L.A. Fashion Week Fall '05: Saja
On March 16, Saja designer Yoo Lee showed for the second season at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City. “Film Noir Heroines Step Into Color” was the theme of the designer’s Fall/Winter collection. “It’s about black-and-white pictures and what they would be like if they were in color,” Lee said.
Leading ladies such as Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly inspired the collection, which was subtle and modest yet glamorous. Lee said she wanted to make last year’s sweet, feminine look a little more grown-up and darker, creating a mysterious, seductive heroine. She incorporated more intricacy in design and more texture and color into her looks.
Much of Lee’s inspiration comes from the 1920s and 1930s, but she expanded this season, offering a range of styles from the film-noir era. She used her original prints, crinkle-chiffon fabrics and signature paillettes, while also moving into knits, tweeds, velvets and silk chiffons.
Lee evoked a sophisticated mood with demure sweaters paired with knee-length skirts, turtlenecks worn with wide-leg trousers and elegant dresses with deep-V necklines. —N. Jayne Seward
