Vena Cava Spring 2012

Apparently inspired by 40's films they (designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock) watched in their hotel room while on a research trip to Vietnam in March, the  chich Spring 2012 Vena Cava collection featured cropped jackets paired with high-waisted trousers, a smocked graphic print dress, and even a maxidress that was printed with botanicals of marijuana leaves.  Very functional, very summer. 

Vena Cava Fall/Winter 2011

There was something slightly boho and definitely free-flowing to Vena Cava's Fall 2011 collection, presented in New York this week. "It's the other side of grunge, the elegant early nineties," designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock said backstage before the runway presentation. And indeed, with a slight punk edge, the clothes were reminiscent of a more glamorous 90's.
Speaking of backstage activity, the inspiration for the show was said to have been rock 'n' roll and androgyny; the muse: Fiona Apple. "The makeup serves as an accessory," explained lead makeup artist Christian McCulloch. "It's a jewel sparking from the darkness of the mostly black collection and the daring look of long night out."
It wasn't a ground-breaking collection by any means, but I certainly appreciated and liked it- cut-out dresses, crop tops, berets, long skirts, trousers and platform shoes were rife, with the styling touching on Calvin Klein Jean, No Doubt and Saved by the Bell and Azzedine Alaïa.

Vena Cava Spring/Summer 2011

For Vena Cava, designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai showed a collection heavy on black, red, aquamarine green, rust and bright yellow. Beige culottes were paired with a black zip-up jacket. Netting was used on the back of a beige romper and on a cream cotton dress, tied with a rope belt and worn under a beige blazer.

Functional and breezy, the collection was boho chic with a slight urban finish.

Backstage at Vena Cava NYFW