An invitation from a major designer is a step up in the fashion hierarchy. Who can deny a flutter in the heart when receiving something from no less a personage than Vivienne Tam? Based in New York, Ms. Tam's classic lines and collaborations with Disney and HP have kept her brand in the public consciousness since 1994. She was even a judge on Isaac Mizrahi's The Fashion Show in 2009.
Ms. Tam's Fall/Winter 2011 collection was based on her love of the Kun Opera, a 600-year-old Chinese traditional art form. She described the collection as 'fantasy turned into everyday wear,' using such fabrics as Mongolian lamb, tweed, wool, silk and lace. It's a shame to have been seated so far back that details were lost and the wonder fell short as one was forced to twist and crane to see the models. A jumbo screen at the head of the runway helped, but how to really see a sleeve from hundreds of yards away?
A gorgeously embroidered dress with gold collar must have been incredible at close range. Ditto the navy blue and black wool coat with delicately ruffled portrait collar. It would have been great to get a closer look and photos of the models' hair, which was done in a bird's nest bouffant swirl (by Leon Gorman for Cutler) that complemented the lady-like clothing. Runway shows are incredibly short, so it's sad not to get the full benefit of the designer's thoughts and inspirations. The haunting soundtrack perfectly underscored the mood, though. You can see the video (and hear the song) at www.viviennetam.com.
It's been reported that designers are looking at Tom Ford's example and leaning towards smaller audiences and presentation spaces like the Box. The Stage at Lincoln Center has a runway, but fewer seats, so that writers can still see and get photos. When it comes to fashion shows, bigger isn't always better.
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