L.A. Fashion Week Spring '06: Shay Todd
Glamour met island culture at Shay Todd’s Oct. 17 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. Inspired by the designer’s native Hawaii, the collection featured a natural color palette of moss greens, pink, sand, melon, turquoise, ice blue and brown. “I am so tired of the typical ’Hawaiian’ print and garish colors,” Todd said. “That’s not the Hawaii I know. I tried to focus on the mystical, earthy feel of the islands and the elemental tones—with a twist.”
Models in crowns made of deep green foliage promenaded down the catwalk in bronze one-pieces open to below the navel. Ruching accented the derriere on both bikinis and one-pieces, and ruffles were long and fluttery. Hardware was kept to a minimum and limited to gold beads, tortoise-shell O-rings and the occasional button.
Todd included some playful touches, such as tiny pink ruffles on a white bikini and large fabric flowers on the back of a sunny yellow suit. Coverups included a tawny peasant top with a shell-encrusted neckline and a flowing jersey column that could double as island eveningwear. A terrycloth group featured a fitted blazer and a strapless sheath with pockets. —Erin Barajas
