Los Angeles - You know you are doing something right when a star-studded packed house repeatedly breaks out in cheers and applause in the midst of your runway show; that's what happened to designer Kevan Hall as his latest womenswear collection launched this season's Los Angeles Fashion Week on Sunday. Hall, showing his Spring 2009 designs, as usual did not disappoint his legions of fashionista fans with this show, his "Stage Door" homage to the classic, movie-star ready designs of the legendary Adrian. And, as usual, Kevan Hall set the standard that all other designers showing this week will be hard-pressed to match.
"I was a little nervous about this show," Hall revealed after receiving a standing ovation from his diverse fans, including actresses Dana Delany, Rachel Griffiths, Tia Mowry, Gina Torres, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, stylist George Blodwell, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Hall's brother, actor-director Vondie Curtis-Hall. "It was a bit different for me, this show, because I changed up the feel of the show, and went more for a classic vibe."
Which meant evoking the gorgeous looks of yesteryear. Think of the most beautiful clothes that stars like Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, or Jean Harlow wore in their heyday, and that's what Hall presented on the runway. From the slim, sleeveless "Garbo" double-breasted black-and-white belted dress that began the show to the stunning navy and black "Filmstrip" gown that closed it, Hall sent 54 exemplary red-carpet-ready looks down the runway.
A master of the evening gown, Hall used his signature "hot" colors brilliantly, in looks ranging from a bright yellow dress with a high-necked bodice over a flowing skirt to a strong turquoise satin-crepe beaded spiral strap dress to a heavily beaded apple-toned tulle and organza "Society" gown, complete with train.
"I think you can always find a beautiful black dress," Hall said, " but I like taking those slinky silhouettes and doing them in hot colors, to really make them more modern. I'm really sensitive about the color choices that I make. I try to make them really flattering and warm, and that evoke a kind of emotion."
Women in the audience were getting very emotional about his clothes, literally gasping with glee as his citrine silk charmeuse color-block "Harlow" dress arrived, and grinning giddily at one of the more casual looks, a black-and-white silk shantung gingham "Bacall rehearsal blouse" paired with skinny black silk pencil pants and a wide patent leather belt, that evoked the best of the 1950's, with a definite modern edge.
This Kevan Hall collection continues in his tradition of creating exquisitely tailored clothes that flatter a woman's figure and set her instantly apart from the crowd; perhaps that's why "Desperate Housewives" star Dana Delany told Hall afterward that she now knows "exactly what she's going to wear during awards season."
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