Tadashi Shoji's Red Carpet Affair
After actress Octavia Spencer's SAG and Golden Globe award winning Tadashi Shoji dresses, many were looking forward to what the designer would show for Fall. This season, Japanese born Shoji was inspired by the "Golden Age of Shanghai" and sent a cohesive and gorgeous collection of drop waist dresses, column gowns and extended hemlines down the runway. Drop waist has been especially popular this season after the 1920s trend of Spring. Designers have been faithfully showing this trend and I can agree that the silhouette is romantic and quite flattering. Shoji's use of vibrant hues: blues, greens, olives and golds, paired with Chinese inspired prints, helped to further drive the theme home. The fabrics were an opulent mix of lace, chiffon, silk and velvet.
On the runway, there was a gradual shift from bold solid colors to pretty florals, all carrying the theme of 1930s Shanghai glamour, or what Shoji refers to as "The Paris of the Orient." The icing on the cake fell in the amazing attention to detail: lace embroidery, high-class high necklines and fanciful tiers. The dresses moved gracefully and seemed comfortable to wear. My favorites? A long electric blue tiered dress and a magnificent floral detailed gown with a full sheer skirt (I call this look "Sheer Fantasy").
The great (and smart) thing about Shoji's line is that it comes in a variety of silhouettes and colors to suit any woman. This will only help Shoji as he gears up to dress the starlets for the upcoming Oscars. I can already see actresses like Michelle Williams (these bold colors would go beautifully with her porcelain complexion), Jessica Chastain and of course her fellow The Help co-star, Octavia Spencer, dressed to win in these fabulous frocks.
HONOR Does It Pretty & Witty
Attention all you fashionista career girls! Honor's got you covered for Fall. With Alexa Chung and newcomer, Descendants' Shailene Woodley perched front row, designer Giovanna Randall showcased a collection that included girly dresses, chic separates and sophisticated outerwear. Her inspiration was a preppy young man studying abroad who meets a woman from Argentina, and how their styles mix together.
Being a big fan of color for Fall, I was pleased with Randall's use of pinks, purples, blues and especially electric neon yellow and black combos. The models walked the runway to a fitting David Bowie's "Oh, You Pretty Things," carrying briefcase-style bags in various hues. It was lady-like style at its finest. This season, Randall experimented with big rose prints and art deco. She mixed the two prints which gave a fun effect. The silhouettes were streamlined and some dresses featured gorgeous sheer, floral printed overlays, which were absolutely breathtaking. The hemlines were mostly midi length with some flattering drop waists. Pleated paneling was a fun addition to the collection, especially on jumpsuits. A royal blue version stole the show early in the lineup and was one of my favorite pieces of the collection.
Overall, a fun, wearable and pretty collection for Fall.