Beautiful Bill Blass-Presentation Spring 2008

Last season's Bill Blass show was a full-sized Fashion Week Runway Show tent extravaganza . This season, Bill Blass chose to take it down a notch, and host a presentation in the 42nd Street Library. Trays of wine and water were passed around, as guests scrutinized two back to back "tableaux" of models, standing in two rows, occasionally shifting position as requested by photographers. There were lights, and there was background music, but what made this presentation great (in my opinion) was the ability of the viewers to walk around at will, looking at the dresses from different angles, and for as long as required to understand the clothes.

The Spring 2008 collection was inspired by the Bill Blass archives, according to the press information. As you can see from the photos above, the dresses for Spring 2008 from Bill Blass are "party" dresses for young, beautiful women or, as well put: "pretty young things." The debutante-type colors and luxurious fabrics seem to work effortlessly with the precise tailoring. There were lots of thing belts at the waist, to emphasize the fact that these are dresses, not throw on sacks. We saw lots of heavy, lustrous silk in ivory, blush, yellow, white, and maize, some decorated with jet, patent, lace, and mirrors, some with ribbon rosettes and sequins, and some, like this Maize-colored, silk shantung ballgown with sweetheart neckline and inverted pleat skirt, simply needed no adornment at all. The definite sillouttes, the belts, and the controlled but pretty hair reminded me a bit of 1950's career girl goes to a party. So different from the balloon dresses of last Spring, these clothes are structured, ladylike, and expensive looking. They're special occasion.charity event outfits, and not something the average women will wear to dinner at a local restaurant. They exude feminine power. I imagine a young woman wearing one of these dresses and flirting outrageously but still she appears a proper lady. What fun to be a girl!

It will be interesting to see what direction Peter Som, recently named creative director, will take the line. For now, this collection is a nod to what was, and a wink at what may be in the future.

Hair was done by Dennis Gotsoulos and the Hair Team provided by Cutler Salon. The makeup was done by Francelle Daily and the MAC Pro Team.

The literature ends by stating: "This collection is a nod to Mr. Blass, and undoubtedly, to the women of yesterday and today who will forever dress for themselves."

*all text and photos by Alison Blackman Dunham -- copyright © 2007 all rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham of THE ADVICE SISTERS® No portion of this blog or any advicesisters content, including illustrations, may be copied or used in any without written permission. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark.