L.A. Fashion Week Spring '07: Dina Bar-El
Dina Bar-El is traditionally an eveningwear designer, but on Oct. 17 for her Spring 2007 runway presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., she introduced sassy knee-length cocktail dresses with a sultry playfulness.
The flattering drape and elegant style that has made Bar-El’s eveningwear successful was translated in slinky satin cocktail dresses and twirl-happy skirts. Feisty satin leopard prints and polka-dot prints gave some dresses a winking flirtiness while silk chiffon snakeskin prints and solid eveningwear colors of champagne, black and olive were more sophisticated glam.
Bar-El emphasized the bust line with a fan of pleats, a corset-detailed bodice or lingerie-inspired lace details. “I always have focus on the bra because I thought it’s the most sensual part of the woman,” Bar-El said.
When the deacute;colletage didn’t take center stage, subtle bubble skirts, chiffon hems and lace insets added interest to skirts.
Bar-El took her final bow hand-in-hand with a surprise guest, “American Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee, who wore several Dina Bar-El creations when she sang on the television show. —Rhea Cortado
