With Mercedes-Benz fashion week kicking off this week, I thought I would conduct a few reviews on select designers as they take place. One of the runway shows starting off the event was that of Rachel Roy’s (some of you may know her as Mrs. Damon Dash)…
Rachel Roy, who has been featured in fashion week since F/W 2007, has since then become well respected and demanded. Being that as it may, Roy brought a different feel to her 2008 winter collection, saying to be inspired by her interest in “the intersection between Native American and Colonial styles, but brought up-to-date for the women of today”.
Upon looking at this collection, one can definitely get a sense of southwestern colonial for the modern career woman. Full cohesive it may not be, but it seems as if Roy wanted it to be that way – with her mixture of styles such as a tuxedo pantsuit and western styled hat…
RACHEL ROY F/W 2008
I love 90% of these pieces now if the sista would just ensure that they come in all the right sizes…Oh & ADMIT that her husband on in the DL with that Homeless person Jim Jones, we would be cool & she could DEFINITELY get some of my money!!!
rachel roy’s relly is great, granted i cant really afford much of the stuff. i feel that her line is way better in style and quality compared to another ‘rapper’s wife’ clothing line who’s name shall remain nameless.
then again, i guess i do have to be specific, babyphat. lol. is beyawnce really married to jay-z?
I didn’t even know Dash was married…:\
Anyways,
her stuff is really different from other designers..it’s unique…which is good.
I actually can dig most of this stuff… ya gotta think outside of the fashion box sometimes.
Im feeling her line it’s not too bad.
SOME OF THE STUFF IS AIGHT AND SOME OF IT LOOKS LIKE ITS FOR A 60 YEAR OLD GRANDMA LOOKIN TO GET HER GROOVE BACK
Interesting line…I wonder what her inspiration was. I really like most of those dresses.
I don’t like this. It’s no a collection, it’s just a jumble of pieces. the cuts seem off to me and at times the model’s body seems larger than it should. I love the coat.
@8 Did you even read the post. It states what her inspiration was. Come on people read!!
this is FASHION, she is incredibly talented.
Dame Dash is corny, ugly, and all kinds of chubby. But he does have a hell of a taste in women. His wife is fine as hell. And obviously sophisticated.
^Nevermind that she kinda favors Olivia O’lovely. lol
is that his wife modelling the clothes or a model? whoever it is, they bear resemblance to rihanna.
his wife is pretty, much better looking than damon. i think he cheats on her alot though- hes always around these bunny types
Go !!! Rachel Roy! Very avant gaurd!!
I love her clothes, rachelroy.com aka netaport.com is one of my favorite spots for inspiration and whatever is on sale..
Her clothing line is straight garbage there isn’t one outfit that im feelin they all look outdated and tacky to say the least.
Not feeling this at all! I wouldn’t wear any one of those outfits. Shouldn’t we be moving forward with fashion?
@#1 – “sista” please hunny. no. just no.
These styles are straight from the 80′s. They don’t even have a fresh twist on them.. They’re AWFUL, I don’t see anyone with a good fashion sense going out to buy this garbage. You’re better off going though your Auntie’s closet.
rachel roy’s collection is everything I aspire to be. fabulous!
classy.
I always love her stuff
RR doesn’t get the props she deserves. Her designs are like no others.
She’s not fooling me. That did nothing for me. Nothing. I’m sorry. No. There wasn’t one piece I can recall now that I’m down here writing. I love conservative but daring, but that was boring, and just didn’t work.
the 2nd model in the first row reminded me of Rihanna…
uhm, these are okay… nothing is really striking me…
:/
I love her! I loved what she did with Rocawear and I have seen her evolved as a designer with her own.
I usually like her stuff, but I am not feeling this new collection. I wonder did she have her baby yet???
not feeling it
It look hoboish I don’t like it?
I don’t think I would consider this avant-garde, but the some of the pieces look nice only if I could afford them!College student on a budget
Nice to see a collection that stretches beyond the normal *yaaaaaaaaawn* Hip Hop gear (agreeing with Augusta about Babyphat). Not sure how much I’m liking those shoes though. Ugh.
I love it! I definitely could see myself rocking some of her pieces.
her “collection” isn’t really doing it for me. it does look just like a bunch of pieces thrown together, only a couple of which stand out. i won’t be spending my duckets on any of it but to each his/her own though
Anyone who comes on this blog trying to bash Ms. Dash’s line is completely moronic. Do you know fashion? You must not, this line is sheek, conservative, it looks very high end, and quality. You all are out of your minds, this is what Black America should look like now, like a picture snapped from the renaissance
Period, When the arts flourished and writers Like Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston met in Harlem and traveled around the world courting thoughtful, well-bred readers.
This is why Many Black Americans are ridiculed and looked down upon; their choice in how they present themselves to the world. Most of Black America only understands how to to look downright naked and ghetto-street. I am sorry but any man who tries to step to me with his pants half of of his butt gets a chuckle and a pass by. Young ladies with skirts riding up their bodies, rocking loud label prints looking so out of date are the but of all jokes in discussions with my girlfriends about fashion……fellas step your clothes game up! Ladies, Watch fashion greats like Racheal and learn how to dress like women!
LMAO@#10!
I think she has some great looks here. However, those shoes are hideous! Louboutins please!
@34 I COMPLETELY Co-sign EVERYTHING you just said. I love these pieces, I really think they are dynamic, sexy, & conservative all at the same time but they STILL manage to make a statement. Plus I think Rachel is trying to show many of us, who have no concept of this, HOW TO COVER UP & still look sexy & sophisticated. It sort of reminds me of clothes from the late 20′s early 30′s & I am loving EVERY minute of the it.
@18 WTF ever, seriously, you called out what I said because…?
