L.A. Fashion Week Spring '03: Susana Mercedes
Susana Mercedes, designer and president of the company that bears her name, debuted her Spring 2003 collection on Nov. 4 at the historic Sowden House, a landmark creation of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. Mercedes presented her own architectural work in fabric.
The construction of fashion for Mercedes is all about femininity. The Los Angeles–based designer was born in Guatemala, and her Latin heritage was most pronounced in the multi-colored cascading draped skirts and ruffle adornments on tops and dresses.
The fabrics of choice were silk chiffon and crepe in a palette of pink, off-white, cream, red and electric blue. The flowing dresses featured dramatically plunging necklines, spaghetti straps, wide lapels and one-shoulder styling. Pants were presented in three body types: regular-waist, high-waist and low-rise. —Darryl James
