L.A. Fashion Week Spring '08: Kevan Hall
Los Angeles designer Kevan Hall dug deep into his African roots for his Spring 2008 collection of dresses, which floated down the runway on Oct. 15. Hall, a perennial presence at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., always has one of the season’s top shows, and he didn’t disappoint this time around.
Taking the theme of a safari, he blended African images, fabrics and jewelry into the tailored, sophisticated clothing that has made him a red-carpet favorite.
“I love the colors that are used in that region. The beautiful textures that are so rich and the incredible jewelry that they make,” said the former Halston designer who grew up in Detroit before making his mark in Los Angeles.
Hall took chic safari jackets, embroidered dashikis, animal prints, mud cloth, twill, crushed organza and silk to form an expansive collection that looked formal yet informal.
He used the stunning bead work of the Maasai tribe for accents on rich evening dresses or cocktail dresses. His color selection ranged from basic browns and blacks, the hues of the Serengeti plains, to bright reds, yellows ambers and turquoises, favorite tones of the Maasai and Dinka tribes. —Deborah Belgum
