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Nanette Lepore: Copacabana Chic
By Jenny Bailly
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris-FWD
New York, Sept 21, 2001/ FWD/ --- A statuesque Nanette Lepore, wavy blonde hair softly swept up and
casually clad in jeans and a flirty floral top likely of her own making, could have been one of the models
herself as she greeted guests arriving for a low-key presentation in her showroom yesterday evening.
Fans of the downtown designer, known for her flirty, feminine creations, filed in to take their seats on
white folding chairs that looked like they belonged at an outdoor summer wedding, not just off Seventh
Avenue on a dreary New York afternoon.
But as soon as the first model emerged, clad in a bright rainbow stripe dress, the crowd forgot about the
gray drizzle outside and basked in the sunlight of the Copacabana-esque collection that Lepore has created
for spring. The designer and her team even offered each guest a cigar box filled with bubble gum smokes and
a tiny bottle of rum.
While her fall collection this year was Moulin Rouge-inspired, with its fitted corsets, this time the Ohio
native has headed to Havana and most pieces are more cha-cha than can-can. Her "dance skirts" featured
flamenco-style flounces, while several black pieces continued in this Spanish vein, embroidered with pink fans.
To complement the look, Stila's Jeanine Lobell brightened up the models with rosy lips and cheeks, and
Noir provided big hoop earrings with dangling adornments.
Lepore did tell us that sultry Carribbean climes weren't her only inspiration though. "It's really a mix," she
explained. "There's also a hippie influence, and then there are the homemade elements - doilies and macramé."
While macramé has appeared in other collections for spring 2002, Max Azria's BCBG for example, Lepore appears
to be the first to take the grandmotherly doily to the next level. (Not surprising, as she is known for her
lace and crochet embellishments.) While the elegant black strapless dress with five doilies scattered across
the front worked well, the black halter mini-dress with one enormous doily (no side board anywhere could have
accommodated this sucker) plastered from chest to thigh, wasn't quite as delicate and appealing.
Most pieces, however, used the lace effect more subtly and were fun and wearable. A maize-hued lace dress
stood out over a green sheath and one of Lepore's pepper denim minis incorporated lacey accents. Eyelet
also made an appearance in a couple skirts and dresses.
And before you throw away that Thighmaster, be warned that if this designer has anything to say about it,
minis - and we mean mini-minis - will still be around for spring. Mini-skirts and dresses appeared again
and again, whether denim or lace, shirred or wrap.
Those wishing to cover a little more leg do have options in this collection though. Several pairs of
low-slung, wide-leg jeans and pants made their way down the makeshift runway, and denim shorts were Bermuda
length.
And like all of her fellow designers this week, Nanette Lepore did not overlook the tragic events of our
very recent past in her low-key presentation. Her acknowledgement came in a neon-pink edged card adorned
with palm leaves and stars. The designer wrote that her "thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has
suffered a loss or was a victim of this terrible event."
She went on to thank everyone for their support "in light of everything that has happened. Your commitment
to the industry will truly enable us all to move forward."
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