Rony's choice: Chris Benz, NYFW Monday

Yesterday all over NYC some of the top designers of the industry presented their collections for Fall 2011, and the fact that there were so many veterans (Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen, Ralph Rucci), and newcomers (The Row, Theyskens' Theory), made it all the more difficult to choose a champion.

That being said....

The classic Southern beauty meets the sophisticated Upper East Side New Yorker

...on a day where collections were either overwhelming or not enough, Chris Benz was one star that, in my opinion, shined above the veterans to present a collection that is not just truly wearable, but is a vision of both what is classically beautiful with a peak into what the future holds.

The use of leather, shearling, fur, and the mix of silks - Simply beautiful!

Now a mentor at Georgia's SCAD, Chris Benz's travels to the South were an apparent inspiration and beautifully translated into what the modern woman is wearing and wants to wear next.

During his presentation, Benz said the following of his work in Savannah,

"Savannah is such a strange place, caught between Southern decorum and the influx of art school kids—it's quite a collision."

The dresses of the collection saw the modern silhouettes and fabrics, but could easily be seen on women across the country.

This CFDA winner has definitely held his own against the major houses of the U.S. and I continue to be excited to see what he brings next in his collections. If it's anything as classically beautiful as what was shown yesterday, I know women across the country will be thrilled. 

Rony's Choice