Lincoln Center came to a halt when the elegance and lure of Tadashi Shoji’s Spring 2012 Collection took Center Stage. It was clear the moment the first design emerged, why Tadashi’s presentation paid homage to the delightful beauty and grandeur of the Tulip flower. The collection unquestionably entranced the moment the first model graced the runway and held all eyes till the lights indicated the show’s end.
The Tulip Anthology insists that the tulip is a powerful flower and that it knows it. Like the inspiration, the pieces were true to the form, color, bloom and the continual evolving shape of the flower. In fact, from cocktail dresses to the casual dresses and moving seamlessly into the evening wear, distinctive characteristics of the grace, allure and refinement resonated beamingly in each dress. Shades of willow, fern, magnolia and rosebud were inculcated with draped tulle, silk linen and embroidered lace. Of course, hand-painted strokes to reflect the tulip’s distinct petal markings were also evident in a few of the designs. Additionally, the bead detailing allowed the pieces to gleam like the brand new spring morn one dreams of during the winter days.
Early stand outs included the ivory and fern silk linen boatneck gown and the black and ivy hand painted silk linen strapless dress. What I would love to see on my fabulous friends range from the black and primrose hand-painted silk striped gown and black and petunia hand-painted silk linen striped strapless gown to the lily and tulle metallic embroidered lace long sleeve tiered dress and also the fern crinkled taffeta strapless dress with petal detail. Without a doubt however, the petunia silk linen draped strapless gown would be the one my mother would call her own.
My top three cocktail dresses comprised of the ivory and daisy floral print chiffon one shouldered ruche dress, the ivory tulle and embroidered lace trim halter dress and the willow hand cut floral appliqué with tulle overlay dress. My top three evening dresses encompass the ivory silk chiffon v-neck cross back gown, the ivory and daisy floral print silk chiffon strapless draped gown and the ivory and lily floral print silk chiffon one shoulder draped gown. That last dress was my number one pick and the model’s sensuous gait manipulated the dress’ fabulous flow. A flow akin to a beautiful spring breeze as the lights dimmed to a sunset before the end of this enchanting collection.
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