Is this palpable carte blanche a new evolution that takes influences in the off-beat, road track of modern America? Weaving through the microcosms of New York City allows for a first undertaking in visualising new individuals who have taken up the arm band of precursor designers. And within this, a new creative has emerged by the name of George McCracken.
George McCracken, who initially studied Painting at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) appears to be an aptly simply dressed American designer with his toned down open shirt and smooth parted dark hair. If you sweep through his earlier work that has already contained one accomplished collection and a winter jeans collection, the art-direction and ensemble McCracken has orchestrated appears to be more of a European aesthetic than of American. Yet it faithfully returns as an American ensemble through the zipped anorak jackets, pocket knitwear and lightweight marle knitwear that softens the quintessential suit that has longed consummated the work by Pierre Cardin.
The impressive strengths in his second dedicated collection, presented at John Connelly Presents Gallery, was the simple impact of the colours that were forayed in-between superb-cut tailoring that of which McCracken has sought from both Italian and Japanese fabrics and manufactured in small specialist factories in New York. He presented a series of blazer jackets either three or two buttoned breasted with the traditional three flap combination matched with front flat trousers in wool flannel and cotton. The striped point buttoned and gingham shirting were adorned by flattering v-neck sweaters, one of which came in bright red, and high voluminous neck sweaters in heather brown and taupe toggled the presence of a double breasted coat in great stature. The suave black oxford brogues and American heritage boots with punch hole patterns in its leather upper were strong indications that the blazer as part of a suit no longer constrained by a typical office attire arrangement but can work with more knitted and ribbed fabrics and selvage denim with great ease.
