L.A. Fashion Week Fall '07: Dina Bar-El
Make no mistake about it, German-born designer Dina Bar-El was bent on making her Fall 2007 collection as vampish as possible.
Her muse was modern-day burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, and at Bar-El’s March 18 show at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., she started her show off with a burlesque dancer getting down to basics as she took off several layers of clothing while doing high kicks and artistic moves. Bar-El created gorgeous gowns and dresses that had a certain va-va-voom look to them. Marrying a host of fabrics—stretch pinstripes, jacquards, satins and taffetas—she gave her creations a sultry but stylish feel. “This is where menswear meets femininity, and they collide together,” said Bar-El, who never studied design but said she feels as if her grandmother’s designer genes were passed down to her.
Pinstripe fabric was seen in a strapless gown with fishtail ruffles layered in back. Particularly alluring was a bright-red cocktail dress with a black lace cutout and short sleeves.
A figure-accenting green crinkled taffeta gown with cap sleeves was worn by a model who slinked down the runway.
Remembering the shivering actresses Bar-El has seen lately on the red carpet, the designer included wraps and cover-ups to complement some of her gowns.—D.B.
