Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/809115
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH THOMSON (BEAUTY); DAN LECCA (RUNWAY); COURTESY OF JONATHAN SIMKHAI (PORTRAIT) Caught in action: TOP LEFT: Models pose backstage at Jonathan Simkhai's Spring/Summer runway show; TOP RIGHT: a look from his collection; BOTTOM: Corded lace dress ($995); INSET: Jonathan Simkhai. "I want women to feel modern, fearless, and romantic," Parsons graduate and former buyer Jonathan Simkhai says of his design vision for women everywhere. Bostonians got a taste of this at Saks Fifth Avenue as the designer sat with shoppers to offer style advice and toast his best spring collection yet. Simkhai's ethereal designs and feminine sensibility led him to win the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2015, which not only paved the way to expand into new categories like evenin- gwear and swim, allowing for exploration into embellishments and new offerings for spring (think pearl-distressed denim), but ultimately drove his creative vision. "I wanted to show that clothes and the women wearing them can look strong and delicate at the same time," he says of his collection. Inspired by the Watts Towers in LA, his latest pieces offer a monumental but airy aesthetic— something that he hopes Boston's style-set can add to their wardrobes. "Her style is very classic, emphasizing on silhouettes and quality," Simkhai says of the Boston shopper. "I'd love to see her play with fun patterns and small details in her wardrobe." His advice to update the New Englander's fixation on silhou- ettes? "The pearl t-dress is perfect," he says of the classic shape and fun pearl detailing. Saks Fifth Avenue, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., 617-262- 8500; saksfifthavenue.com; jonathansimkhai.com . JONATHAN SI HAI BRINGS HIS ROMANTIC-CHIC DESIGNS AND PHILOSOPHY TO SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. BY LISA FERRANDINO WHITE HOT STYLE TASTEMAKER 60 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM