designer q+a | helmut lang + ld tuttle | fall 2012

words_dena rochelle

There are three reasons why I’m incredibly excited about this feature: Helmut Lang, LD Tuttle and Game of Thrones. I am obsessed with all three and have been for some time now. So what do you get when you combine them? An edgy collection of boots that will have people doing double takes when you walk by wearing them. Here’s what Tiffany Tuttle has to say about this rad collaboration:

Dena ~ Your designer collaboration partners have a similar vibe and aesthetic to your namesake collection. What is it about Helmut Lang that makes it such a good fit for you brand?

Tiffany ~ “There is definitely a very strong aesthetic connection between Helmut Lang and LD Tuttle. The mood and feeling of both collections are strongly aligned. I also think that the way we work (they with clothing and myself with shoes) is very similar; focusing on draping, strong silhouettes and development of unusual materials. Shape and line is very important to Nicole and Michael and that is something that I really like focusing on when I am designing. Everything they were saying really made sense to me as we were working.”

Dena ~ Were a Game of Thrones fan before you started working on this collection?

Tiffany ~ “I definitely was a Game of Thrones fan before! It was funny because when we met to start working on the season, Nicole and Michael asked me if I had heard of this new show called Game of Thrones. I got so excited because I love that show—they probably thought I was crazy.”

Dena ~ Do you have a favorite character or inspiration for these designs?

Tiffany ~ “My two favorite characters are Khaleesi (Daenerys Targaryen) and Arya Stark. But when designing, I was definitely thinking more of what the characters in the North are wearing—creating something strong and protective feeling. We wanted to have a hint of the roughness that is in the show but with more of a clean and modern feeling.”

Dena ~ How did you come up with the color palette and print of these designs?

Tiffany ~ “The prints are from Helmut Lang and are what they used for the their clothing. We had the prints done on leather for the shoes. I love the way they turned out with their dark romantic feeling. The colors as well were based on what they were doing with the clothing. We brought the stingray into the heels as a luxurious but tough texture to highlight the spine of the wedge.”

Dena ~ Is this silhouette something you’ve experimented with before or is it an all-new design for Helmut Lang?

Tiffany ~ ”The shoes are a mix of new ideas and concepts that I have worked with before. We wanted to do something that was tough and strong but also minimal and very clean looking. I started from the idea of using elasticated leather inserts as I have done before in my collection and built the shoes from there. The shapes of the last (toe shape) is new and something that we created specifically for this collection.”

Dena ~ Where would you wear them?

Tiffany ~ “The flat over-the-knee boots I would wear anywhere! I love the idea of wearing them with a skirt or shorts so they are like long leather stockings. These boots are perfect for my life since I travel so much. They are the type of thing that I can wear casually when I am working but also will give an edge or make an outfit look special when I go out. As for the wedge boots, they are super comfortable. I was just trying on a pair of production at the factory. I have not been wearing heels a lot lately (I hate to say but is probably a consequence of just having a baby!) but the midnight floral printed booties will be the heels that I wear in NY and Paris this fall during fashion week.”

Dena ~ Are there any RTW items from the fall 2012 Helmut Lang collection that you’ll be wearing this fall? Faves?

Tiffany ~ “I really want a pair of the printed leggings or one of the printed dresses to wear with my printed boots. I love the idea of my shoes matching the print of their clothes.”