Laurel Wells and Amy Wright Duo Designers Leave No Doubt May 23, 2005 Written by Kristina Weise Photographed by Evan Sung

Ladies of the Lower East Side, it is time to pay attention. A new wave of fashion is cresting over Manhattan thanks to designers Laurel Wells and Amy Wright. On May 23rd at Bar Eleven, “Mise En Scene, An Arrangement of Cloth,” was presented showcasing the two talents of these inventive visionaries.

Laurel Wells lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. The inspiration for her line, Laurie Loo, comes from “subconscious memories of the past, merged with an imagined future,” creating a functional and timeless quality within her clothing. Her pieces are clean, crisp, and encompass the feeling of spring. Wells’ knee-length skirt accompanied by a white vest with a thick blue line was just one of her many highlights. It is evident that Wells is in tune with what the women of today desire in fashion and it is great that we have her to dress us.

Amy Wright’s line stole the show with her bold and beautiful designs ranging from a black and white striped dress to a leather skirt with a matching arm glove. Yet the fairest design of them all was her ruffled princess dress with its tight, tattered, and sleeveless top. This piece radiated youth and displayed Wright’s ability to keep our generation moving forward in fashion. Her designs were innovative, creative and tasteful. One could envision seeing women from Midtown to Downtown wearing her pieces. The best part of Wright’s show, besides her extraordinary line, was the presentation of her couture. Wright’s catwalk told a story. She brought an actor onstage who was being teased by the femme fatale models who exuded confidence, beauty and power due to Wright’s artist eye.