Fall Fashion Preview

Make an entrance with fall stunners from Carolina Herrera, J. Mendel, Ralph Rucci and Kaufmanfranco

Fall Fashion Preview

Make an entrance with fall stunners from Carolina Herrera, J. Mendel, Ralph Rucci and Kaufmanfranco

Just about everyone loves making an entrance. That's why designers who showcased their fall 2013 collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week worked extra hard to come up with creations that are sure to attract attention. They used color, cut, sequins and high drama to design showstoppers that are bound to get a lot of buzz a few months from now. A peek at four collections: --- Carolina Herrera [https: /www.carolinaherrera.com/en/] abstract dandelion print gowns stood out on the runway.Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Usually designers pick music to go with the clothes they create. But for her fall 2013 collection, Carolina Herrera built a collection around the music of Tom Hodge [https: /www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12783], who created an original composition for her runway show — a riff on Beethoven’s Kreutzer Violin Sonata, which he titled “Capriccio for Carolina." It fit perfectly with the dramatic, elegant collection.Photo by Cheryl Bemis Fashionably Austin
A Carolina Herrera gown is often known for its elegant beadwork and sense of romance.Photo by Cheryl Bemis Fashionably Austin
Chic no-nonsense daytime suits are also a hallmark of every Herrera collection.Photo by Cheryl Bemis Fashionably Austin
Herrera also featured the dandelion print as a long skirt paired with a contrasting top. Another Herrera hallmark: Her skirts often have pockets.Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Herrera showcased simple draped gowns in berry and teal colors.Photo by Cheryl Bemis Fashionably Austin
Herrera's collection paid tribute to the heroines of the 1940s in victory-roll coifs and full red lips. Though the look is retro, the models have a modern attitude — just like the designer.Photo by Cheryl Bemis Fashionably Austin
J. Mendel [https: /www.jmendel.com/]electric blue asymmetrical draped gown is the right shade to turn heads.Photo courtesy of J. Mendel
Glam rock is a big theme for fall. J. Mendel designer Giles Mendel interprets the trend with navy metallic jacquard fitted blazer with notch collar, black silk chiffon blouse with silk charmeuse turtleneck, and navy metallic chenille jacquard slim tailored pant.Photo courtesy of J. Mendel
Once known almost exclusively for furs, J. Mendel doesn't stray too far from its roots with this pearl mink intarsia zippered turtleneck sweater and white crepe silk tailored pant. Perhaps it's too heavy for the Texas climate, but it will look great après-ski in Aspen or Park City.Photo courtesy of J. Mendel
J. Mendel camel-face cashmere A-line belted coat with mink shawl collar and leather detail, white silk chiffon blouse with silk charmeuse turtleneck, and black silk crepe slim tailored pant.Photo courtesy of J. Mendel
Ralph Rucci is consistently known for couture-quality creations. His Chado Ralph Rucci [https: /www.chadoralphrucci.net/] fall collection features furs in many colors and unique gowns, like this embroidered chiffon and gazar creation that's all about a sense of illusion.Photo by © Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Ralph Rucci discovers the color purple in a duchesse satin skirt paired with a simple black cashmere turtleneck.Photo by © Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Ralph Rucci acknowledges the audience at the end of the show.Photo by © Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Kaufmanfranco [https: /www.kaufmanfranco.com/]is known for dressing Hollywood celebrities like Eva Longoria and Taylor Swift [https://www.examiner.com/article/taylor-swift-stuns-sexy-kaufman-franco-at-the-2013-40-principales-awards], but designers Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco have avoided a full-scale New York runway show until now. In their debut fashion week show, they provided plenty of red carpet pizzazz. A prime example is this silver-encrusted fishscale column gown.Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Although known for evening gowns and cocktail attire, Kaufmanfranco showed a lot of sportswear and chic cold-weather outerwear, like this meterorite glazed felt and shearling coat.Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
This was the first fashion week runway show for Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco.Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Every woman wants to make an entrance to a big event. Designers Carolina Herrera, J. Mendel, Ralph Rucci and Kaufmanfranco know how to wow a crowd.

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Mall Art News

Hammering Men return to NorthPark Center Dallas after 4-year nap

Hammering Men, 1982 NorthPark Center

A signature sculpture at Dallas' NorthPark Center has returned to its stomping grounds: Five Hammering Men, 1982, a series by American artist Jonathan Borofsky, has returned to the mall following a four-year absence, which they describe as "a period of rest" to conribute to its longevity and lifespan, according to a release.

Borofsky began his Hammering Men series in 1979; it became one of his best-known bodies of work with installations in Basel, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Seattle, Seoul, and Dallas.

The piece can now be found in its original location in SouthCourt, located on Level One between Neiman Marcus and Dillard’s, their motorized arms slowly moving in a hammer-like gesture.

“My original concept was to have many Hammering Men, all hammering at different locations around the world – all at the same time – sort of a worldwide installation connecting us all together,” said Borofsky in his artist statement on the series.

When he was 25, Borofsky started counting for three hours a day, meticulously writing numbers in his sketchbook, convinced that this meditative process would reveal an underlying truth about the human spirit. He eventually began signing his works with numbers instead of his name — which can be found on the feet of the Five Hammering Men.

The installation was removed in 2021 for this period of rest and restoration, the details of which — who did it, where they were stored — NorthPark Center does not reveal. However, NorthPark did post a video of the re-installation on Instagram.

For its 20th anniversary in 1985, NorthPark corralled “A Celebration of Contemporary Art” — an exhibition of 33 works by 24 artists — many never seen in Dallas before, and the first time Five Hammering Men was shown in the U.S.

NorthPark Center developer Raymond D. Nasher said in a statement at the time that it was their goal to give NorthPark an artistic dimension, confirming it as more than a commercial entity and abetting Dallas' dream to become an international place.

That 1985 exhibition included these other works of art, still on view at NorthPark:

Barry Flanagan’s Large Leaping Hare, 1982
Antony Gormley’s Three Places, 1983
Roy Lichtenstein’s Double Glass, 1976,
Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure: Angles, 1979.

Additional works by Borofsky have been displayed at NorthPark throughout the years, and a larger, singular Hammering Man, 1984-85, from the Nasher Sculpture Center, is currently on view outside of Neiman Marcus off Boedeker Street.

NorthPark will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, and this installation — which is from the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Collection — the first of several exciting additions to celebrate this milestone.

"Five Hammering Men has been a favorite landmark at NorthPark Center for 40 years, catching the imagination of shoppers of all ages throughout the decades," NorthPark Development Company president Nancy A. Nasher says in a satement. "Bringing this iconic series by Jonathan Borofsky back to NorthPark is aligned with our mission to make museum-quality art accessible to the public and a wonderful way to celebrate our 60th anniversary."

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