Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 9/12/07- Tadashi Shoji

When there are three beauty queens in the front row (photo), you know special occasion gowns must be in the offerings. Miss USA Rachel Smith, Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz, and Former Miss USA Tara Connor were all there for eveningwear designer, Tadashi Shoji. The designers is a favorite of celebrities, including Shakira, Vanessa Williams, Tyra Banks, Claudie Schiffer, Queen Latifah, Halle Berry, Minnie Driver, and Jennifer Hudson.

Mr. Shoji's Spring 2008 luxury eveningwear collection enthralled everyone in the audience at his show in the Promenade--the last Bryant Park tent show of the Spring collections. He may design pageant gowns for pretty contestants, but his evening designs also include flowing pants outfits, and short dresses in fluid, iridescent, "Butterfly-wing" fabrics that (photo above) that would be suitable and coveted by any woman.

The attention to detail was breathtaking. Dresses in whisper-light chiffon arrived on the runway in multi-layers of coordinated silk chiffon and metallic organza, many with overlays of lighter material that floated by as the models walked, turning them into beautiful butterflies with outstretched wings on the runway. These ethereal evening gowns also featured lots of pleating and back details, to ensure that a a woman looks amazing coming towards you as well as walking away. A novel (but not necessarily comfortable) detail was a dress and a pants outfit (photo, right) with a bamboo "corset" (photo right)

As models literally floated down the runway, all wearing the same, strappy, high-heeled silver sandals, the dresses rippled around them like soft, lapping waves on the ocean--not unlike Tadashi Shoji's runway show invitation, which was a postcard of ripplying blue, white and aqua waves, with a filmy, white overlay with the show details on it.

The collection had lots of muted violet, seafoam, oyster, white, opaline, and dusty pink, and lilac, but there was brilliant color too, such as in this red pants outfit, plus a few expected pieces in black, and even in green and brown.

...Tadashi Shoji strutted down his own runway at the end of the show, waving his arms in victory. Judging from the enthusiastic applause, he not only deserved it, he made plenty of new fans who (celebrity or not) will seek out his incredible dresses when they need to be breathtaking!

The masses of romantic, Raphaelite hair was a perfect topping to these beautiful clothes, designed by the talented Rodney Cutler for Cutler/NYC/Redken. Makeup, featuring dramatic eyes (but nothing too dark) and moist pink lips was by Luc Bouchard and the MAC Pro Team. Manicures by Honey. *To see moe photos of hair, makeup, nails and clothes, check out the AdviceSisters Features Page http://www.advicesisters.net/Features/Features.html for the latest features, each month.

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