Situated snugly in the community of westside Chelsea galleries, Tanner Fletcher’s “The Artist’s Dilemma” read as an exhibition unto itself, resplendent in a white-box space full of unique personas draped in the brand’s lace-forward, richly-colored garments.
This season’s worldbuilding by designers Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell was all about narratives and the applicable clothing that inhabits them. Models — some original supporters, some street cast, and some familiar faces like Dylan Mulvaney (who loves the brand so much, she asked to be in the show), Vienna Skye and Christina Grasso — held their own in specific scenes, which tied into the garments on view.
These included “Cameraman” (a sequined blazer, white shirt and bleached buzzcut), “Loves Me, Loves Me Not” (a glossy, cream gown and dainty black gloves) and “Portrait of a Pinksuit” (a get-up that bears little mystery with a fun, knotted white scarf).
“We like to design a collection like an interior designer would design a room. Start with the color palette, add in a pattern or two, find ways to add some warmth, a bit of texture and a lot of character,” the duo shared in “The Blank Canvas,” a newspaper-style zine featuring show notes and photos of the collection. The team also took advantage of the zine to showcase four looks from their wedding offerings: a cocktail of classics and signature experimentation with quippy language (“Jeans at your wedding, oh yes we did.”)
What eagle-eyed fans may have noticed this season is a further balancing-out of the women’s to men’s ratio. Additionally, the toolbox of interiors-based inspirations that the brand pulls from was folded into functional looks that carry the look and feel of a classic Tanner Fletcher piece. A puff sleeve dress and top carry the toile print of an idyllic country scene, and a suit jacket bears buttons featuring miniature portraits of a feminine figure.
The high-low matrix was standardized through this collection as well, with the inclusion of eclectic items like a sheer raincoat in a white doily print, butter-yellow coat with frilly trim and chocolate pinstripe blazer, all featured with denim bottoms in various levels of fray and inseam.
“There are two key pieces in this collection – the Artist’s Dilemma shirt and the Artist’s Dilemma ball gown,” Richie explained at the presentation, in a black pinstriped look featuring lace trim on the collar and sleeves. The ball gown includes four different bow types, plenty of gathered ruffles and a layer of poplin with tulle underneath. The shirt houses a puff sleeve on one side only, ruffles on one side of the placket and mismatched cuffs (one featuring the ruffle style of the Julian shirt and one in exaggerated size proportion).
“Suddenly all these elements make sense together and create a visually stimulating, yet refined garment,” the show notes read.
The underpinning of a Tanner Fletcher collection is joyful experimentation. As with its rich wealth of past collections, this season explores the space between wearability and art. Illustrating this beautifully at the presentation was painter Jeannette Getrost, a real-life manifestation of the brand’s ethos. As guests milled about taking photos and admiring the new season looks, she painted a white poplin bustier ball gown on a model, furthering the Tanner Fletcher story with every stroke of the brush.
Photos courtesy of Tanner Fletcher
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