Tata-Naka Spring/Summer 2011

 

Trust Tata Naka, the brain child of twin sisters Tamara and Natasha Surguladze to bring something quirky and interesting in terms of a good, old fashioned runway show. There's no gimmick about the look of the clothes, there's no distraction with make up, hair or presentation on the models and I think I personally prefer the clean presentation which allows for a greater emphasise on the clothes themselves of this resort collection of ready-to-wear. As usual there's a few colours and surprising patterns all thrown in together for the collection, mainly vintage basics including mustard, ebony and grey as well as muted pink floral tones. 

 

Two or three of the dresses and skirts from the collection have this gorgeous detail which combines a sequin/ beaded look with ruffled feathers. It's a nice new reinvention of a 1920s flapper girl dress but it's a little more classy and updated with a loose and messy bun as well as bright pinky/ red lipstick. The dress shown above is my favourite piece from the entire collection for it's high scoop neck as well as shift dress structure- I'm in my element wearing a dress of that style and have something similar in plain black sequins but I quite like the beads along the neckline which look like a string of gems from afar. It's saves you having to choose something from your own collection of jewellery, but you could wear gold rings as well to really dress it up and be bombastic.

 

Catching on the trend of pleated maxi skirts comes a chic and very casual ensemble of a long mustard yellow skirt and a black sleeveless blouse with embroidered detail on the breast pocket. What I like about Tata Naka is that they don't indulge in Haute Couture shows and often their clothing is just really nicely constructed pieces in good prints and materials which are executed well. You don't feel intimidated by the seriousness and unrealistic standards of the models and that makes you feel that the clothes they wear are a little more accessible to you as a consumer.

 

The combination of sleeveless blouse, patterned pants as well as shoes are simply marvellous- this would look great if you were ever invited to a fancy game of lawn balls or a garden party. While I do like the look and everything about the outfit, I'm afraid that it wouldn't quite have the same effect and do me justice since I have dark brown hair and slightly tanned skin. It was a good call whoever decided that this outfit should be worn by this model because I really do believe that if I should ever get the blouse, the pants should also be worn with them too but one thing you must always remember when buying clothes is that they should suit the way you look as well as being a part of your style. Not just something that looks nice and pretty, no, things are a bit more complicated these days when it comes to personal presentation.

 

I love the beaded detail on these shorts and top- without the added sparkle the outfit would look plain and boring, something mass-produced from a store like K-Mart  but with the ruffle bead detail down the middle as well as the exquisite shape of the beads from afar and the darts up the sides of the shorts it looks like something really special. You could certainly wear something like this with pride to a garden show or something to do with flowers, maybe a lunch at a nice restaurant too?

 

Another simple structured piece are these chic and loose hemmed pants as well as the beaded detail around the sleeves of this blouse. The pursed lips of the model make me think that something more bold in deep dark red, maybe dark plum or even black could be used to add attitude to this otherwise plain and pretty ensemble. The billowing of the pants as the model walks looks really luxurious and once again, the hair pulled up in a messy bun with some intentional fly-aways makes the look seem all the more real but pretty.

 

This is my second favourite dress of the collection, for it's pink floral roses as well as the unusual structure at the top half of the dress. While I've never been much of a gambler or one to take any risks at all I would love to be able to wear a dress like this to the spring races in Melbourne and the black plain sandals intensify the dark green leaves and stems of the flowers in the pattern. There's a loose and casual style about the dress and it looks as it one arm is completely covered in sleeve on the right whereas there's a single strap on the left and the structure of the dress is completely different. It's sort of a Tarzan-meets-Jane dress with draping on one shoulder and clean lines over the other but I love it all and the new and interesting structure Tata Naka have created for their Spring/ Summer 2011 collection. I personally think it's always sweet to see florals and pastel colours for Spring- it cheers me up from the gloom of Winter.

