Photos by Walter Grio. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012 New York. Text by Anastasia Lambrou.
Seductively strong and feminine silhouettes glided across a slick black glass runway, an impossible mirage baring a fiery hot sunset over a mysterious rippling water. The setting was dramatic and fittingly so as Reem Acra’s femme fatale walked the long glistening stretch to deliver a powerful message to the audience. This collection was feminine power.
Curvy sleek women glided along the runway adorned in metallic deco inspired dresses encrusted in heavily beaded geometric shapes juxtaposed for contrast. The gowns looked as though they simply trickled over the beautiful sleek figures, their metallic beads reflecting vividly on the shiny runway. This collection took my breath away. Not only did it convey strength but it did so without depriving Acra’s woman of her femininity. I was definitely feeling it. The designer continued the 20’s theme featuring loose-cut chiffon drop hem evening dresses. Make-up was dark and smokey-eyed giving off the femme fatale flair, especially on models wearing evening dresses featuring daring shard shaped peek-a-boo cut outs. You could only be blown away by the intricacy and elaborate construction of the long-sleeve figure hugging mini dresses.
Her collection also included more hard wearing materials, such as leather cut sharp and boxy but streamlined and body fitting, much like elegant modern armor. The day wear and leather skirt suits touched on the 80’s, and you know leather in the 80’s wasn’t fashion’s most fetching moment. The power look was still there but the style was not. There were a few softer 60’s inspired little three-quarter length sleeve jackets and suits in tweed and houndstooth, featuring embellishments and that petite 60’s Peter Pan collar. These were OK but they left me wondering what happened to power? All of a sudden we had boring first lady looks on smokey-eyed mistresses. I was all excited and then something went awry.
Apart from the day wear, which I just want to politely put aside, Acra’s evening looks were a very stunning and indeed inspiring collection. Expect to see the high-street retailers glistening with sequin garments, like mini dresses and skirts, chiffon and lace shirts and dresses, as well as the return of leather and more tweed. Think metallics, metallics, metallics, whether it be solids paired with softer fabrics, studs, or heavy beading and embellishments.
