d just been found in the back of a closet, yet clean, modern and beautifully simple.
The crepe de chine palazzo pants in jewel tones looked elegant and breezy while the strappy bodices and wool knit tanks could have been taken off Claudia Schiffer’s back. Mayock and
Buhai did well to carefully consider their color palette, which was grungily subdued and gave the collection a discreet, modern appeal. Vena Cava’s umber hue, a gilded terracotta, was a
modern classic, especially when paired with a silky soft slate grey leather skirt. Print was used to full effect but in a very controlled manner. Ubiquitous 90s polka-dot added softness to
pieces while the color-block print with its twinkles of neon lent exotica to a luscious crepe de chine skirt. Outerwear options were also highly covetable. A roomy leather biker jacket had the
much copied off-duty model look all wrapped up.
While Mayock and Buhai clearly know their Gwen Stefani from their Gwyneth Paltrow and their TLC from their SWV, through careful editing, clever colour combinations and a hotline to
what’s happening with the hipsters, Vena Cava have created a collection for the thoroughly modern woman.
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By Isabella Redmond Styles & Backstage Reporting By Qianna Smith
POSTED February 10, 2011
Vena Cava Turns 90s Grunge Into Modern Glam
DANNIJO designed all of the jewelry for Vena Cava's Fall 2011 collection. Danielle and Jodie Snyder, the sister duo behind DANNIJO, created 5 pieces that were used throughout the show.
Each style was very graphic, tubular, simple and created only with metals. The inspiration for the jewelry was very 90s sophisticate.
The Ted Gibson Salon New York was backstage at Vena Cava for the second straight season. The vision for the hair came from old magazine tears and this idea of a modern
'working girl'. "We are actually doing 90s Christy Turlington grunge. The look is very editorial with a slight wave to give the hair a bounce, but with a fantastic texture that looks almost like 3 to
4 day old hair," said celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. To get this look, you want to prep hair with Ted Gibson Build It ($19.95, beauty.com). This product will give your hair volume and texture
when blow drying. Next, take a dime-size drop of Ted Gibson Tame It ($19.95, beauty.com) and work it throughout the stands to create a disheveled bed head effect.
Q+A chatted with our favortie 'it' girls about their vision for fall that resembled a laid back Fiona Apple type girl. "When we started designing this collection, we knew we needed a great 90s
playlist of all the music we loved from this decade, like The Vaselines, The Breeders and Elastica," said Lisa Mayock. "Last season was a little bit of a departure for us because the pieces
were a lot more clean and minimal, and we kind of continued with that for fall." Sophie Buhai added, "A lot of the pieces are simple, and it's about a great neckline or the proportion of a top
being a little bit shorter than we've done before."
Each style was very graphic, tubular, simple and created only with metals. The inspiration for the jewelry was very 90s sophisticate.
The Ted Gibson Salon New York was backstage at Vena Cava for the second straight season. The vision for the hair came from old magazine tears and this idea of a modern
'working girl'. "We are actually doing 90s Christy Turlington grunge. The look is very editorial with a slight wave to give the hair a bounce, but with a fantastic texture that looks almost like 3 to
4 day old hair," said celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. To get this look, you want to prep hair with Ted Gibson Build It ($19.95, beauty.com). This product will give your hair volume and texture
when blow drying. Next, take a dime-size drop of Ted Gibson Tame It ($19.95, beauty.com) and work it throughout the stands to create a disheveled bed head effect.
Q+A chatted with our favortie 'it' girls about their vision for fall that resembled a laid back Fiona Apple type girl. "When we started designing this collection, we knew we needed a great 90s
playlist of all the music we loved from this decade, like The Vaselines, The Breeders and Elastica," said Lisa Mayock. "Last season was a little bit of a departure for us because the pieces
were a lot more clean and minimal, and we kind of continued with that for fall." Sophie Buhai added, "A lot of the pieces are simple, and it's about a great neckline or the proportion of a top
being a little bit shorter than we've done before."
Photo Credit: Jennifer Sweeney
NOTES FROM BACKSTAGE