New York Fashion Week: Grey Ant

Never one to follow a trend, designer Grant Krajecki makes his own fashion statements. This season, he merged the style of the Kelly Bundy character from the television series “Married With Children” with early 1980s styles worn by Jessica Lange in the feature film “Tootsie” and the subtle color palette of the tweed fabrications found in films directed by Woody Allen.

“I always make the clothes I want to find in a thrift store but can’t,” said Krajecki. “I always try to shoot for what’s unavailable—a diamond in the rough,” he added. Krajecki said that for Fall 2007 he created a look that he could find in his mother’s or grandmother’s closet—old school. “Everybody’s so cool right now, and I’m trying to get away from that,” he said.

Krajecki presented his collection to a New York audience on Feb. 2 at the People’s Revolution New York Fashion Week Space in the Altman Building. A palette of black, brown, olive, gray, cream and gold metallic accented clean modern lines and Krajecki’s signature high waists and belted shapes.

The designer paired a Helmut Lang–inspired asymmetric one-shoulder top with high-waisted trousers and made ultra-short shirtdresses in lightweight cotton/wool and belted them at the waist. Krajecki used unusual fabrics from Nepal, such as a cotton jacquard on a short gray dress accented with a ruffled low V-neckline; a textured bulky cotton in a knit shawl; and a burgundy-and-black fabric on an ultra-short sexy sack dress.

Sexy body-skimming fabrics such as silk chiffon, gold lameacute;, velour and a slinky silk jersey accented the look. Graphic, triangular-shaped jewelry reminiscent of the 1980s, heavily made-up models and colorful large-rimmed glasses added to the effect. —N. Jayne Seward