WWD Reviews BOXeight Fashion Shows!

Below are the reviews from Women's Wear Daily of the first shows of Los Angeles Fashion Week - and the two best reviewed designers were in shows presented by BOXeight. The first three designers with stars are from BOXeight Productions Thursday night show, and the last three starred designers are from the EcoNouveau curated Saturday night show presented by BOXeight Productions.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Fete Setters

Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Photos By: Giovanni Giannoni, Donato Sardella and Todd Williamson
click to see all images

It's party time. Los Angeles designers kicked off Day One with plenty of festive looks for spring, from flirty day numbers to slinky soiree gowns.

* Eduardo Lucero: It was a study in contrast for Eduardo Lucero, who started with a somber yet seductive series of black crepe dresses. He then moved to a lighter, breezier place chock-full of pastels and artful tailoring — a pale yellow ruffled top, for instance, was paired with lace shorts. Throughout, the flutter and fluidity didn't stop, from those dark frocks to the angelic white chiffon gown.

Randolph Duke: At his best, Randolph Duke does body-conscious red-carpet gowns that are as sexy as they are elegant. Unfortunately, save for a few understated black and navy blue silk and chiffon numbers, such looks were in the minority. The foundations were there in floor-sweeping silk and tulle gowns, but a decorative frond theme and a misguided iridescent series got in the way of the glamour.

Sue Wong: Crocheted and banded-hem day dresses reflected Sue Wong's interest in expanding beyond her heavily embellished evening oeuvre. Still, party attire is her bread and butter, and thus it got major play in all manner of graphic, Sixties-ish prints, many of which were just too busy. Indeed, things were best when she toned it down, as in the solid Grecian gowns.

MORE FROM THE SHOWS...

* Louis Verdad: A short-sleeve blouse here, a ruffled sundress there — it was all perfectly pretty at Louis Verdad, but the collection lacked the va-va-va-voom that Angelenos expect from him.

Chick by Nicky Hilton: From the plucky prints — swans, high heels and apples — to the girlish cotton minidresses, Nicky Hilton's Chick collection was short, sweet and flirty.

* Jeffrey Sebelia for Cosa Nostra: "Project Runway" alum Jeffrey Sebelia showed an array of dumpster-chic androgynous looks — the lean distressed denim and shrunken jackets oozed laissez-faire, but most of the tea-party dresses seemed out of place.



* Bahar Shahpar: The Brooklyn-based designer took a more structured approach to eco-friendly fashion than most, using mixed patterns and pleats to accentuate wide-legged trousers, smock tops and sheath dresses.

* Gary Harvey Creative: Anyone who thinks green clothing means little more than basics hasn't seen the witty wares of Londoner Gary Harvey, who created dramatic ballgowns and cocktail dresses out of everything from denim to silk nighties to even the pink pages of the London Financial Times.

* Avita by Amanda Shi: A showroom appointment would have been sufficient for Amanda Shi to get the point across that she makes pretty recycled cashmere sweaters and flirty organic cotton dresses.