In his New York Fashion Week debut, Sergio Davila showcased suave sportswear for men and glamorous knitwear for women.
The Peru native and Academy of Art University graduate – who dedicated the show to his parents – presented 31 looks in Spring/Summer 2009 collection. Inspired by his South American heritage and life in New York, Davila used ultra-soft fabrics of pima cottons and lightweight Barrington San Miguel Industrial Textiles. Personally, compared to his previous Spring/Summer collections, Davila’s designs this year felt more relaxed but effortlessly confident at the same time. The domination of solid colors, from white and black to shades of blue and gray, was occasionally spiced up with pieces featuring Madras prints and stripes. Most hoodies, tanks, henleys, vests and tops featured a V-neck look. Whether fitted or relaxed, men’s shorts looked best when they were done in a below-the-knee length, as chances of pulling off any shorter shorts by non-model body types were slim to none.
Introducing his first women’s collection with seven looks in mostly gray, black and brown, Davila described his woman as a “chameleon of style” with a “refined casual” look. Refined, it was. The black knitted open-shoulder gown with white accents stole the show with its vibe of sophisticated comfort; one couldn’t help but stare at it and try to figure out the gown’s knitting pattern. Still, my favorite was the intricately-made gray “calado” (drawn threadwork) tank with delicate chain inserts, which looked almost too glamorous to be a casual look.
Photo Gallery: Sergio Davila Spring 2009
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine