John Paul Ataker unveils womenswear F/W range in New York

It's a collection whose flowing lines and classic tailoring capture the spirit of women around the world who journeyed to New York to make their dreams a reality, said Ataker, whose family-owned company was founded in the 1970s.

"New Yorkers are idealists who demand the best of themselves and others," Ataker said. "That's what lures them to the city, and that's why we wanted to launch the new collection here."

With the Fall/Winter 2014 gowns, Ataker moves beyond the intricate beading and ruffles of previous collections, letting his custom fabrics take center stage as they follow the natural curves of a woman's body.

His theme manifests itself whether the gown is a strapless ivory silk whose long banded skirt subtly suggests the Jazz Age or a jet-black creation with a long-sleeved black-lace bodice that would have been at home in Edith Wharton's New York.

Some of the new evening dresses are already on display at the designer's Seventh Avenue showroom and headquarters, and the full line will be shown during fashion week shows in New York and Paris in February and March.

"The designs are tested on fabrics until we find the ideal combination that brings the design to life," said Ataker, who has built his reputation on such sartorial alchemy.

Throughout the collection's creation, Ataker envisioned the quintessential New Yorker, a woman both powerful and feminine, whose discerning taste is reflected in a wardrobe that emphasizes high-quality fabrics, elegant contours and superb tailoring. Her presence is enhanced, not defined, by her wardrobe.

"New Yorkers are, by definition, idealists who demand the best of themselves and others," Ataker said. "That's what lures them to the city in the first place, and that's why we wanted to launch the new collection here."

About John Paul Ataker:

International couture designer John Paul Ataker's sophisticated style and high-quality tailoring rapidly catapulted the company to an industry-leading position after its 1977 founding in Istanbul. Now headquartered in New York, the design house maintains its commitment to ensuring every woman who wears the brand feels both the elegance of the design and the soft caress of its luxurious fabrics.

John Paul Ataker