Talk about saving the best for last!
Yesterday, the final day of Olympus Fashion Week’s runway presentations, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan showed two of the best shows of the fall 2004 season.
To start the show, Karan celebrated her 20th anniversary by featured the “Seven Easy Pieces” of clothing basics, including a jumpsuit, leotard and fantastic shape-sculpting wrap dresses.
The wrap theme continued through most of the show. Also featured were lovely multi-layered tulle dresses and some amazing skirts covered in a thick overlay of feathers and beads, which were also used on evening dresses to mimic the flash and glitter of the Manhattan skyline.
Karan used lots of fur – but instead of using it strictly as outerwear or accessories, she treated it like jersey. That resulted in a great broadtail suit and a few super fur vests.
But not all was perfect chez Karan.
Three models tripped on the hems of their sweeping gowns, the pencil-thin heel of one chick’s shoe broke as well, and at least two women had Janet Jackson moments.
Not that it was a big shock after all the flesh flashed at other shows; indeed, there were more nipples on the runways last week than on a busy Saturday night at Scores.
But overall, it looked super. Happy anniversary, Donna!
Lauren mined familiar territory for his new collection: the Southwest, with its statement-making turquoise jewelry and Aztec patterns.
Instead of being predictable and doing a full-throttle return to the land of Georgia O’Keefe, Lauren played the ethnic look of the region off elegant, almost Victorian full tweed skirts and buttoned-up jackets, super-sleek wool dresses and the occasional touch of bright red velvet.
The collection was vintage Lauren, but it didn’t look a bit dated. In fact, it was his freshest-looking show in a few seasons. Bravo!