NEW YORK — With actresses Lily James, Zoe Saldana and Olivia Munn recently wearing his designs at red carpet events, Prabal Gurung ranks high on the hip Hollywood style factor. His fall collection, unveiled at Mercedes-Benz Fashion during one of the East Coast's coldest nights during an unusually frigid winter, has plenty to keep his fans hot and bothered about.
Skirts and gowns have thigh high slits (a big trend for fall), plunging necklines (another big trend) or triangular cutouts along the back and down the spine (still another trend).
Although known as an urban animal, Gurung said he got his inspiration for the collection from a weekend in the woods — at a cabin in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The woodsy influence can be seen in Gurung's reinvented Fair Isle knits (in a sheath dress or sweaters), long coats trimmed in fur, chunky sweaters in arrowhead patterns, dresses in a snow leopard design and a closing sequined V-neck evening gown the color of a deep blue lake, which reportedly took more than 500 hours to make.
But it's not a covered up collection.
Beneath heavy duffle coats are sheer silk slip dresses with lace inserts. Skirts and gowns have thigh high slits (that's a big trend for fall), plunging necklines (another big trend) or triangular cutouts along the back and down the spine (still another trend). A few of the dresses and gowns fall away from the body and show a bit too much side boob, but they're likely to be tailored closer to the body for retail sales.
Gurung plays with a color palatte of creme, grey, dark blue and black — among the standouts are a creme jumpsuit (jumpsuits are big for fall, too) and a sparkling long sleeve dress of black and white Swarovski crystals.
But the most eye-catching looks combine shades of red and orange in a fiery combination — a chic look for standing out in an urban setting.
Models also wore a T-strapped pump from Gurung's new shoe collection. The designer Instagramed photos of the new shoe in shades of orange, black and tan that matched the clothes.
Prabal Gurung crimson and vermillion crepe slip dress with chiffon inserts and Marlene T-strap pumps.
