On a rainy afternoon, WAG catches up with designer Neil Bieff during a visit to Mary Jane Denzer’s store next to The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in White Plains. We last chatted with Bieff about his experiences in the fashion industry and his finesse for creating clothing that emphasizes the female figure. (See November 2014’s “Power Couples” issue.)
Now he shares with WAG his latest creations — a collection of airy, chiffon dresses for the spring and summer months.
“For spring, I have boosted the intensity of the colorations, with purple and lilacs predominating, either in the trim or layered underneath with other colors and highlighting the mixed prints I have done,” Bieff says. “I have not done as many printed pieces in years.”
Bieff’s newest clothing includes an assortment of day and evening dresses, in addition to delicate blouses and form-fitting skirts. Bieff consistently uses chiffon and detailed needlework throughout the collection.
“I almost always work in sheer or semi-sheer cloth, which affords me the opportunity to layer colors and to vary how and where the body is covered, lightly or heavily, or not at all,” Bieff says. “As for embroideries, all over or as details, they are my signatures.”
Bieff’s favorite design is a mid-calf, fitted and flared dress — a combination of his favorite prints with a wide, sheer border of purple organza, fitted with a malachite belt whose reverse side is suede.
“It screams warm weather,” he says of the dress.
All of Bieff’s clothing can be customized to accommodate the client’s needs. Understanding that all bodies are different, Bieff tailors his clothing to please the individual, not the masses.
“Almost everything can be adapted to a customer’s needs and figure and reprinted into hundreds of color ways. This is what my business is about.”
For more on Bieff’s collection, visit mjdenzer.com or nielbieff.com.