ONES TO WATCH

BRONX AND BANCO

There’s a time and a place for demure, refined, subtle clothing. And then there’s Bronx and Banco! Unabashedly sexy, mixed with Australian casual, fun loving vibes. The brand has been around in Australia since 2009, but it wasn’t until last year that it started to take on the US market in a significant way.

The collection is exceptionally flattering. There is no forcing of the female silhouette into restricted, overly tailored clothing. The designer and founder has a keen understanding of tailoring but is not dominated by it. The brand’s voice is clear and uncompromising, and that’s what made me fall in love with it. It’s bold and strong, and utterly feminine.

The Bronx and Banco woman is unafraid. She will take on the world and win without a doubt.

The clothing reflects the mixture of Natalie DeBanco’s Russian heritage and Australian upbringing. As described by her partner Adam Lindo, the stimulus for this collection was a combination of the grit of the Red Light District and one romantic night in Paris. There is an edge to it that says ‘don’t mess with me’ while at the same time it expresses a clear love for the body and the feminine form. It strikes you as powerful the moment it walks down the runway—powerful and self-confident.

More is more, as Natalie said in describing her inspiration for this collection, and she hit the nail on the head. This brand has taken its place in today’s fashion vocabulary. Divine decadence with purpose—contradictions that continue to define the brand. The clothing dares you to get in its way. This is my first choice of the season as the designer brand to watch, which is actually easy since you can’t take your eyes off of it.

STAN

Designer Tristan Detwiler, one of FGI’s 2022 All Gender Rising Star finalists, created a collection for STAN that really stood out among the crowd. It’s unique. Fabulous fabrics and prints, and juxtaposed against one another they are unexpected but not discordant. In fact, Tristan Magically assembles looks—that few might envision as complimentary—into ensembles that resonate as natural, wearable and coherent outfits. Vintage fabrics and one-of-a-kind pieces top off the array. Softly structured silhouettes evoke a sartorial world yet remain easy and comfortable. Definitely my pick for One To Watch.