 

For me, this dresses epitomises chic style as well as a Grecian goddess look if you choose to wear fringed sandals and clasp a glass of champagne in your hand. If you'll scroll above, you will also see the exact same structure of this dress except in a charcoal/ marle

 

The piece from this Summer/Spring collection which would best integrate into my wardrobe has to be this lovely printed and patterned chiffon skirt. The length is perfect if you're wearing ankle boots and still want to show them off without hiding them under the length of you're skirt and I love the way the colour playfully streaks across the length of it. It must be quite a long skirt, sitting on the tip of the model so the hem may hang a little lower on me but I'd love to wear it with some plain blouses from American Apparel in a whole range of colours.

 

The second favourite dress/ skirt and camisole combination of the collection is something else with a flapper girl style- I'm not sure how I feel about the full use of feathers on the skirt but at least the colour chosen isn't too loud and bold. It reminds me a little too much of Bjork's infamous swan dress but it is tasteful and chic and the beaded detail on the neckline as well as the high cut of the neckline of the dress shows off the collarbones well but is still modest. I love the way there's an in built necklace for the garment making it look even more glorious- it's simply genius. You don't have to worry about fastening any clasps or the necklace getting lost either!

Tata-Naka - Issue 2

While I do love a good flick through the pages of a magazine, my favourites being Vogue Australia and Russh today I have been busying myself with the Tata Naka online magazines instead of nosing through my own. I always feel a little wary about pinching the pages a little too tightly or even leaving sweat marks in Summer but with a new modern take on a publication it seems appropriate to have magazines made available online in this new and modern age of iPads, electronic tablets and computers. I love the whimsical nature of the rose petals falling gently as well as the long and tangling hair of the models wearing a sheer and chic beige material. It seems the shoes have gone better within their Summer/ Spring collection for 2012 with floral motifs on their shows and everyone's favourite pleated maxi skirts in a light weight material.

Tata Naka is the brain child between Georgian born identical twin sisters Natasha and Tamara Surguladze and their collaborative fashion label takes its name from their given childhood nicknames. The two graduated from Central St Martins in 2000 with a collection that launched their careers as reputable fashion designers with a shared identity.

Their newest resort collection for 2012 seems to be even more romantic than the 2011/2012 Autumn/ Winter collection which featured distinct 1950s inspired prints and colours as well as some smock dress structured dresses. This feminine and flirt appeal is clearly evident in their newest collection moving on from their plain white photo shoot and endorsing the use of numerous flowers as well as fake grass, rose petals and a stunning patterned feature wall in dark green.

The newest collection S/S12 took inspiration from the movement, colour, elaborate set design and choreography of Pina Bausch- a German performer of modern dance and ballet director. With movement and fluency of lines being a key motivator in the design of the dresses, Tata Naka designers and twin sisters Tamara and Natasha Surguladze used floral digital prints as a backdrop for the shoot before contrasting with hand painted interpretations of Pina's work, such as 'Talk to Her'.
From Issue 1, Taka Naka's last online magazine publication we were treated to artistic prints of 1950s inspired images, what well could have been movie posters or advertisements as well as romantic and swooning lovers. Within the S/S12 collection prints feature women dancing with linked arms, dance wear inspired shapes and a trio of dancers against a riot of pink carnations and an abstract of printed white dresses whirling in the dark.

If there's one thing that revs my engine it's an amazing pair of patterned pants and while I was initially drawn to jeans when this whole love affair began I've moved on to pleated pants. The slacks on the left teamed up with a plain white blouse would make a lovely and chic combination, something very appropriate to wear to say, the botanic gardens in your city or perhaps a dance recital. I love the contrast of pink on the knees with the mixing of blues and mustard yellow. The patterns from Tata Naka are always very intricate and full of detail, be assured that there is no detail and stone unturned in making the designs of their pants before digitally printing them for fabric.

