Fashion: Carnival of Colour S/S'13 by Anya Ayoung Chee

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Cool Caribbean Confidence (Carnival of Colour)

I've been meaning to get back to my Soundtrack Saturday polyvore posts for absolutely ages now, (seriously, it's been months...) so when I saw that tech giant HP, and local darling, designer, and winner of Project Runway Season 9, Anya Ayoung Chee were collaborating with Polyvore in a contest to celebrate the debut of her Spring/Summer 2013 collection Carnival of Colour, I thought that now was as good a time as any to get back on the horse.

For what it's worth, I'm loving Anya's new collection. True to her aesthetic, it's full of breezy relaxed pieces infused with strikingly bold prints. You can't have a Carnival of colour without the COLOUR can you! My personal favourite piece is the gorgeous floor length dress in the bottom left corner. The cut is fabulous and flattering and the print is stunning. My only complaint? There is no way I could wear that dress with my massive boobs and not offend someone! The busty gals love your designs too Anya! Don't forget us!

Overall, the collection is very reminiscent of her winning Project Runway collection. The feel and flavour is the same, but with updated silhouettes, commanding prints and a brighter colour palette. The vibe is what is new. While her PR collection brought to mind images of lounging ladies who lunch, this new collection has a more relaxed feel to it. These are the clothes that the young and stylish wear during their regular lives; drinks with friends, brunch, and fetes on the Avenue. It's a brilliant fusion of her Trinidadian heritage and her New York fashion experience.

I had a lot of fun creating this set. I tried to look for pieces that not only complemented the clothing, but were also things that I thought Anya might wear herself. One of the things I admire about Anya's personal style is that she is very liberal with her visual references. Her inspirations are at once diverse and laser precise. It's a fine line to walk, and it can easily jump head first into gaudy, but Anya handles it with polish and grace.

Hop on over to Anya's Polyvore profile to catch a first look at the shots from the full collection before the official lookbook is released, and follow her on twitter for up-to-the-minute updates on her NYFW progress. Feel free to pin my set to polyvore, and also to create and enter your own!

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What do you think of Anya's newest offering? Which pieces are you coveting and will you be purchasing any of them? Which other designer's collections are you anticipating this season? Let me know in the comments section!

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