by Ryan Wallace
- Leaping above the competition, Chehon show the functionality of Aviator Nation’s vintage sweats and Henley
A defining point in fashion lies not only in its originality, but also in its functionality. And nothing screams functionally fashionable more than a vintage tee.
Expanding the limits of a simple vintage tee, one Southern California company is bringing the vintage feel and chic designs to an entire line of comfortable casual wear. Started in the hub of Venice Beach, California, Aviator Nation has perfected the art of a comfy tee. Specializing in sweatshirts, sweatpants, and vintage tanks & tees, Aviator Nation has a familiar look but with an important twist. The clothing may be fresh out of the factory, but from the moment you find them in the store they have the desirable worn-in feel to them.
The style is obviously retro-inspired, but the vintage appearance is counterbalanced by a unique approach on So-Cal beach-worthy casual wear and hand-stitched individuality. The mimicry of the vintage pieces is so well put-together that you would be hard-pressed to distinguish an Aviator Nation original to a vintage tee that has survived the wear and tear of the decades.
But often it’s hard to take a writer’s words for their worth, so to test their functionality we turned to an artist who needs full range of motion from his clothing, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp. A talented, classically trained ballet dancer, Chehon has made a splash on this season of America’s hit dance show So You Think You Can Dance.
- A perfect ballet dancer, Chehon’s turns are effortless in Aviator Nation’s denim cutoffs and comfy vintage tank
From spotting him first in his New York City auditions, to the grueling Las Vegas week, Chehon has advanced to the top 20 with hopes of proving that a ballet dancer can go all the way. A technically amazing dancer, he is leaps and bounds above many of the other dancers, most of which he does in casual wear.
Born in Chicago, Chehon was raised in Switzerland. After attending a ballet performance at the age of 12 Chehon decided to begin developing his ballet skills at home and eventually went to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. Chehon has blossomed as a dancer, and now has taken the States by storm by appearing in So You Think You Can Dance and proving that ballet can still be edgy and relevant.
Last week in an exclusive photoshoot with MadlyJuicy, Chehon proved the functionality of Aviator Nation in his leaps and turns in the heart of downtown Los Angeles at the Disney Concert Hall. His movement was flawless, and as the photos prove, the fluidity of his dancing is effortless all while wearing chic vintage-wear.
So although you might not being doing turns a la seconde, or arabesques, you can enjoy the comfortable feel of the ever-fashionable vintage tees and tanks. And to help Chehon soar to new heights, tune into FOX and vote for him at: fox.com/dance.
Aviator Nation, www. aviatornation.com
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, http://www.facebook.com/Dance9Chehon
So You Think You Can Dance, www.fox.com/dance
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Photography: Ryan Wallace Photography, http://www.facebook.com/RyanWallacePhotography
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