Alexandre Herchcovitch: Ruffles Here, Ruffles There, Ruffles Everywhere
By: Contributing Writer
Photos by Javier Mateo

PARIS, Mar 4, 2004/ FW/ --- Stepping up to the plate of great expectations, Alexandre Herchcovitch scored a homerun hit for his Fall/Winter 2004-2005 collection.

Let it never be said that Herchcovitch has no original ideas. From yellows, to blacks and patchwork, the talented designer gave in to careless abandon as he lavished his creations with style and yes, plenty of ruffles too.

His bustiers are great as they can be easily matched with a skirt for a dressier look for the girl on the go or with jeans and stilettos for the gal on her way to a disco. In yellow, they instantly grab attention just as do the yellow printed dresses with ruffles.

Top American stylist, Patty Wilson was front and center at the show. She seemed most pleased with what she saw. It was obvious that the collection scored a big hit with her.

The Herchcovitchian little black dress for the season comes in the form of a sexy two-piece, crepe ensemble. His black satin dress with an unfinished hemline is a must-have.

Taking a walk on the wild side was a skirt in gorilla's skin. Impractical at best, it still has an affect on the appreciative onlooker.

His white sheer dress with puffy shoulders over a yellow print, spaghetti strap dress with matching belt should be attractive for buyers. But, it is with out a doubt the simple grey, button dress with puffy shoulders that should prove to be the moneymaker for both Herchcovitch and the retailers.

The dress actually reminds me of an evil headmistress in a New England boarding school. But its simple cut and austerity combine together to imbue it with an unusual burst of sex appeal. To visualize this, one needs only to think of JOAN CRAWFORD's character in the movie, Mildred Pierce.

Herchcovitch does for ruffles what Alaia did for bands. But why so many of them?

He puts his talent to the test with a latex ruffled skirt that moves like natural fibers. He also sent forth onto the runway a latex ruffled dress. The dress is very ladylike. Its bow-accentuated belt softened the dress making it more ladylike.

Essence Magazine fashion director, Pamela Macklin said, "I thought that it was brilliant, whimsical and creative.... It blew me away! I appreciate the effort to make rubber look like fluid fabric."

I must comment on the last look. A beautiful dress with a multi-colored patchwork train attached to it. You guessed it. The train had ruffles too. My guess is that he had some extra pieces of fabric. It is apparent that in a moment of stinginess, he did what my own father would have advised him to do: "Waste not, want not."

RUFFLES, RUFFLES, HERE AND THERE. RUFFLES, RUFFLES EVERYWHERE.

Great Balls of Fire! If I have to suffer through another ruffled drenched collection, I may have to defenestrate myself. Don't worry folks! After Herchcovitch's generous use of them, I don't think that there is a spare ruffle to be found this side of the Atlantic.

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Alexandre Herchcovitch