The event: The Gideon Oberson 2008 Swim/Cruise Collection
The place: The Miami Convention Center
Timestamp: 4pm, July 11, 2007
The venue: on a mini catwalk in a secluded cabana set up in the back of the spacious Convention Center. If you don’t choose to show in the glamorous Raleigh setting organized by IMG, then this is the way to do it.
Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Images, J. Ecochard
The show kicked off with eco- inspired bamboo leaf and raffia prints from the new Gideon Oberson Private Collection. “Genius is in the details” applied here, the spider web backs on the maillots and cats cradle straps on the fronts were at once technically impressive and aesthetically pleasing.
When we thought it couldn’t get any better, Mr. Oberson brought out his extensive Gideon Oberson Collection, which consisted of 15, yes, 15 story groupings. Among our favorites were the scarlet bull’s-eye “Spiral” group, “techno”, overblown red and blue peonies on a newsprint background, “coffee bean”, large flower petals in parrot bright colors and coffee beans that popped on a white background.
For those of you who eschew prints, the pieces in the “Palmona” segment are a sure bet. The mink brown and olive twist front maillots reminded us of the classically stylish leotards and wrap tops worn by ballerinas. Best in the group is the “Warp Around Shirt: in mink, an item that would easily transition from the pool to dinner out.
If you’re looking for some great cover-ups, look no further than the ankle length caftan in Mr. Oberson’s stylish orange and gray “firecracker” print, and the Short Kimono Blouson in black and brown from the “Chestnut” group. And finally, there was the halter neck tankini in “Echo”, an abstract art print of aquamarine and kiwi stripes over a gray and black nuage background.
Mr. Oberson’s show spoiled us, and raisedthe bar way up there for designers showing at the Raleigh as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim.