L.A. in N.Y.: BCBG Max Azria
Max Azria explored the age of innocence for his latest collection for BCBG Max Azria, which was shown on Sept. 19 at the tents at Bryant Park.
Or, more accurately, Azria explored the ages to come up with a collection of dresses and feminine separates that recalled earlier, more innocent times. His pintucked and layered dresses drew inspiration from the 1930s and ’40s. Softly rendered tailored topcoats evoked the early ’60s. And a halter dress in mitered stripes brought to mind a ’70s ingeacute;nue.
Even the collection’s colors had a retro cast. The designer chose a palette that brought to mind a box of saltwater taffy—whites and creams accented with mint, lavender and lemon yellow.
Azria stuck to sweet details such as pale floral screen-printing and light embroidery. His diaphanous dresses were layered over lace camisoles or contrast-color ruffled petticoats. Many of the dresses and tops were sleeveless—either with spaghetti straps or a halter neckline— but Azria played with a layered angel sleeve that gave a soft touch to a simple sheer blouse or a dramatic accent to a deep-plunging dress. When he turned to tailored details, he kept them soft, as in a box-pleated skirt topped with a soft blazer in white and a coat in butter that was relaxed enough to be worn over a chiffon dress. —Alison A. Nieder
