PARIS, Mar 1, 2004/ FW/ --- If there is one off-calendar show that should not be missed in Paris, it is Fatima Lopes.

Every season, she delights her audience with an artistic, show-and-tell kind of a show that you have to be there to experience it.

“For me, fashion shows is a designer’s way to show his or her art,” Fatima Lopes told FW backstage, before the start of her show.

“Like this collection, which is my interpretation of surrealism. I don’t expect for any of the clothes shown on the runway to hit store shelves. I design a different set that will be shown for buyers. And those clothes are the ones which will be sold in stores.”

So, when the show started, I was expecting something that women will not to be keen being seen in public with. And I was 50% right and 50% wrong.

The whole collection was artistic, as the designer had said. With maroon and black as the main color palette, the designer chose leather, fur, metallic weaves and traditional crochet to show off her very sexy and alluring designs.

With upturned collars and body-hugging bodices, the clothes are very unforgiving if you have more than 2% body fat.

Nevertheless, the diagonal slashes that worked as slits, the deep V necklines and translucent metallic & net fabrics will look great on the red carpet, from Hollywood to the a city’s exhibit opening.

Yes, some of the clothes are “too sexy” and too revealing to be worn other than on the runway.

But there are some that can actually go from the runway to the showroom. I only hope Fatima Lopes should send those as they are, because they are truly beautiful clothes.

As for the rest, surrealism has never been this sexy!

Another interesting aspect of this show is the model’s hair. Cubes and squares worked as hats and headpieces, another aspect of Fatima Lopes’ art.

Fatima Lopes

Fatima Lopes