L.A. Fashion Week Fall '05: Single
For her Fall/Winter 2005 collection, Ukrainian-born and Los Angeles–based Galina Sobolev returned to her family’s roots. She revealed a czarina’s luxurious wardrobe—filled with Faberge and paisley prints, brocade, lace, and silk velvet—at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City.
Titled “From Russia With Love,” the March 18 show for Single included 42 looks that represented modern interpretations of how a well-to-do woman would dress in pre-revolutionary Russia. “This, to me, is probably the most important and dear [collection] to my heart,” Sobolev said.
She did not spare efforts in obtaining materials—which included cashmere, mink and beading—and even designed her own jacquard with Italian textile mills. Burgundy and gold dominated the palette, but brown, dark green and cream also contributed to the visual richness.
Though Sobolev sensed that women yearn to be a little more glamorous these days, she said the clothes do not need to be confined to balls. The A-line skirts and menswear-inspired trousers could last a day at the office, and the silk and chiffon tops could turn heads at nightclubs. “Some of the jacquard jackets can be easily worn with a pair of jeans and a cute T-shirt underneath,” Sobolev suggested. —Khanh T.L. Tran
