Sue Wong Fall 2006: ‘International Glamour’
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios (Los Angeles Fashion Week) Fall 2006
By Heide Winkenwerder
Photos by FW
LOS ANGELES, Mar 21, 2006/ FW/ --- Sue Wong brings “International Glamour” for her Fall 2006 Collection showing 69 exits highlighting eight themes, taking her audience for a joyous rollercoaster ride to Shanghai, Cairo, Paris, Berlin, New York, Hollywood, London and for her finale, as in seasons past, her wedding presentation.
Known for her theatrical opening numbers, she started her show with a prelude showing the Chinese Ribbon Dance presented by the StarLight Performing Arts Institute presenting “Fantasy” performed by DreamDances Performing Artists.
You can certainly count on Sue Wong to give you your money’s worth, per se, with her shows season after season. Using her signature soft luxe fabrics of silk, silk velvet, silk charmeuse, crepe de chine, silk georgette, mesh, and lace, she opted for a rich and exotic color palette that ranged from red, teal, maroon, cream, amethyst, olive, plum, grape, bronze, platinum, champagne, ivory and your basic black as well as hand-painted print.
Shanghai was presented with classical Chinese motifs as in chrysanthemums, dragons and the phoenix embroidered impeccably in tunics, shantung pants, chinois pants, Kabuki kimono, dress, evening gown and a silk coat trimmed with faux fur that would certainly make the animal rights activists quite happy.
Then, she took her audience to Cairo showing layering of textures, pleats and panels to depict the rich splendor of this very exotic vision.
Parisian glamour is a legacy, being one of the fashion capitals of the world and the home of haute couture. Sue Wong gives us the flirtatious flapper in little dresses with flawless hand beading and adorned with vintage motifs of coquettish charm.
Berlin where nightlife was a cabaret, the designer experiments and presents the new bubble silhouette in daring short dresses that only spells S-E-X-Y and also follows the trend from other cities. Although only Sue Wong has ever presented it with beading that is certainly a Sue Wong signature.
New York came with a vengeance with vintage Art Deco in spectacular gowns of sophisticated elegance celebrating the Jazz age. Graceful bias-cut gowns are enhanced by geometric beadwork patterns that reflect the stunning architecture of this powerful American city.
Hollywood is depicted from the 1920’s where glamour of the red carpet come alive in gowns created in radiant tones that mirror a bygone time when tinsel-town was at the height and glory of haute glamour. And why not since the red carpet is certainly not new to Sue Wong pieces shown here with blinged out slip gowns in crystals and novelty beadwork.
London, with its aristocratic elegance and grace, Sue Wong visits its nostalgic glamour where gowns of passementerie and seutache ribbon embroideries mixed with embroidered tulle and jet beadwork bring to mind the lost magnificence of the Victorian and Edwardian era.
Finally, she always celebrates the bride. This time ethereal and lovely in ivory adorned with antique lace and beadwork, this vintage bride is an angelic vision, the feminine ideal of beauty, grace and elegance.
Sue Wong is always a must see. And with that said, one simply have to see her pieces at the many stores who offers her collection. Now currently available in 23 foreign markets plus the 25 more international accounts that she added with her recent showing at Pręt-a-Porter Paris, Sue Wong continues to expand her fashion empire.
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