The Young Guns - BEHNAZ SARAFPOUR:
The young designer, Behnaz Sarafpour, took over the main floor of Tiffany's on a beautiful, warm, Sunday morning to stage her 'Breakfast at Tiffany' spring show. And no, it was not an homage to Audrey Hepburn via a lineup of predictable little black cocktail dresses that would look great with an elongated cigarette holder in hand, long white gloves, and a diamante tiara, but rather all about 'East Meets West'. Though I felt there was perhaps a little too much of Prada's Oriental vibe, Ms. Sarafpour made it her own and managed to keep it all well edited, modern, wearable, and un-costumey through her precision cuts, unfussy lean shapes and lines, pared down color palette with just a few florals and Oriental prints to add interest. She used wide kimono sleeves and obi sashes on almost every piece, added long pearl fringe to several short skirts and tanks tops for some fun and festive movement, used gold sequins in a sporty, offhanded way (as a tank top with a printed box pleated skirt), and paraded out a group of her by now 'legendary' trenchcoats (her admitted best sellers for three years) in white, red, and pale silver. Evening was long, lean, and simple, with a group of fluid halter gowns- notably the black jersey halter with silver trim, and Manolo Blahnik's cork soled studded patent leather mules were the only shoes she used (and they kept it all looking hip and cool- not overly precious or ladylike), and Tiffany jewelry (what else?) accessorized it all.