Cathy Xiorama Spring 2005: The Fresh Winds of Portugal
By Contributing Writer
Photo below: Cathy Xiorama backstage, Spring 2005
Photo by: FW

PARIS, Nov 1, 2004/ FW/ --- Showing in Paris for the first time last October, is young designer Cathy Xiorama. In this Spring Summer 2005 collection, the fresh winds of Portugal could be literally felt sweeping into Europe’s foremost fashion capital.

As guests arrived to be seated at Salle Wagram for the show, they were delighted to the sounds of carnival music, and genuine cotton candy and popcorn smells as authentic vendors distributed their products to the guests and simultaneously putting smiles on their faces.

The collection features soft, feminine materials, polka dots and vibrant colours. The marriage between these elements coincided perfectly with the carnival atmosphere of the show.

Cathy Xiorama, who is Portuguese, wanted the collection to showcase the culture cocktail of which she is the product as both her parents are of Venezuelan origins.

“I want people to like my clothes and for Paris to appreciate what I do. Other than that, I have no unattainable, secret expectations”, said Xiorama in a pre-show interview with Fashion Windows.

A soft layered mini dress, a sexy two-piece bikini and a dark burnt coral dress well above the knees frolicked effortlessly to and fro. The dress has a beautifully composed belt much like a cummerbund and in a similar colour.

One of her “strappy” tops was sinfully dangerous. Just one wrong move (or better yet, just the right move!) and the wearer will find herself in a delightfully “compromising” position.

Readers will have to forgive the oxymoron, but I love Xiorama’s “practical” high heels. They are appropriate for both weekends and evenings. Her sling-back pumps have small heels for just a pinch of lift. Others in the collection have higher heels. The shoes range from girly to sexy. Some of the sexiest, ironically enough, have bows. Those bows give to the heels a bit of a “Lolita” feel.

“I don’t believe that there is an ideal woman for my clothes”, says Xiorama. “They are for women who want to be beautiful and comfortable at the same time.”

In a world gone mad with over-the-top sex appeal in collections, women will be grateful to the Portuguese beauty for creating splendid skirts which have the feel, the security and the glamour that fashion offered to women in the 1950s and early 1960s.

In spite of the shows sophomoric circus theme, the collection was everything but immature. This critic found it most inspiring!

The bows in the shirts somehow create just the right balance of natural femininity and measured sex appeal. Now that’s an accomplishment!

Spring 2005 Photo by Javier Mateo

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CATHY XIORAMA