AP News, September 11th, 2007
Red-carpet princess Monique Lhuillier turned out a series of pretty dresses at New York Fashion Week on Tuesday that are sure to make her starlets happy.
The spring collection, however, strayed from the volume and all the jeweled embellishment that have been her hallmark in recent seasons, instead offering mostly sophisticated, fluid looks that celebrate a woman's shape without squeezing it.
The last look on the runway at the Bryant Park tents might have been the best example: a black chiffon gown with a fitted corset bodice and a draped skirt that came together in a bow at the waist.
Black wasn't the dominant color in the collection, but most women know it is the go-to color for dressy affairs. For anyone who wanted to try something new, however, there were plenty of options, including seafoam-colored chiffon strapless gown with draping all over the top _ down below the hips _ and then a billowy handkerchief hem and a nude-colored chiffon crisscross draped bodice gown.
These fashion confections were inspired by Lhuillier's own indulgence one day.
"While enjoying a box of my favorite Laduree macaroons, I saw the color palette flash before my eyes. Vanilla. Mint. Latte. Pistachio. Butterscotch," she said in her notes. "I whipped up silk tulles, organzas and chiffons to create an overall lightweight whimsical feeling."
This carried through to some outstanding daytime outfits, including a light yellow metallic tweed suit with a shawl-collar jacket and a slim pencil skirt worn with a cream-colored V-neck halter blouse with ruffles down the front.
But even when you're dealing with such dainty, delicate details, there can be too much of a good thing and one dress _ a one-shoulder tulle gown with seemingly endless tiers covered with light green flowers _ was just too much of everything.
