Les Benjamins
Photo: Umberto Fratini / Indigitalimages.com
The last day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Istanbul started with Bashaques, a first-timer. Long oversize coats, crop tops, and maxi-length leather vests combined with leather skirts were the stars of the show, and whisky brown, soft pink, and watery tones of green were Basak Cankes’ favorite colors to realize them in. White Posture’s collection drew inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, and its show was accompanied by the Istanbul State Opera and ballet dancers. Zeynep Erdogan was looking at the film version of Anna Rice’s legendary novel Interview With the Vampire; her collection was as rich and baroque as Tom Cruise’s robes. This year Mercedes-Benz presented Gülçin Çengel and David Catalan. Çengel’s collection was inspired by photographs she took during a trip to Patagonia; the Perito Moreno glacier influenced both her color scheme and textures. The week’s closing show came from the Istanbul-based luxury sportswear label Les Benjamins. None other than Dudley O’Shaughnessy, the British model and best bud of Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, walked the show.
Gülçin Çengel and Zeynep Tosun
Photo: Umberto Fratini / Indigitalimages.com
On Fashion Week Istanbul, day four, Mehtap Elaidi celebrated her 15th year in business with a special collection dubbed “Spice,” after the spice route, which connected East and West during the Middle Ages. Velvet, satin, and organza were her fabrics of choice, but the silhouette was modern and strong. One of the most talented and beloved figures in modern Turkish fashion is Zeynep Tosun. Her haute couture collection had its roots in the 1920s, jazz, and Art Nouveau movements.
Mehtap Elaidi
Photo: Umberto Fratini / Indigitalimages.com
—Istanbul’74 Editorial Team, Style.com
