Day One NYFW: Mara Hoffman! -- She never lets us down!

By Tiffany Olsen

Mara returned to her tribal roots for her Fall Presentation with a more editorial collection, featuring long gowns and bringing back bold color and dramatic styling. The juxtaposition of spiritual being and warrior, “where veil meets turban,” provides a jumping point for the collection’s aesthetic.

What: Mara Hoffman Fall 2011 Presentation 

When: Thursday Feb., 10th, 3:30pm

Where:  Lincoln Center, The Box 

Mara Hoffman's collection caused quite the stir today at the tents at Lincoln Center, as models lined up on 2 white platforms, no runway needed.  The overall look stuck to Mara's tribal tendencies.  With the sounds of a live Japanese band known as Water Fai performing mostly celestial and sometimes even aquatic sounding tunes, the mood for this show was very airy and certainly had a cohesive, earthy feel.  Turbans, braids, bold prints, and long flowing dresses were a mainstay.  As if we needed another reason to wish for warmer weather, this collection had us fantasizing about a breezy vacation with lots of fresh air and beautiful scenery.  Our favorite look was the very low V cut long black and white dress with the black tassels.  Love!  Mara took us on a mini vacation with this collection, and we loved it!!

Ahhh, we just love Mara. She never lets us down!

Mara Hoffman....always perfection!

For her new Swim range for Spring 2011, Mara Hoffman was originally inspired by the Ndebele tribe from South Africa and Zimbabwe. The colorful, geomet ric paintings on the homes of the tribes influenced a new original print by Hoffman and served as a central point for the look and feel of this collection. The "Etching" print has an African mud-cloth feeling and and the colorful "Web" print has a Batik effect. 

Silhouettes are  more feminine and flirty than in previous seasons, with a bit of a retro vibe.  New shapes include a ruffle bustier bikini, a triangle top and boy-short bottom and side-tie string bikini with bead detail, while continuing popular signature shapes such as the V-wire bustier bikini, ring one-piece and the embroidered bustier bikini (which was introduced with the resort delivery and is now offered in new embroidery colors, see Blue colorway attached). All styles will also be available in solid White, Blue and Black. There are also 2 cover-up styles. including knot sleeve tunic (in Etching prints) and maxi tank dress (in Aztec prints). 

The Mara Hoffman Swim collection is available at top specialty retailers and department stores worldwide, including ShopBop.com, Intermix, Bloomingdale's, Saks, Harvey Nichols and many more and also recently launched on Net-A-Porter, both in the US and the UK. 

SPRING TREND REPORT: MARA HOFFMAN

For her Spring/Summer 2011 collection, designer Mara Hoffman took a more casual approach in the overall look and feel of the line. Inspired in part by her own personal style of dressing, Hoffman introduced what she calls a "military gone native" theme. 

The collection features vibrant prints with mystical and ethnic influences, in keeping with Hoffman's signature aesthetic yet adding new detailing and techniques, such as solids with embroidered pockets or waistbands, braiding and fringe. 

Loose summer knits are styled with cool, casual and very wearable pieces that will become great summer staples. The Spring collection will be sold at retail stores including Intermix, Nordstrom, Revolve Clothing, ShopBop.com, Dash, Planet Blue, Bleu, Atrium, Stanley Korshak, Anthropologie and many more. 

Designer/Socialite Nicky Hilton recently wore one of Mara's new Spring dresses to an event in Tampa, FL and we are just dying over it. 

Hoffman hits on several trends of the moment:

Ethnic/African: Vibrant Prints, Colorful Embroidery, Braided Detailing

Army/Military: Army Gre en Canvas and Khaki Silk, Rompers and Separates

Animal Prints: Khaki Cheetah 

Colorful Printed Cropped Pants

Stay tuned for Mara Hoffman Fall 2011 -- we will be bringing you all the NYFW coverage next month and Mara Hoffman is always a cucpakeMAG favorite!

currently obsessed with the Mara Hoffman Shawl Collar Wrap Coat

two words: to die! 


The bestselling Mara Hoffman coat has returned to Intermix & we are very excited! It is so practical yet stylish which is the perfect chic combo. We love the wide shawl collar and the slimming cut. Grab it in grey or camel. Oh, it's lined too! 

SPOTTED!! --- Katy Perry shows Mara Hoffman some LOVE

We have always been long-time fans of Mara Hoffman and now we can add yet another celeb follower to the list. Katy Perry was spotted leaving Trousdale night club with her beau, Russel Brand in West Hollywood last Friday.

Dress of choice? The New Back Cowl dress from Mara Hoffman's

Spring 2010 collection in guatemala violet print.

About Mara Hoffman:

Mara Hoffman, a New York City based fashion designer, graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City and studied at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London before launching her eponymous ready-to-wear collection in 2000. Born in Buffalo, New York, the former dancer got her big break when Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field stopped her on the street of New York City to complement her outfit. Field picked up Hoffman’s samples and sold them in her shop, House of Field. Not long after, a loyal client base was formed.

The Mara Hoffman line has evolved from hand-dyed silhouettes to her current collection, which concentrates heavily on original silk prints and encompasses everything from dresses, leggings and blouses to coats, knit sweaters and scarves. Hoffman continuously draws inspiration from nature and fantasy, often finding creativity from her own travels around the world. Hoffman’s colorful designs have garnered recognition among celebrities such as; Katy Perry, Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Lauren Conrad, Eva Longoria Parker, Whitney Port and Ginnifer Goodwin. Mara Hoffman is currently available through top retailers worldwide.

Photo Credit: Just Jared Blog (http://justjared.buzznet.com/)

We LOVE Mara Hoffman -- Fall/Winter 2010 Collection

New York based ready-to-wear designer Mara Hoffman presented her Fall/Winter 2010 collection during New York Fashion Week, on Thursday, February 11th.

This season Hoffman opted to show her collection in a presentation setting, adding in artistic elements such as an original film, a collage like dream setting following witches as they fall into “Hysterical Levitation”, starring Isabelle McNally, and is styled by Masha Orlov. There was also a musical performance by Living Sacrifice-www.allforthemountain.com.

Twenty live models were shown wearing looks from the Fall/Winter collection. “Being a fan of performing and visual arts, this was the perfect format to display the collection,” said Hoffman. “The setting will be mystical and cosmic with ceremonial elements incorporated to full immerse the audience and allow one to really connect with the collection.”

The Fall/Winter 2010 collection is futuristic, chic with strong feminine direction, which translated into a variety of unique silhouettes, abstract prints, and detailed designs with a range of dark and soft colors. The line includes dresses and separates with mixed print and solid combos, with ruching details and different textures combined together within a single garment, as well as solid metallic gunmetal jackets. The collection features bold prints in darker tones with pops of colors such as red, greens, blues and purple. Fabrics used are washed silks, printed chiffons, silk jersey mixed with suede and velvet chiffon burnout.

Hoffman’s designs have garnered recognition among celebrities such as; Katy Perry, Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Lauren Conrad, Eva Longoria Parker, Whitney Port and Ginnifer Goodwin. Mara Hoffman is currently available through top retailers worldwide.

For more on Mara Hoffman check out the blog here.