Monique Lhuillier On Safari?
Fashion certainly can make for strange bedfellows, like Monique Lhuillier and the Masai warriors.
As she debuted her new spring styles during New York Fashion Week on Thursday, the petite Los Angeles-based designer, who specializes in eveningwear and bridal, said she has long been drawn to the Kenyan fighters and their ornate costumes and masks. The inspiration led to a largely safari-themed collection in sunburned shades of yellow, rust and brown.
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One of her favorite pieces is a black strapless A-line dress scattered with embellishment that looks like matchsticks. "It feels really organic," explained Lhuillier from the boardroom of the auction house Christie's, where she staged her presentation.
Fringe played a major role in the overall look, but it wasn't flapper fringe. Long, heavy strands of silk jersey fringe created an aura of seduction, especially on a black one-shoulder gown with a peekaboo sleeve and corded-tie waist. Another sexy dress was a black fringe cocktail dress, topped by a burnished gold embroidered bolero that showed little skin but the sheerness of the fabric made you feel as if you did. A corded belt emphasized the waist.
Actually, the many corded waists were a bit reminiscent of Greek goddesses.
But Lhuillier went back to the Masai for inspiration with a leopard-print trench coat, a macrame neckline on a yellow halter cocktail dress covered in fringe, and a tiger-pattern sequin chiffon dress with a cowl neckline.