NEW YORK — As design director at J. Mendel for a decade, Bibhu Mohapatra honed the art of glamour. Since venturing out on his own four years ago, he has built a reputation for creating statement-making evening gowns and polished day dresses.
For his spring 2014 collection, Mohapatra looked to transformation, citing his good friend, longtime New York City Ballet principal dancer Wendy Whelan's transition into modern dance. (She debuted Restless Creature at Jacob's Pillow last summer.) "I liked that idea of a new beginning," he told style.com.
The collection veers from delicate pleating techniques in pastel gowns to fractured patterns that look like cracked stones for a more dissonant attitude. A series of dresses, blouses and gowns dotted with embroidered baby tulips emit a 3-D effect while vibrant digital prints of a a fire-red tree flower called the palash in Mohapatra's native India show up throughout the collection in various colors that herald the arrival of spring.
Mohapatra will show his collection at Fashion Houston on Wednesday (Nov. 13) at the Wortham Center. He will also make a personal appearance at Elizabeth Anthony-Esther Wolf on Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Bibhu Mohapatra onyx fracture faille gown with draped skirt.
