Night of Extremes
Houston Texans players steal the spotlight from sexy models at Fashion Houston
Kevan Hall, Ruben Singer, Herve Leger and Chloe Dao were among the designers who wowed the crowds at Fashion Houston Wednesday night, but it was a trio of Houston Texans that threatened to steal the spotlight from the runway, if only in between shows.
Each designer hit Houston’s sweet spot, enticing with color, drama and yes, sheer pieces for resort and spring 2013 collections.
There is no doubt that Houston loves Herve Leger, and much like the BCBG Max Azria show Monday, the brand’s fan were out en masse. No one was more popular than Lubov Azria, the brand’s creative director.
Just when you think nothing else can be done to the inventiveness of the body conscious bandage dresses, Azria sent down dresses with A-line skirts, bold geometric prints and swimsuits that definitely got the attention of Houston Texans players Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed and Bryan Braman. Yes boys, we noticed you snapping pictures every time a swimsuit-clad model walked by in suits that felt very Fifth Element in design.
Yes boys, we noticed you snapping pictures every time a swimsuit-clad model walked by in suits that felt very Fifth Element in design.
(And we couldn't help but notice the hordes of female admirers who mobbed the players between shows, approaching with chests prominently pushed out, and flirtatiously asking to have a photo snapped with them.)
“Herve Leger has been doing swim since the '80s, but you couldn’t swim in them, but we developed a yarn that you can get them wet. Only three percent of women actually get in the water, but you get terrible tan lines,” Azria joked during an interview after the show.
Azria sent the resort 2013 collection down the runway to give the robust local clientele something fresh for the Fashion Houston appearance (the clothes will be in stores in the next month). But even if she hadn’t shown anything new, the crowd would have loved her just the same.
Red carpet favorite Kevan Hall brought spring 2013 to the runway with a mix of feminine frocks accessorized by thin bow belts. He smartly favors off-the-shoulder dresses that are universally flattering and metallic back-baring gowns.
“Houston women love to dress. They love the full-on hair and makeup. They make an effort and I like that,” Hall said.
Katherine Heigl, Vanessa Williams and Drew Barrymore are among the clients he calls “his girls,” the ones who have his number on speed dial as award season approaches. Celebs are just one element of his client roster and his collection showed he is considering pieces for all women and seemingly every occasion.
Sometimes the collection was a little disorienting, but his finale of gorgeous gowns was a lovely reminder of his skill.
Hall shows his collection at Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf Friday and loves working with Texas women.
“Houston women love to dress. They love the full-on hair and makeup. They make an effort and I like that,” Hall said.
Ruben Singer is dapper and approachable, his collection architectural and beautiful. He takes a cerebral approach to creating a collection and his Death of Ophelia-themed show gave us a peek into how his mind works.
“The beginning of the show is her end, her demise and the collection bring her back to life,” Singer says.
“At the end of the day, woman wants to look attractive to a man and to herself. She wants to be strong and beautiful,” he said.
In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Ophelia drowns after falling from a tree, but before she slips away, her clothes are described as “keeping her afloat, spread wide and mermaid-like.”
Singer's collection was indeed full of life and color, but with strong angles and textures like python adding interest. If a gown or trench featured sharp shoulders, then the skirt was full and soft, striking a balance. If the skirt of a gown was voluminous, the bodice structured and detailed.
And after a palette of neutrals, he breathed life into the collection with shocks of color like bright green and pink and saturated blues, telling Ophelia’s story through his design. Even before he rounded the corner to make his runway appearance, the Fashion Houston crowd was on its feet in applause.
“The architecture and draping is my thing. I look at design like I’m building a house, it’s an inverted construction. I do all my own draping and work closely with my pattern-maker,” Singer says.
Stints of doing anything but design include ballet dancer, but as a third-generation couturier, he just couldn’t resist the lure of design. He was an associate designer at Oscar de la Renta and the head designer for three Bill Blass licenses, but always had an eye on his own future.
“At the end of the day, woman wants to look attractive to a man and to herself. She wants to be strong and beautiful,” he said.
Just like the his collection.