|
Pecoraro's Princesses Take to the Streets
By J.J. Martin
Photos by Gruber-FWD
MILAN, Mar 4, 2003/ --- Maurizio Pecoraro has fickle fashion skin, itching to challenge
the boundaries of his design territory as he sees fit.
Last season he went retro with an optical '60s show, and this season, just as his
peers are boarding the Courreges-and-Quant bandwagon, Pecoraro has already moved on.
The Sicilian designer's calling card, the one sure thing that always manages to stay afloat
in his collections, is the princess factor.
Whether in head-to-toe glittering looks or small smatterings of couture details, Pecoraro's
love for pure sparkle and fanciness always manages to sneak into the mix.
For fall, Pecoraro's princess isn't hiding out at the palace (although Princess Rania of
Jordan does happen to be a fan).
Instead, this is a castle dropout who brings all the trappings of the royal court on to
city streets.
For a princess's brush with athleticism, Pecoraro delivered sweatpants crusted in sparkles.
For those breezy days off, oversized wooly shawls dusted in glitter or pom-pom sparkles
provided coverage for dressy chiffon skirts or more casual cropped pants.
Especially enchanting were the fuzzed out, Easter-colored Mongolian poof hats, a luxe
accessory right out of a czarina's closet, which were paired with pared-down pieces like a
quilted satin jacket.
The whole theme had real potential, but Pecoraro's palette of super-sugary pastel colors
didn't give enough edge to a woman looking to break loose. In fact, often times, things
bordered on downright sappy.
And some of his beading and crystal appliqués on long skirts or shapeless tops were more
dowdy than fitting for a truly cutting-edge royal frock.
When Pecoraro kept things simple, however, the operation flourished. Our princess took to
the mean streets effortlessly in beautiful embroidered jackets with a check box pattern and
delicate chiffon shirts with beautiful appliqués.
|
