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Friday, October 26, 2012

Designer Dossier: Naeem Khan

Designer Naeem Khan While Naeem Khan's gorgeous gowns have already graced the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker, to name a few among the glittering fans, the brand is still relatively unknown on the overall market, a result of Khan's exclusive clientele and designs which are all hand-embroidered, rather than a testament to his incredible talent. Talent, a trait that evidently runs in Khan's blood, was influenced by Khan's upbringing in India, where he watched both his father and grandfather design intricate eveningwear for society's elite, including the royal family. As a result, Khan cultivated vast knowledge of textiles and ornamentation, an education that would eventually pave the way to the launch of his luxe collection. While Khan inherited his propensity for luxury and opulence from his family, he developed modern skill sets, like the secrets of draping and cutting clean timeless silhouettes, from his apprenticeship at Halston.

Khan's hard work and extensive training led to the launch of his eponymous line, Naeem Khan, in 2003. His line was bought by Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue, all high-end retailers who cater to affluent clients who immediately took a liking to Khan's luxe evening gowns. Cut to a few short years later, Khan's brand reaches another level of success and fame after his strapless metallic gown is seen on Michelle Obama during the Presidential State Dinner in March 2010. Khan, like many of today's American eveningwear designers including Reem Acra and Jenny Packham, is changing the way we look at the gown. No longer relegated to clean black minimalist silhouettes or the other extreme, cookie-cutter ornamental ballgowns, eveningwear aesthetics have expanded greatly.

While Khan is considered an established designer and one of New York Fashion Week's must-watch collections, the talented designer continues to show artistic growth and perspective when it comes to his creations. For his Spring 2013 collection, Khan's ballroom gowns took a backseat as the designer focused on daywear. Satin sweater coats decorated with black and white leather appliques complemented white cotton pants, while floral organza belted shirtdresses took on a glamorous turn as a result of their to-the-floor lengths. And because a collection isn't Naeem Khan-worthy without an adequate supply of glitz, sparkling beads accented a rainbow of caftans. If history has its way of repeating itself, it won't be long until Khan's colorful caftans help develop a whole new breed of elegant and glamorous daywear.

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