WALERIA TOKARZEWSKA-KARASZEWICZ SPRING/SUMMER 2016

The world full of fairies and princesses with majestic costumes. This is the world where Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz feels the most comfortable.

Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz Spring/Summer 2016

Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz

Has Time On Her Side

November 30, 2015

By Marius Brianski

Images Courtesy of Mike Pasarella

Lodz, Poland – Polish designer Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz is known for her luxurious and almost couture-style garments. In her new collection, we find themes of Orient and Russian splendor. There are hand established embroideries and a mixing of fabric weights and textures which are her “go to” inspirations.

After 2 strong collections one can get the impression the designer, who also is the winner of the SEAT motors sponsored design competition, is trying hard to make something new. The contest theme of “fiery Seat” is one thing, but meeting it with one’s point of view another.

We can find beautiful, rich dresses and faux fur coats, which remind of a childhood girl’s fantasy of playing dress up with clothes from her grandmother’s closet. The world full of fairies and princesses with majestic costumes. This is the world where Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz feels the most comfortable. Yet she teams that up with weak printed cocktail dresses and Polka dots. This latter seemed to come from nowhere. The richness and pompous side is still here and luckily overpowers the weaker silhouettes.

The voluminous bottoms, substantial ornamentation, waist defining corsets, silks, wool, jacquard, sequins and wild flower prints present in the collection somehow create a nostalgic and romantic feeling like from a vintage film. The Spanish inspiration is visible in the necklines, flaring and flouncy skirts and the prints. Unfortunately the energy of the work is toned down with the use of pastel or happy looking colors. This would perhaps work better if spicy or darker colors were instead used.

Though there are many visually interesting things in the collection, Waleria Tokarzewska-Karasiewicz should be advised to develop her signature style more. But as she is a young talent, time is on her side.