Latex Hits the Shelves of Mainstream Fashion

The Baroness partners with Opening Ceremony to produce fashionable latex styles for the masses

New York, NY (Monday, October 25th, 2013) — Two visionaries in contemporary couture – The Baroness, New York’s premiere designer of Elegant, Provocative Latex Fashions, and retail brand Opening Ceremony – partner to design and produce two trendy latex styles for the store’s Fall 2013 line. The Smith Latex Turtleneck, a loose fit, short-sleeved turtleneck with back zip, and the Smith Latex Circle Skirt are both available in black or pink, and in XS/S and M/L. Both pieces are available in Opening Ceremony’s SoHo store and throughout their chain.

 Latex Clothing fashion mainstream

Latex, most commonly known for being the go-to fashion staple for the fetish scenester, is now seen as avant garde in mainstream fashion. New shapes such as looser fit and contemporary styles are modeled on runways, shown in stores and seen strutting down the busy streets of fashionable cities everywhere.

The Baroness, a pioneer in the movement to create wearable latex as well as custom latex couture, is well known for her classic styles with a fresh twist. When asked about her thoughts on latex going mainstream, the Baroness says, “In the 20 years I’ve worked with latex, it’s come out of the dark and into the light, from the privacy of the bedroom to the bright lights of the silver screen, high fashion catwalks and red carpet award shows…and now it’s hitting the streets!”

Opening Ceremony Latex Clothing by The BaronessNo stranger to the fashion and entertainment worlds, The Baroness’ latex designs have been worn by stars such as Serena Williams, Nikki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Taylor Momsen, and Janet Jackson. Her latex creations have been featured in W, V, Vogue, InStyle, Elle, Relapse MagazineStyle Noir magazine, and many others. One of The Baroness’ previous design partnerships was with Visionaire, for  a collaborative art project with Lacoste which traveled the globe and influenced fashionistas worldwide. Latex has entered the realms of haute couture!

Nor is this the first time fashion designers have sought The Baroness’ latex expertise. Partnered with menswear designer Patrik Ervell, the duo created transparent and black ponchos and cargo jackets for his streetwear line. A later partnership with Norisol Ferrari produced several dresses and skirts for her triumphant debut line at Alice Tully Hall.

On the cutting edge of style, Opening Ceremony adopts a multinational approach to retail. In addition to stocking the best pieces from both iconic and emerging homegrown designers, every year Opening Ceremony showcases the spirit and merchandise of a visiting country, transforming each store into a marketplace for exotic souvenirs and international talent – and this year it’s The Baroness’ Latex!

The Baroness in EV Grieve

EV Grieve is an East Village blog with local news, including a regular feature by photographer James Maher about people who work or live in the East Village.

The Baroness in her shop, by James Maher.
The Baroness in her shop, by James Maher.

 

The September 4 feature is all about The Baroness and the past 25 years in the East Village.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Linda Fargo in Custom Baroness Latex Dress at The Met Gala 2013

Custom Latex Dress Walks the Red Carpet!

Custom Couture Latex DressLinda Fargo wears a custom Baroness latex gown to the Met Gala 2013

The Baroness’s custom punk-inspired latex dress made a stunning entrance as it appeared on the red carpet of the annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Artj on May 6. Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President of the fashion office and store presentation at Bergdorf Goodman, wore this daring latex design to honor this year’s exhibition, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” Hosted by Vogue and attended by A-list celebrities and designers, this red carpet was where the best of the best in the industry were seen and worn.

This is truly the event that lives up to my motto “Any Occasion to Dress is an Occasion to Overdress” and it was a delight to work with Linda, who really embraced the theme and “nailed it” as one of the many blogs about the event said. Surprisingly she was one of the few who took inspiration the rest settled for “nice” designer frocks.

Comments from the Blogosphere and Twitter:

  • Nadine DeNinno said in the International Business Times: “I also can’t omit…Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo from the best dressed brigade”
  • DFR: The Daily Report’s Lieba Nesis: “Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President at Bergdorf’s, nailed the evening’s punk S&M look in a black Baroness dress with silver buckles, leather gloves and a wild hairdo- she always looks simultaneously young and age appropriate- a near impossible feat to achieve.”
  • Elva I Ramirez: “Most *amazing* (and truly punk) #metgala dress came unexpectedly from @Bergdorfs Linda Fargo.”

The May 5 Fetish Retinue in Time-Out New York’s “the Perfect Weekend” Page

 My May 5 Fetish Retinue, now held at Affaire, Ave B @ 4th St., was listed in this week’s print edition of Time-Out New York (page 32), under “Your Perfect Weekend”

Calling it “a friendly, not-too-serious kink soiree”, the accompanying photo depicts the hapless Poindexter letting Baroness cards fly after getting kicked in the cojones. The online version is less amusing.

Fetish Parties in New York
New York’s Intimate Monthly Fetish Party