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CHRIS BENZ
American Fashion Designer
Chris Benz is an American designer whose bold, exuberant collections convey a sense of history as well as progress, and a keen understanding of the emotional, vibrant aspects of how women want to dress. Guided by an affinity for “perfect imperfection,” Benz brings new life to the canon of women’s wear essentials each season.
Benz attended the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York, where, in 2004, he was recognized with the coveted “Emerging Designer Award” from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). He launched his eponymous collection in February 2007, drawing relevance and inspiration from his own life experience, his love of sportswear, popular culture, art and architecture, as well his work at Marc Jacobs and J. Crew, the venerable institution of classic American design.The New York Times immediately dubbed the premier collection “the best example of the heightened level of sophistication that is expected of new designers today.”
Chris Benz signatures include unabashed use of color and texture, and deft use of prints. Another hallmark is the designer’s application of the principles of luxury to everyday items (as in the t-shirt expertly cut and rendered in an elegant fabric) tempered by injection of complete ease into special ones (like the resort gown with the simplicity of a pareo). It’s a witty, distinct point-of-view that feels accessible without sacrificing its personality, and understands the importance of a dialogue with the wearer’s needs and real life.
Benz says “When I started my line, I observed how designer clothing seemed stuck. At the one extreme, there was devotion to correctness, with basics that are beautifully made but too expensive. The other end of the market is totally trend-driven: a hit one season and irrelevant the next. Unfortunately, neither really reflects how people shop anymore -- fashion is no longer about sacrifices or mandates. So a point of departure for me is the codes of dress that we return to again and again, which then I work into things that feel new, weaving the familiar with the unexpected. For me, this is what enables the wearer to really inhabit the clothes, love them regardless of the season, and to express her own imagination.”
Chris Benz and his collection have been featured extensively in such publications as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Women’s Wear Daily, Spur, and international editions of Vogue, Glamour, In Style, and is available in stores throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
Video courtesy of Stylecaster
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Chris Benz Tags on Style.com
Chris Benz Photos on PatrickMcMullan.com
Chris Benz Mentions on NYMag.com
CHRIS BENZ Online
Chris Benz on Guest Of A Guest
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| My Work | |
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| Past | ||
| 10/14/2009 | MAD PAPERBALL | |
| 09/14/2009 | CHRIS BENZ Spring/Summer 2010 Present... | |
| 09/11/2009 | BING hosts a celebration of THE RACHE... | |
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Charlotte Ronson and JCPenney Celebra... |
| 06/10/2009 | Men.Style.com and GQ Host Women of Fa... | |
| 05/11/2009 | THE CINEMA SOCIETY & THE WALL STREET ... | |
| News and Editorial Mentions | edit |
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This Month | |
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Your Thursday Twitter Roundup (StyleCaster 2009-11-06) |
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Culture Club: Allison Sarofim's 80s Bash (WWD 2009-11-02) |
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Years for Fears (Style.com 2009-11-02) |
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This Year | |
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The MAD Paperball and More: My Night in Pictures (StyleCaster 2009-10-15) |
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Fashion Week Recap [Fashion] (Cityfile 2009-09-16) |
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Rebecca Minkoffs Return To Ready-To-Wear, Chris Benz Plays With Pastels, & Were Packing Our Bags With Carlos Miele (Guest of a Guest 2009-09-15) |



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