Crossing more frontiers on what's the new classic piece and the modern, Tata Naka has jumped on the proverbial bandwagon creating pleated maxi skirts in dreamy pastel pinks as well as creating platform wedges and platform flats or 'flatforms' as they are sometimes known. I love the floral details on the t-bar straps of the pair of sheos on the right and the detail on the shoes in the middle. The shade of fuchsia shoes on the left go well with the make up and following the last online magazine in which the models were sporting pill box hats, they have been replaced with flowers sitting in the middle of the head this edition. I quite like the use of flowers instead of a hat, it seems more natural and romantic. I've always been a bit anti-race horse hats and the absurdity of it all but I do like the neat braid over the shoulder, bright lipstick and matching colourful flower. Tata Naka just seem to think of everything don't they?

Favourite pieces from this single stunning photograph include the asymmetrical cut on the skirt of the fuchsia pink dress on the far left as well as the pieces featuring the digitally printed rose and leaf motif cut symmetrically and visible on the far right and right. I really love the shoe designs as well, the thick and luxurious straps crossing one side of the foot to the other, the detail on straps as well as the colours. Check out the green and pink satin wedges on the second from the right- it seems fitting on a ballerina and I suppose this is when the inspiration from modern dance and ballet really shines through as well as the sheer skirts. The use of pink and green throughout the collection is a reflection of Pina Bausch's intricate set design.

 

The slip dresses from the resort collection feature asymmetrical lines, created by incorporating movement into the cut which results in a silhouette that dances across the body. I love the curls in the hair of the models as well as the tumbling petals and red luscious lips. While red may be the predominant and most eye-catching colour of this image, the tones of cream and brown are the perfect partners for it.

While tartans are usually reserved for meek school girls, I love the new and interesting cuts that they've chosen for their collection. I've never seen peplum frill skirt in a different material and pattern is new to me as well. I've absolutely fallen in love with the dress on the far left, I wish Tata Naka had an online store the sheer trail around the skirt is divine and I love the embroidered flowers on the pastel pink! The high scoop neck and sleeves of the dress don't make it showy and instead it's lovely and sweet. I have a soft spot for dresses that make me feel like a princess and this is definitely one of them. I have the perfect plastic rosary necklaces to wear with it since they're pale pink and purple too.

If you don't mind me saying so, that is one mean conga line of ladies with killer legs and wearing pink and nude coloured dresses. I particularly like this photograph because it gives a nice side view of the shoes and has a little more emphasise on them as well as the intricate trails around the dresses and asymmetrical shape. It's pulled off so well and with a lot of class unlike the cheap Chinese dresses manufactured by mass. The shoes and thick straps around the ankle remind me of the best of geisha sandals with silk and floral patterns as well as the striking black suede, which is then combined with dresses inspired by the fluency and freedom a dancer needs to perform. Very lightweight pieces which are suitable for Summer.
 

They certainly favoured this quartet of colours and models and even used four photographs of the same dresses and models with the different poses and props. I do love the different poses; standing, sitting and lying down and I suppose choosing between the four images would have been quite the task so why not include them all? It's interesting to see the two photographs below of the same position but from two very different camera angles and the effects it in turn achieves.
 

It must be the contrast of red petals on a black background as well as the delicate skin tone and light colour of the dresses worn by the girls flinging them that makes this photo so eye-catching. I wouldn't mind having a little patch of fake grass to call my own within my room- it must have been all the sorting of mugs I did while working in the Christmas season. I would sit down on the floor and take mugs out of their boxes and it was the closest thing I got to a break sometimes. So it's very christmassy and also brings back some good memories. It would look great underfoot for self-portrait photographs showing off outfits.

As well as digital printing, sheer and flowing asymmetrical trails around skirts and tartan patterns, sisters Tamara and Natasha of Tata Naka manage to bring something new and quirky to their collection, a Mexican style embroidered top with that looks like scalloping effect in blue stitching. That's what I admire about their fashion collections- it doesn't revolve around a single idea, motif or theme and incorporates a range of different techniques and styles to create exciting clothes.

