Barli Asmara may be known to you for his delicate and ultra-feminine bridal offerings, but the designer has now set foot into the world of affordable ready-to-wear clothes with his latest collection
Barli Asmara may be known to you for his delicate and ultra-feminine bridal offerings, but the designer has now set foot into the world of affordable ready-to-wear clothes with his latest collection.
After a preview on the catwalk of Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2020 last October, Asmara by Barli Asmara has finally launched, selling exclusively on e-commerce platform Sorabel.
Attendees to the JFW presentation would notice the inclusion of plus-size models in the show, which was a sign of things to come, as the collection goes up to XL.
Prices start at Rp 169,000 (US$11.99) for a blouse and top out at Rp 329,000 for a maxi dress, which signifies that Barli is aiming at the lower end of the spectrum and charging below the usual for international fast fashion.
Some designers are of the opinion that designing cheap, affordable clothes is harder than high-end couture, and Barli is no exception. Before getting into the project, Barli said he wondered whether he could design something for the Rp 150,000 mark.
“Sorabel provided input and data showing that the Rp 150,000 range is very popular with consumers across Indonesia, as is the larger sizes. The JFW presentation with the plus-size models wasn’t just a gimmick, but it was about giving plus-size consumers a designer option for their wardrobe,” he said before the collection’s launch.
The collection itself is classic Barli Asmara: feminine with classic, almost-vintage vibes while still modern enough to blend in with everyday life.
A case in point was the launch of the collection, where, instead of regal hotel ballrooms or glitzy catwalks, the fashion show was held at Ayodya Park, South Jakarta.
Barli said staging an outdoor show was a “dream come true” for him and acknowledged that it was a trend, with Jacquemus’ Spring/Summer 2020 show held in a lavender field in the south of France.
Choosing a venue amid Jakarta’s humidity and constant hum of traffic was perhaps a way to illustrate the line’s versatility should its wearer venture outside of climate-controlled buildings.
Ayodya Park’s greenery and the occasional blue buses passing by in the background proved to be a fine contrast to the collection’s color palette, or rather the lack of it.
Whereas black, white and everything in between would normally be used as a counterbalance to vibrant tones, Barli’s latest offering provides you with a choice of either black, white or both. No ifs and buts.
The minimalist color scheme does serve to simplify one’s wardrobe and arguably the production process of the clothes, yet it complements the feminine design elements due to the vintage aesthetic the designer was going for.
Lace and ruffles came together for a style you’d normally associate with summers of days long gone, though the ones in black exude a sense of either mourning or gothic.
However, the presentation does spruce things up with the styling, pairing the pieces with floppy summer hats tied with tulle along with open straw totes that hint at summer picnics.
Still, some looks are perhaps more Harajuku than Provence, like a black blouse layered under a sheer white outerwear with tiered ruffle detailing on the sleeves.
This look was paired with fitted black trousers, in turn layered under another pair of trousers in sheer white lace with additional ruffle detailing for the knees and calves.
Other styles are more straightforward, such as a knee-length black lace dress with skin-colored inserts and ruffle detailing. Of course, the presentation spruced it up with a tied hat and lace gloves for aesthetic purposes, but that should be an alternative if you’re feeling melancholic for brunch.
When it comes to styling, the key part was perhaps the layering, like in elevating a casual black-and-white floral dress into runway-ready looks through white lace outers that blend into grey.
The same goes for other, simpler items in the line, like a white dress with black lace trims under maxi black tulle for contrast or white lace for synergy.
Whether or not you’ll try on Barli’s latest collection using Sorabel’s try-before-pay service, the main takeaway is that sheer outerwear can really elevate a look.
— Photos courtesy of Sorabel
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