I spend most of my days talking about jeans...jeans, jeans and more jeans. But that's okay, because I love the stuff...Obviously. Be that as it may, it's always nice to have a diversion every once in a while like sportswear or accessories. Fortunately for me this is easy since many of the larger denim brands have expanded into these areas anyway.
It's rare, however, and a delight, to be able to visit a company like Charley 5.0. The reason is because they work almost exclusively with denim, but have made a name for themselves producing apparel that goes beyond mere jeans. With Charley 5.0 a denim shirt or dress isn't something slipped into the collection to make it interesting. Skirts, dresses, jackets and shirts are given equal air time with their fabulously fitting skinny jeans --if not sometimes the very focal point of the collection.
A few days ago Charley 5.0 presented Spring 2011 and some Resort/Holiday 2010 at an evening cocktail event on their 20th floor balcony in midtown. And before I get into it let me first say they served the best meatball hors d'oeuvres I've ever tasted from the Meatball Shop in the Lower East Side. Delish! But I digress. As usual I was enamored with the non-jeans; the body-con denim dress with the hand-made black flowers at the bottom, the easy breezy skirt that would also be great as a strapless dress, the tight-fitting skirts and the jumper with the knit bottom and denim top. This brand does the non-jean so well that I am sure they could pull off a red carpet dress in head to toe denim if they wanted to.
For those that are concerned with jeans, they are still well-made with the softest finishing and the lightest weight denim. Tasteful embellishments, which are complementary and not overpowering, decorate some items such as all over studding or crystals at the hem. Best of all, they still come in the body-hugging styles that we've all grown to love.
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