I like most of the pieces
Wow, she’s one talented lady. Her clothing line looks very well made, extremely high end and sophisticated. I loved most of the pieces; they are very sexy but beautiful at the same time. I’m really feeling the colors and the materials. A+
All negative comments are unacceptable. Given that you even can comprehend the essence of being a unique designer in this day and age. Rachel Roy, the individual and designer exude what it means to be fashionable. If you can’t connect with the designs, please realize that it is not her, it is you. Her clothes may not be in your price points but again no reason for you not to support, you can very well afford sample sale pieces, if you were in fact stylish enough to follow a real talented designer. Rather than settling for borderline urban trashy designs from designers that fit your idea of what STYLE is. Kimora and Beyonce especially are not “IT” in the world where Fashion really matters. Great women, but no fashionistas. The reigning mainstream fashion socialite is Jennifer Lopez, as soon as she parted from Diddy her style couldn’t have gotten any better. So, do not marginalize Rachel Roy to an extended identity of Damon Dash, her husband is not the influence of her line, but they are the perfect example of people evolving on the style hierarchy. The idea is to start where you must ie. Roca Wear and from there meet who you must to get where you belong. The balance between Music Mogul Dash and uber stylish Roy makes them a well rounded partnership. There is an appreciation from both worlds. Rachel Roy is VOGUE certified and Anna Wintour approved. Nothing you say will change her success.
OH GOSH
people fashion is like art and it is subjective so everybody is not going to like the same thing!! theres no need to launch into your “How dare you criticize real fashion !lectures its uneccessary and very unbecoming!
That being said I support any young black femal designer escpecially showing black models since they are somewha a novelty in the biz
luv the orange and appreciate the translation beteen her inspiration and the clothing
the white dress is actually werable , this s line where u tak pieces not the hole oufit so literally!
**Starts singing…***
I’m not feeling it…
I’m not feeling it…
I saw her stuff being showcased on the Nordstrom and Neimann Marcus sites. So she is getting great retailer interest.
* Neiman
Some of the pieces wouldnt look so bad if she didnt attach those chicken feathers or crow’s nest to them.
@ #27
No baby yet.
I swear that Rachel Roy has never been and never will be into Damon Dash. She just uses him to fund her clothing line. To her, Damon is a venture capitalist. Once her business reaches a comfortable stage of growth, she will be outta there fastest. Mark my words.
47, your a moron. She is preggers with his second child, her company closed a multi-million dollar acquisition in late 2007, the brand is at a more than comfortable stage. Don’t ridicule anyone’s personal relationship if you are not involved, let alone predict its future.
CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL!!!
conservative…yet modern & stylish taste! she rocks!
Damn this shit is ugly, is this bitch serious?
Resident moron here. Its quite ignorant to assume that if I don’t like her clothes I must dress like a heifer and no nothing of fashion, actually that is my field. The post was clear in that it was a review and I responded to it as such, without needing to insult anyone. It’s called an individual idea. If you feel the need to lick the ass of every black celeb (or maybe the few on your short list) fine. But from looking at the clothes and the choices, I do not get the feeling that the design and styling was done by someone with an artistic education. How many years did she study design, whom did she work under?
Way to spread bigotry!!!
Anyway, for a fashion week presentation it is WEAK and nothing you say can change that.
hahaha
THANK YOU for your contribution. SOMEBODY had to say it! Her collection is fabulous, classy, and cultured!
Everybody had different tastes, that’s why I can’t figure out why some of these people can’t figure out.Oh well.
Anna Wintour?People look at Vogue, still?
Elle,Harpers > Vogue.
I agree with 34, and to whoever said this is so Avant-Garde, must not know what Avant-Garde is…Avant-Garde isn’t just a cool expression that you say when you see something you like, Alexander McQueen is Avant-Garde, Yohji Yamamoto is Avant-Garde…..do your research, think before you type. And I love Rachel Roy’s collection, I like that Rachel Roy and Tracy Reese are Black designers doing sophisticated fashion and not hood-rat wear…and honestly I don’t know if Kimora intended for her label to be trashy, because sometimes when people wear the knock-offs and wear label from head to toe it can cheapen the brand, so be careful designers who you make your clothes available too because the target audience can cheapen the look of a label, especially if they are wearing something that you would wear to an event, a party, a photo-shoot, out on the street in everyday life. Its a time and a place for things.
ConcreteLoop has been on lately!
I love the Southwestern inspiration paired with classic, demure dresses. All of the outfits are on point. These woman only look like grandmothers to some because im convinced that a lot of the people who post comments here are about 15.
@Caliss i agree that her collection is weak. i’m sorry but after looking at photos of other designers like valentino, i’m not interested in her clothes
to whoever questioned vogue- vogue is still THE fashion magazine and it will always be. elle is not as prestigious. it’s like the ivies, harvard is still considered the IT school but it’s not even number one on the list of the best universities (it was but it got replaced). however, in terms of prestige, it will never be surpassed (even though they hand out A’s like free candy but that’s another story)
@34 don’t be so harsh. not everyone is going to love this collection as much as you do. imo she doesn’t measure up to the valentino collection and to many other collection that were shown. that doesn’t make me a hoodrat
THESE ARE NOT CUTE AT ALL
So we’re comparing Rachel Roy to Valentino whose been in the business for 45 yrs? That doesnt make sense…nor does it make sense to compare collections AT ALL. Do you hold a Johannes Vermeer painting up and compare it to a Jackson Pollack? No. Every designer is supposed to be judged differently, and on their own.
Everyone has their own taste…but merging a southwestern Native American with classically feminine dresses and pencil skirts…and then making it look modern is quite a feat. Thats undeniable.