Angela Friedman AW2015: Jazz Era Lingerie has the Blues
Angela Friedman has such a delightful talent for creating lingerie that evokes a sense of nostalgia. Drawing its inspiration from the jazz era lingerie silhouettes of the 1920s and 30s, her newest collection, Autumn in New York, has all of dreamy moodiness of the 1934 jazz standard of the same name. Sleek silks and sweeping sheers are equally at home lounging to Billie Holliday records as they are making dramatic entrances in the boudoir.
The collection may take its cue from the last century, but it is very much on-trend with the color story of the season --- blues and blacks. There are vivid sapphires, the deepest navies, and a silvered hue the color of stormy skies. Interspersed throughout are blacks in silk, sheer tulle, and lace. There is a wonderful play of texture throughout, where the luster of silk is paired with decadent French laces or where sheers layer over opaques.
You may recognize several core styles from last season, specifically the silk bralette and tap panty sets, and the swingy Vivian babydoll. The babydoll went from Summer sweet in sherbet pastels to film noir Fall in barely-there black. This darling piece offsets the daringly sheer with pretty details, including a French lace band which fastens with three tiny buttons in the back. While the silhouette is more 1960s and 1920s, that delicate closure ties in nicely with other period-specific details in the collection.
These delicate button closures can be seen atop cheeky peek-a-boo slits on the back side of both the tap panties (that narrow rolled hem makes me giddy!) and a luscious pair of lounge pants. The silk pants have the same narrow waistband and figure-hugging cut of the tap panties, yet extend to a super fun pedal-pusher length with a curved tulip hem. Shown with one of Angela's popular silk bralette styles, these lounge pants will chase the blues away when paired with slouchy cashmere and hot coffee.
The standout piece from the collection is the Dentelle slip. Stunning French lace in jewel-toned sapphire is cut to skim the body and hit at the upper thigh. A dramatic scalloped hem is mirrored in V-shaped dips at the bust and back. The top of the garment is bound in silk, with dainty adjustable straps and a pretty bow set on one side.
Angela Friedman's "Autumn in New York" collection is handcrafted in NYC, and available in sizes XS-L (fitting 30-38" busts and 33-41" hips). Prices range from $65 for panties to $325 for the Dentelle lace slip.
Photographer: Kristen Blush
What do you think of Angela Friedman's newest collection? Do you have a favorite look? Is it important to you to support independent designers like Angela?
