TEEN VOGUE Fashion University

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. With the best of American sportswear, European craftsmanship and the ever-evolving concept of modernity as his guides, 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 with the Fall/Winter 2007 season, drawing relevance and inspiration from his love of 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 premiere 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. The designer is also acclaimed for his inventive subversion of traditional dressmaking codes and techniques, like the t-shirt expertly cut and rendered in an elegant fabric, or the resort gown with the simplicity of a pareo. His witty, distinct point-of-view has been described as “perfect imperfection,” and the result is meant to feel accessible without sacrificing personality, and to reflect the dialogue between the wearer’s style and her real life.

Benz says, “I started my line to address the principles I felt the fashion industry had started to abandon. At one extreme, the market seemed to be full of basics that, however beautifully made, were uninspired—and yet still managed to be priced beyond the reach of many of the women who love and follow fashion. The other end of the market was totally trend-driven: a hit one season and irrelevant the next. Unfortunately, neither really reflects how people shop anymore—people are tired of mandates, or making sacrifices to be fashionable. So every season begins for me with the pieces that always work, the things that we return to again and again: versatile tailored pieces, great knits, go-anywhere dresses. Then, I look at those fundamentals through the lens of a particular mood or theme, and add unexpected elements to make them feel charming, unique. Above all, I want women to be able to inhabit my clothes, love them regardless of the season, and to express their own imaginations.”

Chris Benz has 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. The collection is available in stores throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

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