What does the future
hold for the Halston brand under the stealth-like leadership of Mr
Bayou? ‘I see the future of Halston as a lifestyle brand with
products for men, women, children, and even home. … Over the
next two years, the plan is to expand into sportswear with prices
slated to be in the mid- to high-end range. That's important because
I believe style shouldn't have to cost a lot of money.’
The other big news coming from the company is
the creation and launch of a new denim line. ‘Jeans are an
easy way to reach the most people effectively. I'm starting the
denim line in women's wear [first] and then will be edging into
men's. For fall, there will be jeans, tops, sweaters and cords.
It will be a full-fledged line next year.’
Carmen Marc Valvo
THERE IS SUCH A THING as damning
a person with faint praise, and I am about to do that to designer
Carmen Marc Valvo. Last February, he had the grave misfortune
of being scheduled right after Ralph Rucci on the show schedule
at Bryant Park. That was a blow he never saw coming. The occasion
of Mr Rucci's collection was such a palate-clearing tsunami; he
erased most everyone else's presentations from the minds of the
people present at the tents that day.
Secondly, Mr Valvo's collection, as beautiful
as it was, lacked a certain something, that oomph that normally
carried him over the top. That he could have somewhat prevented
all on his own. This was a case of repetition breeding boredom and
contempt. He showed too many versions of the same pieces, diluting
his effect on the audience.
In all honesty, I was not taken with most of the
collection because I have seen it before from Mr Valvo. What kept
me interested was his expert use of colour. I was jolted alive (and
no, I wasn't sleeping!) with the vividness of his colour palette
and the varied ways he made it work for him. I liked his silk (pick
a fabric: satin, sequinned, silk georgette, chiffon beaded, crêpe
satin) cocktail dresses and gowns in amethyst (deep blue), rose,
espresso brown, ruby red, cream, and camel. Coming, such as it was
from that sea of black, these pieces spoke to me (and no, I am not
going crazy either). They were all quite beautiful, especially his
gowns with basket weave and twisted front detailing.
What ultimately saved this collection from abject
anonymity was the fact that he is a master at his craft. The creativity
he lacked in his designs were made up in his beautiful sandals,
the accompanying accessories (love those Russian sable opera gloves,
fox stoles, sable mufflers and wraps), and the jewellery courtesy
of Louis Glick, Oscar Heyman and Zingale Jewellers. The beauty of
these presentations is that, if you are able to survive a bad or
indifferent season, you live to fight another day. Come September,
Mr Valvo will be back; and I will be there to cheer him on.
CONTINUED
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The beauty is that if you
are able to survive a bad or indifferent season, you live to fight
another day. Come September, Mr Valvo will be back; and I will be
there to cheer him on
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