A Central Saint Martins grad and former Martin Margiela alum, Lutz has since paired with business partner David Ballu to present his namesake line. The German-born designer has been showing in Paris since 1998

Lutz, Designer

and has garnered accolades within the fashion industry, but only recently has the collection been stronger on the radar with a recent collaboration with photographer Nick Knight’s SHOWstudio and his designs now available at Opening Ceremony in New York and Los Angeles. Known for his deconstruction with designs that drape loosely from collarbones and shoulders, Lutz’s Spring 2009 collection did not disappoint while throwing in a blend of the tough and soft. Using layered silk chiffon and sheer panels, the dresses had a sense of movement and an ethereal quality without milking the typical references to woodland fairies and the like. Instead, the pieces were decidedly modern, particularly in a black and cream dress with a draped neckline and a single grey sheer panel askew on the waistline and a sleeveless taupe dress that wrapped around the body and opened into asymmetrical, oversize lapels at the collarbone. Balancing out the spiky aggressive bob, were updated references to craft, with crocheted flower scarfs in black and cream and a jumbo gauge knit skirt in electric blue, but felt a bit outdated on a cropped cream kimono sleeve top adorned with black crocheted flowers, in an otherwise balanced take on the modern young woman. By Bee-Shyuan Chang