Fashion designer Luke Aaron only had to travel around the corner from his Beacon Hill shop to find inspiration for his Spring/Summer 2017 collection. The tapestries, textured wallpaper and other decor at Mount Vernon Street’s Nichols House Museum provided plenty of design cues for his new gowns and cocktail dresses. They’ll make their debut on Sept. 28 during Boston Fashion Week in a Maison du Style presentation, which will have guests touring the 1804 townhouse while models wear pieces in the specific rooms that inspired their designs. It’s all part of a Design on the Hill partnership that aims to showcase the neighborhood’s artistic offerings. “It’s really about connecting design and fashion and style with art and history,” says Aaron, who gave us a tour and a sneak preview of his new designs.
The Salon
Aaron found inspiration in the blues, greens and grays of the tapestry hanging in the salon, a room where Rose Standish Nichols, the landscape architect, writer and suffragist who lived in the home from 1885 till her death in 1960, would “have different meetings and soirees with people, and would discuss art and literature,” he explains.
The Dining Room
In the dining room, embossed faux Japanese leather wallpaper with a vine pattern sparked the idea for embroidery and beading details seen throughout the entire collection. “You’ll see the same kind of embroidery,” Aaron explains, “but we’ve done it in different materials and different colors that relate to the color palette of each room.”
The Rose Nichols Bedroom
The bed’s canopy has floral embroidery that Aaron reinterpreted with a bohemian vibe in mind: “It’s a good way to take those period floral patterns and incorporate them into that flower child aesthetic.”
The Guest Bedroom
The guest bedroom’s wall color “inspired a rose-hued silk gown with an overlay of lace embroidered with roses,” Aaron says, noting that models in both bedrooms will sport pieces with softer color palettes that lean toward bridal.
Maison du Style is one of three Design on the Hill soirees happening during Boston Fashion Week, which runs from Sept. 23 through Sept. 30. Find deets on the other two happenings—a December Thieves presentation at Grogan & Company on Sept. 27 and an E.R. Butler & Co. installation at the Sloane Merrill Gallery on Sept. 29—at bostonfashionweek.com, and check out some other highlights below.
Kick off the week with a live sketch session with fashion illustrator Holly Nichols and a retrospective presentation of Denise Hajjar designs at 9OFS on Sept. 23.
Synesthesia Muse Design Collaborative’s tech-inspired couture makes its Boston debut at the W Boston lounge on Sept. 26.
Cambridge’s independent and locally owned designers and retailers show off their wares at the Look of Local Fashion Show at the Garment District on Sept. 27.
Hear fashion insiders talk success and setbacks at the poetry slam-inspired GlamSlam at Highball Lounge on Sept. 27.
Catch the latest in Firas Yousif bridal designs with his BLUSH&BRIDE 2017 collection runway show at the Mandarin Oriental on Sept. 30.
Close out the festivities with a Kreyol fashion installation/dance party at the House of Blues Foundation Room on Sept. 30.
Working the Room
Fashion designer Luke Aaron only had to travel around the corner from his Beacon Hill shop to find inspiration for his Spring/Summer 2017 collection. The tapestries, textured wallpaper and other decor at Mount Vernon Street’s Nichols House Museum provided plenty of design cues for his new gowns and cocktail dresses. They’ll make their debut on Sept. 28 during Boston Fashion Week in a Maison du Style presentation, which will have guests touring the 1804 townhouse while models wear pieces in the specific rooms that inspired their designs. It’s all part of a Design on the Hill partnership that aims to showcase the neighborhood’s artistic offerings. “It’s really about connecting design and fashion and style with art and history,” says Aaron, who gave us a tour and a sneak preview of his new designs.
The Salon
Aaron found inspiration in the blues, greens and grays of the tapestry hanging in the salon, a room where Rose Standish Nichols, the landscape architect, writer and suffragist who lived in the home from 1885 till her death in 1960, would “have different meetings and soirees with people, and would discuss art and literature,” he explains.
The Dining Room
In the dining room, embossed faux Japanese leather wallpaper with a vine pattern sparked the idea for embroidery and beading details seen throughout the entire collection. “You’ll see the same kind of embroidery,” Aaron explains, “but we’ve done it in different materials and different colors that relate to the color palette of each room.”
The Rose Nichols Bedroom
The bed’s canopy has floral embroidery that Aaron reinterpreted with a bohemian vibe in mind: “It’s a good way to take those period floral patterns and incorporate them into that flower child aesthetic.”
The Guest Bedroom
The guest bedroom’s wall color “inspired a rose-hued silk gown with an overlay of lace embroidered with roses,” Aaron says, noting that models in both bedrooms will sport pieces with softer color palettes that lean toward bridal.
Out for Style
Maison du Style is one of three Design on the Hill soirees happening during Boston Fashion Week, which runs from Sept. 23 through Sept. 30. Find deets on the other two happenings—a December Thieves presentation at Grogan & Company on Sept. 27 and an E.R. Butler & Co. installation at the Sloane Merrill Gallery on Sept. 29—at bostonfashionweek.com, and check out some other highlights below.
Kick off the week with a live sketch session with fashion illustrator Holly Nichols and a retrospective presentation of Denise Hajjar designs at 9OFS on Sept. 23.
Synesthesia Muse Design Collaborative’s tech-inspired couture makes its Boston debut at the W Boston lounge on Sept. 26.
Cambridge’s independent and locally owned designers and retailers show off their wares at the Look of Local Fashion Show at the Garment District on Sept. 27.
Hear fashion insiders talk success and setbacks at the poetry slam-inspired GlamSlam at Highball Lounge on Sept. 27.
Catch the latest in Firas Yousif bridal designs with his BLUSH&BRIDE 2017 collection runway show at the Mandarin Oriental on Sept. 30.
Close out the festivities with a Kreyol fashion installation/dance party at the House of Blues Foundation Room on Sept. 30.
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