NY Runway Report
Herve Leger's daring new bandage dresses captivate Dallas TV hunk
You've got to hand it to Lubov and Max Azria. Every fashion season, they come up with new — and often daring — ways to freshen up the iconic Herve Leger bandage dress.
Since relaunching the French brand six years ago with a Fashion Week debut, the Azrias continue to add pizzazz to the quintessential skintight form. In their spring collection, they focused on the midriff, with beaded crop tops in bandage fabric, along with zip-front skirts, goatskin and fox fur hoodie sweatshirts, and sparkly sweatpants.
On the front row, Jesse Metcalfe looked entranced as models appeared on the runway in body-hugging dresses with half-moon cutouts above the breasts.
For fall, they're playing a game of peek-a-boob.
That's the term my fashion colleague from Boston came up with as we watched models strut down the runway in body-hugging dresses with half-moon cutouts above the breasts or oval openings that plunged nearly to the navel. Some of the openings seemed to be constructed to make a smiley face. I don't think that's intentional, although on the front row, Dallas star Jesse Metcalfe sure looked entranced.
The collection also featured corsets at the waist to accentuate the female form and split-hem dresses with contrasting pleats that moved like car-wash flappers as the model moved. Dark feather trims added a touch of texture to dresses and suede motorcycle jackets, while geometric beading added some dazzle to jacquard dresses and fitted jackets.
Thigh-high boots and pulled-back ponytails sent a message that it takes a confident woman to wear this look, although I've heard that the Spandex-like fabric is flattering no matter your body type because it basically sucks everything in.
Can't wait to see what the Azrias come up with next year.