Philadelphia Tribune - Index

Philadelphia Tribune - Friday, September 18, 2009 - Index

CLASSIFIEDS
PAGE 4-D
RELIGION
PAGE 5D
OBITUARIES
PAGE 6-D
D SECTION
Friday, September 18, 2009
Kai Milla adds modern
touches to old silhouettes
Spring 2010
fashion from
designer
Kai Milla is
displayed at
the Museum
of Art and
Design during
Fashion Week
on Monday in
New York.
– AP PHOTO/
STEPHEN CHERNIN
A red dress from the spring 2010 fashion from designer Kai
Milla is modeled at the Museum of Art and Design during
Fashion Week on Monday in New York.
– AP PHOTO/STEPHEN CHERNIN
Megan K. Scott
NEW YORK — It was an early evening of elegance at the
Museum of Art & Design Monday, as Kai Milla presented her
first collection in 1 1/2 years, an ensemble that included a
black opera V-neck ball gown during New York Fashion Week.
Milla, who took a break from designing full-time for mommyhood,
deviated from her usual darker colors, mixing in orange
and yellow.
“I never really go out looking for an inspiration,” said Milla,
who is married to Stevie Wonder and designed an emerald
green silk chiffon dress that first lady Michelle Obama wore for
a tribute to the singer. “It’s about what I’m feeling. I wanted to
celebrate.”
She used elements like beading and cutouts to bring a more
modern look to old silhouettes. An orange silk jersey slim-fitting
dress had side ruching and formed a diamond-shape in
the back. A lightweight black silk jersey dress had cutouts on
the side that were trimmed in beads.
One of the most stunning numbers was an off-the-shoulder
yellow gown that had ruching on the neckline, with a long
sleeve that had a row of buttons going down the lower part of
the arm to the wrist. – (AP)
A one-shoulder dress by designer Kai Milla is modeled during
Fashion Week on Monday. – AP PHOTO/STEPHEN CHERNIN
Spring 2010 Fashion Week at a glance
NEW YORK – Designers at
New York Fashion Week, faced
with a grim national mood,
looked for a solution far, far
away.
Vacation destinations — both
exotic and less so — were the
inspiration for countless collections
for spring 2010, which
was in its seventh day of previews
on Wednesday. If most
people are left with "staycations"
these days, at least they can
take a visual journey.
Oscar de la Renta's look was
well-traveled, seeming to draw
inspiration from style traditions
in Africa, South America and
Southeast Asia. Diane von
Furstenberg imagined sunset on
the Nile, while Carolina Herrera
had a Latin American vibe with
exotic rope and raffia details.
Marchesa looked to Japan.
"People want to feel cultured,
traveled and exotic, even if
they're not going anywhere. You
can get there through fashion,"
said stylist Robert Verdi.
Yet the destinations were
more down-to-earth than usual
suspects like the French
Riviera. Derek Lam took inspiration
from American boardwalk
towns; Lela Rose had her Venice
Beach surfers. The overall feel
was a more relaxed version of
luxury — even if the clothes are
just as expensive. – (AP)
To see more photos from Fashion
Week, visit www.phillytrib.com.
Diane Von
Furstenburg
Badgley Mischka
DKNY
Baby Phat
Marc Jacobs
Christian Siriano
Carmen Marc Valvo
Betsey Johnson
Derek Lamb
Tory Burch