Ohne Titel catwalk show report S/S 2016 for NYFW

It was cloudy and drizzling in New York City on the evening of Ohne Titel’s spring/summer 2016 catwalk show. That didn’t prevent New York City-based designers Alexa Adams and Flora Gill from putting on an incredibly refreshing display of their work at the Skylight at Clarkson Square. The presentation brought the audience to a beach-side state of mind with a breezy approach to architectural shapes and intricate textures – characteristics the label has become well known for.

“Boom”, the base dropped and a golden circle of light flooded the entryway of the catwalk. The opening look was a white-pleated chiffon kaftan dress with white suede fringe sandal heels. This mod was a symphony in white, an angel gone angular. Her hair was slicked back and slightly teased, the bit of frizz being eliminated by the white lights.

The collection’s color scheme began with all-white looks, then transitioned towards bold hues of magenta, red, hints of baby blue, jewel-tone green, and then ultimately, black. The most prevalent silhouettes were feminine caftans and off-the-shoulder blouses with tassel tie fronts and sheer details at hems. Pleated chiffon skirts and knit body-con pieces portrayed Ohne Titel’s keen attention to detail while jumpsuits and rompers with asymmetrical necklines and geometric patterns expressed their eye for architectural components. 

To contrast these beautiful pieces, bold chain and macramè were added to the mix. Fierce chokers were paired with fluid blouses to encompass “the woman” Alexa and Flora design for: powerful but with a hint of softness. The movement of the chain skirts and dresses layered on top of body con pieces gave off a similarly courageous vibe. 

The dynamic duo has cultivated an incredible signature through the contrast of soft femininity with hard athleticism that is regularly inspired by art. Alexa and Flora studied together at The Parson’s School of Design and they were consistently inspired by each other. Post-graduation, Alexa designed for Helmut Lang, then joined Flora working for Karl Lagerfeld. They realized their dissimilar aesthetics in fact complimented each other quite magnificently, so they joined forces in 2006. Alexa had an eye for bold shapes and dark colors, while Flora gravitated towards athletic nuances and intricate textures. When combined, magic happens on the runway, and that was apparent in their Spring/Summer 2016 show.

Kathleen O’Neill
Photos: Getty Images

For further information on the Ohne Titel SS16 collection visit here.