Ever seen Beauty and the Beast? You know, the classic story of a woman named Belle who with a hopeful attitude and adventurous mind finds herself in a castle where she is held captive by a beast? They eventually fall in love despite their differences. This well known classic reminds me of a recent collaboration in fashion: Fashion week designer Chris Benz meets Claire Boucher aka grunge musician Grimes.
Chris Benz is known for his ‘Barbie Girl’ taste that screams through hot pinks, rouge, lacy tops, floral designs, and his new collection of denim. This collection is eye candy for the girliest of girls and women who love to embrace their femininity but recently his collection has taken a turn. He now invites “the new girl in town” who breaks all the pretty little rules just for the fun of seeing the dismay on her Barbie friends’ faces.
This opposite attraction story begins after Hurricane Sandy ravaged through NYC late last year, leaving designer Chris Benz stranded at his studio. Out of the deliciously bright prints and delicate textures, musician Grimes stood as an interesting contrast while checking out his debut denim line. “I’m drawn to girls with a certain self-effacing, humorous quality and an innate independence and point of view.” Grimes, however, does not see her sense of style so phyisically, but more of an expression deriving from attitude. “I wanted to upset my parents, and I hated Catholic school uniforms and needed to be different. I’ve never been concerned with being feminine. But I’m hitting a middle ground now. I like exploring that side of myself, especially musically.” This certainly sounds like a great move for both artists!
Thus a match is made between two distinctly different puzzle pieces that fit together so well. Therefore, Beauty meets Beast (sorry Grimes!), music meets design, Chris Benz meets Grimes. This story ought to be very interesting! To follow it, stay tuned to www.chris-benz.com