There's a great danger that comes with defining something as "modern." It makes me think primarily of the perils of modern dance, which can be extraordinary and mind-altering, or completely painful and an utter waste of time. Zero+ Maria Cornejo's Fall/Winter 2014 collection, however, is thankfully the former. Like the finest modern dance, Cornejo's pieces play with our sensibilities and make us question why we wear what we wear. Why can't a cocktail dress be a flowing slice of color? Why can't a gown be adorned with giant, clear paillettes? As I've written before, I love it when a collection makes me think. Inspired by a road trip through her native Chile with her siblings, Cornejo wanted to bring forth "the feeling of youthful, carefree travel," according to the collection's notes. It's easy to see that throughout the line, with pieces both sturdy and light floating down the runway. Some of my favorite pieces were the long organza Elie dress, the Lea jumpsuit in a glittery, black feather stripe, and the black Madi dress with a full-skirt and v-neckline.
The look for makeup, by Dick Page for Shiseido, was metallic but ethereal, with a shimmery eye lid, a white stripe of eyeliner, and softly darkened under-eye. Hair, by Bumble and Bumble, was an edgy jumble of braids and texture pulled back into a half-up/half-down arrangement. Nails, by Zoya, were pure white on the hands and black on the toes.
For more shots from backstage and of the collection, check out my photos here!
