Considering Barneys New York kicked off Fashion at the Park last Wednesday with a very amusing Simon Doonan, who christened the runway with Lanvin stilettos, the rest of the shows had quite a ‘wow’ factor to live up to. A very funky and upbeat Custo Barcelona followed immediately after the Barneys after-party fizzled out – I heard it was quite the scene to see and be seen. Day two got off to an elegant start with the fall 2008 Oscar de la Renta collection. My high expectations of the designer were exceeded as the variety of texture, structure and most interesting of all – florals – took the runway. Typically a spring accent, the florals in deeper hues were stunning in the fall collection and strikingly resembled modern interpretations of traditional painting styles. Thursday evening began with Giorgio Armani, which I was disappointed to miss. Fortunately, SMU senior Carey White was one of the lucky ones to get a glimpse at the iconic designer’s spring-summer 2008 collection: “The color theme of the show was gorgeous. Armani used a lot of neutrals accented with flashy shoes and big stone necklaces.” Her favorite look? “Definately the last dress that went down the runway. It had two layers: The underneath was a black, grey and white print, the top layer was a very clean and bright white fabric that shimmered – it looked like there were diamonds over the whole dress! The bottom was reminiscent of a ’50s style dress with loose tassels hanging that swayed as the model walked. Ah, so gorgeous!” (I think I must be dreaming.)
The night continued with Bebe and Diesel, always the top-selling shows among the younger crowd (and those trying to sneak a peek at some skin). Sex appeal was the key accessory. Aside from vibrant colors and safari-inspired looks from Bebe and retro-sporty mixes of color and metallics, e.g. silver high-top sneakers, from Diesel, the most noticeable aspect of each outfit was quite possibly the lack of clothing. I do believe that when I said, “I think I might still be blushing,” it might have been an understatement. Although I was still blushing, which very well may have been from the plethora of martinis they passed out like candy, I would say “gawking” is more like it.
At Bebe, it seemed as though the clothes were getting shorter, the slits were getting higher and the heels were getting taller; in a nutshell, it was very Bebe. Flirty, glamorous and breezy would be the best way to describe the collection – something you would definitely spot on Miami’s Ocean Drive. My favorite looks were the long tunic and button-down style dresses. Both casual and chic, these eye-catching pieces gave the runway that extra something no mini-skirt and heels could ever match – that mysterious “sexy” sans skin.
Historically, Diesel’s best look has been jeans on shirtless models (or maybe “most crowd-arousing look” would be more appropriate). While this look did receive some whistles and applause, the most noticeable pieces were the large accessories, like the wooden blocks that posed as bangles (see right). Functional? Absolutely not. Attention-getting? Absolutely. Wearable? Only if you left your mace at home.
Friday opened with the “Power of Style” show presented by Nordstrom and Vogue. After recognizing four women for their influential style and contributions to society, the show took an expected and entertaining twist with multiple models struting the runway simultaneously. The show featured fashion-forward designers like Andrew Gn, Blumarine, Donna Karan, Missioni, Roberto Cavalli, Peter Som and Versace. The variety of hats, from sunhats to fedoras, as well as the coupling of models on the runway in their complementary looks, added sass and visual variety to the show. My favorite definitely had to be the pale gray sprial evening gown by Donna Karan.
The evening started off with CH Carolina Herrera – a preppy-classic mix of casual and formal elements. The men donned blazers and ties paired with shorts, while the women modeled simple, button-down white shirts matched with long, brightly-colored satin skirts. Intermix followed, adding a breath of fresh air to the monotone mix of somber models an unaffordable designs. Either the models were finally fed something fattening or they had one too many glasses of champagne, because I have never seen them smile so big. Their energy was amazing, and it matched perfectly with the personality of the clothes.
The night ended with a youthful Miss Sixty show at 11 p.m., which was unfortunately past my bedtime. (You’d be tired too if you had champagne for dinner).
Saturday showcased Macy’s and Dillards, as well as the “Strike a Pose” show presented by Kim Dawson and Fashion Dallas. The Life Group breakdancers got the audience “oooing” and “ahhing” in the first few minutes, and were follwed by the former model search winners and finalists wearing looks from Adidas and Sheke Boutique, to name a few. Overall, the shows all had one thing in common: not one show was like the next. Every show revealed a glimpse of the designer or store’s personality, and believe me, it was a pleasure getting to know them.