L.A. Fashion Week Fall '07: Rami Kashou
Rami Kashou returned to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios on March 21 to present a couture evening collection. Kashou chose an installation-style format to present his “A Concerto for Angele” collection, complete with the “Seaside Strings” orchestra. It was a sophisticated affair with elegant models posing on the runway with their sculptured up-dos.
Kashou dedicated the collection to his mother, who was Miss Jordan in the 1950s. The Jerusalem-born Kashou created a modern-day interpretation of her elegant wardrobe. The designer, who is known for his dramatic red-carpet gowns, said he was excited to return to Los Angeles Fashion Week after a 2-and-1/2-year hiatus. He is planning to launch a strictly evening collection, and this was the perfect opportunity to preview it. “This was a chance to design freely,” said Kashou. “This is what I love to do,” he added.
For this collection, he experimented with new materials, mostly a range or silk fabrications including charmeuse, crepe de chine, jersey, taffeta, lameacute; and georgette. He draped fabrics on the bias to create dramatic silhouettes in a warm earthy palette of bronze, mustard, clay, olive and brick. Corset styling and braided trim provided the signature edginess Kashou adds to each collection. An ebony pleated tulip gown had satin piping, and a white cotton empire gown was intricately sewn and sculpted using bias-cut strips. A silver metallic lameacute; dress with sculpted asymmetric folds would make a perfect party frock. And a purple bouquet-print gown with a modern bubble-skirt detail would dress any Hollywood starlet. —N. Jayne Seward
