In 1943, fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert established the first ever Fashion Week in New York. Lambert, the founder of the International Best Dressed List, remodeled the French concept of a fashion show into an organized, seasonal event, and since then, fashion weeks have become forums for the conversation of style in cities around the world.
On March 8, this year’s Fall/Winter cycle of women’s fashion weeks came to a close in the “Big Four” fashion capitals: London, Milan, New York, and Paris. The high concept spectacle of runway shows continued to dazzle, but the street style found outside tents pulled just as many eyes and headlines.
The intersection of what goes down the runway and what people wear is the concept Richmond boutique Mod & Soul is founded on, and the starting place of RVAMag’s hunt for local businesses that showcase the top styles of 2017.
“I definitely get very inspired by the runway shows and street style of fashion week, and I kind of take that into consideration when I’m buying, but I don’t like to follow trends completely,” said Jasmina Zulic, owner of Mod & Soul. “I like to be more versatile…I don’t buy anything so trendy that a person who doesn’t really follow fashion week, or seasonal trends, doesn’t feel comfortable wearing it.”
Zulic opened her boho chic store on West Broad Street last spring after running a successful online boutique for a year a half.
Mod & Soul was full of 2017 fashion week runway trends, like stripes, garments with exposed shoulders, floral prints and culotte-style bottoms. However, the presence of the store’s own personality was equally unmistakable in items like an eye-popping metallic gold top, minimalistic jewelry, and strappy shoes in neutral colors.
“Mod & Soul is for someone who makes their own rules,” said Zulic. “Their style is super fun, flirty, cute. A bubbly personality.”
The top 2017 trend item at Mod & Soul had to be the Sealily slingback pump, its soft pink shade falling in with the huge trend all forms of pink were on this year’s runways.
The boutique’s most unique piece was the Emma floral embroidered dress, which nearly floated on a cloud of romantic whimsy in the store’s window.
The curation of style occurs from luxury brands down to the individual, and what people choose to buy and wear is equally as powerful as what the top designers choose to make. Today, it is up for debate whether street fashionistas and Beau Brummels are the influencees or influencers in the fashion world, and the selectivity of local boutiques like Mod & Soul are a testament to the dialogue of fashion.
When a garment goes down the runway, we are not only being presented with a piece of clothing, but with an idea. Clothes are the avatar of the designer’s opinions, and style, both personal and general, is born when decisions are made.
Stay tuned for more as RVAMag continues our 2017 fashion week series, and if you represent a local boutique or atelier who would like to be featured, email us at gabriellalacomberva@gmail.com.
To shop Mod & Soul, you can go to their brick and mortar store at 323 W. Broad St., or visit them online here .
Words by Gabriella Lacombe. Photos courtesy of Mod & Soul
