TASTEFUL LUXE QUIETLY
TEXT, PHOTOS BY J. ECOCHARD
A 'hard rain was gonna fall' and did on Friday, Feb. 1st-the first official day of Fall 2008 New York Fashion Week. Once inside the spacious, old-fashioned Hudson Theater on 44th street, we were rewarded with a mid day show that boasts sophisticated cashmere coats, fitted dresses and tastefully draped gowns by society fav Douglas Hannant, sleek Ballerina bun hair by Edward Tricomi ( Warren Tricomi Haircare ), Cargo Longo of Vincent Longo wheeling a deep smoky eye and dewy soft lips…and the very busy Jan Arnold and her team from Creative Nail Designs painting the shapely talons.
It was also a thrill to see the fashion stylist/journalist/veteran Polly Mellen backstage editing the show with her trained eye. And though there were many empty seats…(the weather, perhaps)…the ‘right’ people were there, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, some of the middle aged Park Avenue set etc.
The clothes themselves gave Hannant’s upscale clientele the looks they want. Luxurious fabrics (satin, silk) with just the right amount of sequin and shot through with silver lurex- were in the long, skillfully cut gowns. Outfits appropriate for lunches at Swifty’s or dinner at , La Goulue, the Upper East side haunts of this set, can include a Prince of Whales three piece suit or a Poiret-esque white silk organza ruffle blouse over slim black glazed pants.
We felt there were very few missteps- as pared down, grown-up chic seem to rule the roost-and worked best. Even female politicians would look serious and feminine in these looks.
Beauty: A special note on beauty. With talk of recession, hair and make-up seems to take on even more importance. Hair is neat and controlled (no flyaways here), shiny and conservative-in Ballerina buns pinned well enough to survive a few pirouettes across the stage. side parts.
Eyes really popped in the smoldering dark, lined eye which took us back to the music video “Addicted to Love” glamazons. But lips were a soft rosy pink in a color that works on several skin tones. Even the nail colors (with working titles staight out of an automobile factory like Silver Chrome, Gold Chrome, Dove Grey, a burnished Burgundy Brown…and a Black with silver dusting) –an edgier mood than the sweet, girly looks of last year. As Jan Arnold remarked- Creative Nail was going for a “distressed leather” feel, no shine but a thick texture. We thought of the movie “Sin City”