For the more eccentric people within society here's something to feast your eyes on: a whole assortment of dresses and mish-mashed colours as well as patchwork skirts of different materials and digitally printed dresses. You can see the artistic flair the twin sisters of Tata Naka have but first creating their images in paint I assume and then digitally transferring them to fabric. There's elegant sleeveless dresses in a rainbow of colours, covered in etched out roses on the far right with a billowing and gathered skirt and kaftan styled dresses. I love the mixture of sea green and grey together on the dress second from the right, that's my favourite from this photograph.

Once again during a Tata Naka photo shoot there has been delectable pieces of food and drink floating around, although noticeably there was an absence of jelly about the place.I love seeing a stage hand from above dropping rose petals on two models just as cupid would and also the dramatic poses from one model in a champagne coloured dress and red lipstick. Those coloured drinks on the far right hand corner at the top are enough to make anyone thirsty.

Tata-Naka - Issue 1

Comparable to the Kaiser Chiefs fourth record, 'The Future is Medieval', fashion label Tata Naka have presented their wares in a new and exciting way as did the British Rock band; in their respective field of course. Tata Naka is the brain child between Georgian born identical twin sisters Natasha and Tamara Surguladze and their collaborative fashion label takes its name from their given childhood nicknames. The two graduated from Central St Martins in 2000 with a collection that launched their careers as reputable fashion designers with a shared identity.

The brand consists of two lines: Tata Naka which concentrates on innovative shapes and modern, clean lines whereas their other line, Stolen Memories celebrates the quirky and fun aspects of design and specialises in beautiful digital prints which are all produced from original artwork created by Tamara and Natasha. Tata Naka have also branched out into accessories with footwear, jewellery, swimwear and scarves and design a range of childswear dubbed Tata Naka Shrunk. With their wild and varied efforts within the fashion world and across so many different frontiers and types of clothing, it's no wonder that the British Fashion Council has awarded the designers the celebrated New Generation Awards at London Fashion Week a magnificent four times in a row.

I made the earlier comparison to the Kaiser Chiefs fourth record, 'The Future is Medieval' because as soon as I clapped my eyes on the website for Tata Naka I was reminded that there are very different ways of doing things whether that is giving listeners the power to make their own album and choose songs online or to present a fashion collection in more of a magazine/ portfolio presentation. I was just so impressed with the pages and photo shoot featuring several models at once as well as the cute little collage at the front of the presentation which is reminiscent of a real magazine. As well as a biography of the label (which I have already summarised) there has also been a behind the scenes look of their photo shoot and a summary of the patterns on the clothes that made the collection.

Put together like a real magazine, the contents of their website for Issue 1 of what is their 2011-2012 Autumn/ Winter collection there's a variety of colours, shapes and patterns as well as materials at work here. let's have a proper peak at the pages of the magazine shall we?

I feel like a kid in a candy shop just being able to look at all the wild colours and designs of these dresses! I can only imagine how bad I would get the shakes if I was able to see these designs come to life in a shop window display. There's such an enormous spectrum of colours which also incorporate 1950s style paintings recreated as images digitally printed onto fabrics. While it is a little hard to make out from the small size of the photograph, motifs on the dresses range from sunflowers and a Vincent Van Gough inspired look, lovers together possible inspired by old movie posters and vibrant colours. Without being transformed, cut and sewn into clothes, the drawings themselves by Tamara and Natasha could qualify as pieces of art within their own right but I love the use of scalloping effect for the dresses as well as the occasional fringing collared effect and chunky wedges in the style of moccasins.

As well as bright colours, it seems Tata Naka is also able to pull back from their wild and colourful designs and have a greater emphasise on style and structure for example this beige and grey coats adorned in the occasional frill of white fur. The use of a prop ladder for their photo shoot is an imaginative way for models to create different poses as well as change the height from one model to another; the ladder being particularly effective for the larger cast photographs. I like the use of the furry coats with the wedges, I know the perfect bag from Deadly Ponies to team up with the ensemble to create a warm and cosy feeling.

I love the matching of the red lipstick with the red of the shirts and skirts. One of the quirky features if the collection is the use of scalloping in a different way, Where Christopher Kane used scalloped effect on the edges and hems, Tata Naka has opted to use if on the neckline reminding me of scrap booking as well as fancy scissors.

I'm usually bored when a fashion labels collection revolves around the same ideas and themes, using a limited colour pallet which leaves me feeling bored with repetitive creations. But Tata Naka manage to delve into so many different elements all inspired by the 1950s from their campaign and movie posters to tweed, floral and three dimensional flowers, scalloping effects, peplum skirts as well as the unusual use of fur and feathered fringing. My favourite pieces within this photograph include the grey smock dress on the far left and the boned and pale pink bodice third from the right which flairs out and is covered in blue, dark blue and yellow fabric flowers. The tartan smock dress in grey has been nicely dressed up with a neckline covered in flowers and the dress is finished off with black feathered fringing. It would look beautiful worn by a starlet sitting in the front row of a prestigious runway fashion show.

This black dress seems so simplistic in its

 

Usually when a fashion label dabbles in such a wide variety of colours as well as patterns and prints there's less emphasise on a range of structures but within this single photograph there's high necked blouses decorated in flowers as well as 1960s style shift dresses covered in artistic digital prints, pleated slacks in tartan print and a long and flowing pleated skirt in a vertical floral print. The combination of tartan, flowers and prints of artistic women is all very reminiscent of famous horse races- it must be the pill box hat on the model in the middle as well as the 3/4 length sleeves of the blouses.

I've never seen abrand use such a wide variety of different colours within the one dress, you've got to admire the tenacity of Tata Naka for their use of furry fringing and high-necked variation of their dresses as well as using soft and black feathery material to trim the hemlines of their dresses. Then there's the updated look of pill box hats- now that's something I would dare wear at the races and proudly sport. It doesn't at all seem dowdy, the new lease on life for the design must be owed to the use of neatly made flowers as well as bright colours.

With the drawn back colour pallet of light brown and beige, the contrast of a beaded and golden collar attached to a jacket encrusted in silver gem stones along the sides.The yellow-red nail polish and deep, dark red lipstick contest well against the pleated tartan skirt and wedges with height and stature. You could easily recreate such an outfit using vintage pieces and beaded detachable collars. I never have been a fan of peplum skirts but my attitude has changed by seeing the minimalist combination of moccasin wedges, camel coloured skirt and a simple black long sleeve shirt. It's understate chic at its finest.

My favourite piece from this sassy photograph of eight models showcasing clothes from Tata Naka is the lovely lass sitting down in the front row on the right wearing a yellow and brown tartan dress with sharp pointed collar and long maxi skirt. I love the tight feeling of cuffs around my wrists and this piece is nicely updated with light brown flowers attached and bordering along the shoulders and middle of the dress making a sort of vest shape. I wouldn't mind doing my hair up in a neat chignon bun and wearing a wicked dragon ear cuff to add a little bit of attitude to the outfit. The shoes have been matched perfectly, I really love the collection's accessories.

Included at the end of the 'magazine' is a behind the scenes look at how the collection was brought together including early sketches of the outfits from the conception of the collection, images of the photo shoot in progress, make up sessions, Tamara and Natasha over seeing everything with a fine-tooth comb as well as a close-up of the pill box hat adorned in black feathers. As well as taking 1950s inspiration in their clothing, it seems that food was also a part of the flavour including two gorgeous looking jelly pieces covered in glazed of fruit and mixing wonderful colours together. I wouldn't mind being able to enjoy a little of that.

All these lovely designs and printed patterns are enough to make any girl feel homesick for her childhood full of drawing, pencils, crayons as well as pink paper. It's hard to imagine so much thought and meticulous detail going in to what now seems like such a small part of the garment construction process. While the fabric, wild colours and patterns are what first catches the eyes and attention of an audience it's also the way the garment is cut, sewn together and constructed that will affect the reception. All within the single collection there's diamonds, white tigers, floral motifs and star-eyed lovers. I can't wait to bring you more information about Tata Naka and other editions of their online magazine publications.