F: is for Fashion Explosion!

With fashion dominating the streets, this column dedicates itself to fashion week and it's designers, trends and foretelling. Clothes that looked like they rolled out of bed, draped and were constructed to hang asymmetrically paraded down the runway. Comfortability, skinny belts and shoes that looked like they were bought at Fredrick's of Hollywood dominated. Dangerously high gladiator heels slipped, slid and clunked down the aisles and I will be surprised if nobody breaks their neck. We learned why the royalty of Fashion are worshipped and some just missed the mark. My first show was Israeli-born designer Yigal Azrou's Spring collection. At first I was confused. Dark, somber and reminiscent of a funeral Yigal's clothes failed to impress. Many of the fabrics were washed and texturised to appear airy and voluminous, making the models look bigger than they were. In a lot of the shows a male influence dominated. This show was no exception. From the somberness this show made the world seem without hope. I was a fan of Yigal Azrou but this collection was utilitarian and colorless making for a sad world. Another of the trends is a high waisted look. In a bathing suit, nobody looks good. Not even a model. While the overall presentation was functional, it lacked in energy and inspiration - both of which are necessities on the opening day of Fashion Week.

Next up Duckie Brown who used sports fabrics and shapes. Most of the models wore stretch bodysuits underneath their clothes, with 3/4 pants like bike messengers. Blazer with a laser-cut mesh pattern, ventilated gym shorts, a zip-front jacket that was patterned after a Nike windbreaker, with panels of gray pinstripes and mesh and an elasticized waist, suggested an evolution of men’s wear into something more tailored to the athletic man. Oversized, baggy and boxy is not flattering. Again the pallet was somber with blacks, grays and ecru dominating with sprinkles of sky blue and cannery yellow. In trends for men, pajama's, round necks, layering and longer shirts under jackets. I can see how a men might love the comfortability but this was not a look to be worn any place serious.


Squawking seagulls and the horn of a ship introduced Rubin Singer's "Voyage". Finally color with bold polka dots, angled stripes, and dreamy prints making you dream of St. Tropez. There were the ecru cotton and silk ottoman suit with a python trim; turquoise eel-skin panel dress; the Oceania cotton dress with coral piping that stiffened the collar with regal bearing; and a printed cotton shift with a cowl neck demure enough to lure Jackie. O. Ruben's Singer's collection seemed to be trying to dress the first lady or the second.


Well known in certain circles but not mainstream B Michaels. Slim silhouettes, bodices that hugged, sweetheart fronts with mesh backs and glamor filled the nightclub Arena. His entrancing gowns embrace feminism, luxury and a by gone era. Again this was a designer with Michele Obama and Sarah Palin in mind. His mens looks were a little to Liberace for me and the placing of the red stitching on the jeans had your eyes headed directly for his crotch. 50's inspired his color scheme seemed all over the place. His suits for women though were well tailored and I loved the mens shirts with them.

Tomorrow: Women who make you want to buy their whole collection.

Fashion not only tells us what to wear but what not to and that is a F.A.C.T.