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Pretty Scary

Using a jumble of sweet ’60s florals, boxy silhouettes, quirky layers, and a touch of ’90s grunge, fashion designer Chris Benz delivers a bag lady-chic vibe for Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week that’s made a bit off-kilter by—would you believe—ghostly geishas?

Before delving into the dark side of pretty, we just have to say that Benz’s penchant for mixing patterns and power-piling layers of different textiles has real curb appeal.

His piece-pairings are no different. (Imagine wearing a bright marigold printed blazer with a vibrant green and orange pencil skirt, and you’re right on the right track.)

Adding to his eclectic fashion sense, Benz collaborated with Cambridge Satchels to create tasty arm candy—purses, that is—for the show, as well as Alejandro Ingelmo, who added to Benz’s lively mashup with t-strap shoes in pattern-matching designs.

Tiny Tim Meets Geisha

Of course, when a creative genius with hot pink hair spends any amount of time in urban Japan, it’s inevitable that his vision will take an Eastern turn.

Focusing on this country’s youthful obsession with ancient horror films and Tiny Tim, who trilled his way through endless renditions of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” Benz added a macabre element to his spring presentation by pushing the boundary between what’s pretty and pretty darn scary via makeup and hair.