Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall '06: Octavio Carlin
Designer Octavio Carlin premiered on March 21 his eponymous line of gowns and party dresses at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. The designer, who last year passed design responsibilities for his Naqada line to Naqada Men designer Donny Barrios, said his new line will focus on eveningwear.
“I wanted to concentrate more on what I love to do, which are gowns and dresses,” Carlin said.
The Octavio Carlin debut collection touched upon mod and Greek themes and did not disappoint. Featuring a restrained color palette of black, white, yellow and navy, the collection had several standout designs. Silk swing dresses with clean lines and plunging backs opened and closed the show. A show-stopping midnight blue number with long sleeves and a deep V-neck was somehow more sexy than conservative.
With his austere colors and precise tailoring, Carlin made pleats and Peter Pan collars looked sophisticated. There also was some levity to the collection. He toyed with volume, sending a floor-length cocoon dress and a strapless gown with a bubble skirt down the runway. Back details were important—whether criss-crossed bands of charmeuse or cuts that exposed wide-open swaths of skin. —Erin Barajas
