Pamella Roland
February 14, 2011
Pamella Roland looked to the Far East to inform her Fall 2011 collection. In her show notes, she explained, “Having lived in Asia, I was inspired by the culminating of old and new, western technologies with eastern tradition, modern city scapes with rural farmland and the colors of field harvests and urban skylines.” Fittingly for Fall 2011, Roland offered multicolor scenic jacquard cocoon coats, dark jade embroidered charmeuse dolman sleeve dresses, and black fringe embroidered gowns with mandarin collars. Fur accents weighed heavily in the collection, spied in collars, cuffs, and full on muffs. While the sportswear was dynamic, Roland truly flexed her skill with evening wear. She shut the show down with several dazzling strapless ombre sequined gowns, energized by ostrich feathers.
Tracy Reese
February 14, 2011
Tracy Reese opened her Fall 2011 show with an aubergine cable knit sweater and maxi pleated skirt, set to the tune of Kanye West’s All of the Lights. Models wearing similar unexpected combinations pumped down the runway to a bass laden soundtrack, highlighting Tracy Reese’s talent—and evolution as a designer. The purveyor of all things pretty kept to her typical aesthetic of romantic silhouettes and floral prints, this time around offering unlikely textural combinations and sculptural shapes. A palette of toffee, brown, and gray mixed with metallics and jewel tones on melange knit capelets, fur storm coats, and dreamy floral pin-tucked mini’s. Accessories included chic aviator sunglasses, strappy pointed pumps, fur collars, and oversized clutches in fuchsia and turquoise. The Tracy Reese girl is growing up. She’s a little more cheeky, yet still feminine and fun..
Betsey Johnson
February 14, 2011
Betsey Johnson’s Fall 2011 show fell on Valentine’s day, so she projected the phrase, “He Loves Me….” written over flowers onto the backdrop. The bright and vibrant colors of the projection faded as the show began, and the phrase, “He loves me…” turned into, “He loves me not.” Loveless women wearing black banged severe cut wigs donned plaid corsets, extreme pouf skirts, and faux cheetah print with knit flowers in red and mustard acting as accents. Blood red lips and exotic prints dominated, as did ruffles, funky sweaters, and printed tights. At the end of the show 51 of Betsey’s employees were put to work walking the runway, wearing Johnson inspired blond wigs and a series of Johnson designed catsuits, frocks, and separates. Her choice showed that any woman of any ethnicity, body shape, or height could feel beautiful—and loved in Betsey’s world. If he doesn’t love you, Betsey will.
