September 4, 2007

Considering that the FORM designers Jerry Tam and Erik Heck drew their inspiration from architecture, it comes as no surprise that their presentation was held at the sleek Soho Grand Hotel. The sampling of the collection reflected principles of the Russian Constructivist Movement of the 1920’s, which emphasized strength of line and composition in form. Tam commented on the label’s desire to create “infinite patterns” likes those found in a honeycomb. Tam and Heck chose a slick, metallic palette and accented a few pieces with chartreuse to make them pop. By using delicate fabrics such as charmeuse and chiffon, FORM was able to blend their strong composition while still creating a curvy silhouette. The vast majority of the pieces were party dresses—which Tam recommends for the women at Columbia—but could just as easily be worn by a paparazzi-seeking socialite.  FORM is a veteran label, and its designers boast resumes citing Zac Posen and Helmut Lang. This expertise may explain why the line is so solid and well-crafted, but not why it’s easily forgettable.