The first collection to hit the runway at the Greek American Fashion Week Show was one of New York’s own — the Astoria, Queens, born Tatiana Raftis, whose parents hail from Greece and Cyprus. Raftis studied evening-wear design at FIT, The Fashion Institute of Technology, here in New York, and her Spring/Summer 2013 collection boasted drop-dead-gorgeous gowns and dresses for formal occasions. Raftis’ clothing designs are statement pieces that are sure to turn heads.
Raftis’ Spring/Summer 2013 collection is for any woman who wants to exude femininity but still possess a bit of edge. Her dresses evoke medieval princesses who know how to yield a sword. They’re pure romance with florals, pastels, and sequins, and yet the jagged cuts and use of black suggest an intense passion to be reckoned with.
My personal favorites were the dusty lavender gown with the dramatic slit, which someone better snatch up for the next Oscars, as well as the sequined pink shorts, which were styled so perfectly with a white shirt and pink bolero so as to make the outfit look hot yet not overdone.
Tatiana Raftis provides custom orders for clients out of her Queens studio.
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 