We've Got Our Eyes On: New Designer, CHO CHENG...

by guestofaguest · February 24, 2009

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Walking into the Salon at Bryant Park for the CHOCHENG show was like walking the red carpet with a glittering front row filled with celebrities and socialites like Ms. USA Crystle Stewart, Veronica Bulgari, Alina Cho, Valesca Guerrand-Hermes, Lydia Fenet, Alexandra Lind Rose, Patrick MacDonald, Gillian Hearst Simonds, Anisha Lakhani, Luigi Tadini, Maggie Katz, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Fern Mallis and more. If the prominent front row is any indication, this young new designer has a following to rival the most established designers. It seems that the fan club extends to family members too. Wearing a CHOCHENG black velvet military style jacket adorned with gold buttons and built in satin vest, Gillian Hearst Simonds gushed "I just love this jacket -- even my husband loves it and you know how hot something has to be for husbands to comment on clothing!". Valesca Guerrand-Hermes jumped in, relating that her young daughter, Clea, couldn't stop touching the soft, cashmere CHOCHENG coat with white satin cuffs that she put on for the show.

It seems that CHO CHENG, the designer behind the CHOCHENG label is a rising star -- literally, as the backdrop to his show featured light projected stars in a tribute to St. Exupery's Le Petit Prince, which inspired this colorful collection of impeccably tailored jackets paired with the unexpected bubble mini shirt or culottes. The models in blonde bobbed wigs, were reminiscent of the Stepford wives and perhaps a tribute to Barbie given the Barbie fashion show --we noted the subversive humor under the classic facade and thought it was brilliant! Perhaps it is this lightness that lends insouciant and fresh quality to an otherwise classic collection. It's obvious that the label's designer has a couture background as even his ready-to-wear collection shows superb tailoring and details. Speaking of couture, the evening gowns were simply stunning and quite sexy. As homage to his Chinese background CHO CHENG included sleek, sequined qipaos in bright red, shimmery silver and brilliant black, alternating with satin fantasy evening gowns. The piece de resistance? The white multi-layered wedding dress worn with aplomb by the designer's, friend, Maggie Rizer, as she closed out the show to much applause.

Fans flooded backstage after the triumphant show, but all moved aside for the designer's friend, Tinsley Mortimer, escorted in by Susan Shin, who produced and organized the show to its success. Arriving breathless but stunning in new bangs and smoky eyes, Ms. Mortimer gave the designer a big hug to last him through the rest of his busy evening. We can't wait to see what's coming next season!