// FASHION STATEMENTS

MIXING FLIRTY, FESTIVE STYLE WITH HIGH-IMPACT MESSAGING, THE NEW COLLECTION FROM ASHISH IS THE ULTIMATE WARDROBE CHOICE FOR RIGHT NOW, SAYS FASHION GURU I RAM GOLDMAN.

For Ikram Goldman, flirty, festive style and high-impact messaging makes the new collection from Ashish the ultimate wardrobe choice for right now.

Few fashion designers are capturing the zeitgeist of this politically charged time quite like Londonbased Ashish Gupta. Renowned for his meticulously handcrafted, sequin-covered garments, the man behind chic label Ashish has outdone himself with a series of message-oriented garments for fall that are both undeniably fabulous and seriously impactful.

“No one else does a sequin like him,” enthuses Chicago fashion queen Ikram Goldman, for whom Ashish’s latest collection is a must-wear for autumn. “Every season, he does these really beautiful, feminine clothes with playful messages—and this season, his political message was very poignant and spot-on. The pieces resonate with me, not just because they’re beautiful, but also because the message is very clear.”

The combination of sequins with casual structure makes for a truly versatile garment, continues Goldman. “You can wear them with white jeans for winter, and if you want to dress it up you can pair it with a full tulle skirt for black tie. There’s an ease to these pieces that is really just amazing.”

Ultimately though, for Goldman the message is what elevates Ashish’s collection to must-have status.

“It’s very pure,” she says. “Be nice. Be kind. ‘More glitter, less Twitter’? I mean, come on. I love it!” Prices upon request; Ikram, 15 E. Huron St., 312-587-1000; ikram.com

Sparkle and shine: For fall, Chicago fashion arbiter Ikram Goldman (ƢƧƬƞƬ ƚƛƨưƞ) can’t get enough of the detailed sequin work—and positive messaging—in British designer Ashish Gupta’s AW17 collection, as seen on the runway with this “Love Sees No...