matthew ames

In the cesspool of black coveting copycats of New York Fashion Week it is always refreshing to the eyes when a collection is completely of its own kind. Matthew Ames, the most recent recipient of the Ecco Domani Foundation, proved he was just this yesterday at his New York runway debut at Fashionhaus—which also acts as the designer’s showroom. Ames took the intimate setting of stylists and editors, Paper’s Kim Hastreiter was among the front, through an innovative jungle of Japanese-inspired jumpsuits, flowing corduroy coats, dramatic slouchy veils, and exaggerated pantaloons that soared in spectacle against the ambient spoken-word soundtrack by Laurie Anderson, the wife of Lou Reed. The sculptural-heavy pieces beautifully doubled in both strong masculinity and soft femininity, all which we hope could find more of the poorer dressed crowds at fashion—but not too many, we still like well kept secrets.