Farah Angsana Couture presented its Fall 2009 collection in Bryant Park, New York City on Feb 16, 2009. Entitled “Kiss of a Dragon”, the collection featured stunning evening gowns, gorgeous cocktail dresses, and beautiful cape-dress combinations.

The Kiss of A Dragon

Three seasons ago, Farah Angsana’s couture collections hit New York in a sea of soft ruffles, dazzling rusching, and exquisite embroidery. Fall 2009 saw her showing in Bryant Park for the first time, and all her signature trademarks – draping, rushing, beading, and embroidery -  were present in full force.

Cocktail dresses in cream, antique gold and sage silk gave way to silk chiffon evening gowns and a stunning gunmetal silk jersey draped evening gown. Simple silhouettes paired with detailed bead work presented the viewer with rich contrasts. A cocktail dress is transformed with Gazar tiers and Swarovski crystal beading, while the designer re-invents simple capes with jet beading and embroidery to create texture and a feeling of luxury. I particularly liked the Jacquard coats with beautifully beaded hems and cuffs and trimmed collars. They added a new shape to the dresses and gowns which with to play.

And Farah Angsana did indeed play with this collection, the backdrop of which was Shanghai in 1939. She spun a story about the kiss of a dragon that transforms the Farah Angsana Woman into a phoenix. This theme was evident in the use of many accents, including ostrich feathers and mandarin collars and culminated in a dramatic final piece – a black and red silk chiffon draped evening gown with embroidered and beaded black and gold dragon scales. I can’t wait to see which Hollywood starlet has the chutzpah to carry off this absolutely stunning dress!

I like the use of video to showcase this designer’s products and style. These little vignettes certainly want to make you find out more about them. Gilt Groupe has some great marketing ideas to promote not-so-well-known designers. In any case, it’s all about sales and Gilt Groupe has some great sales!

This is a collection Farah Angsana Couture should really reprise – the Asian-inspired goddess gowns in hot pinks, lime, and Shanghai reds are my favorites.

This was the show I missed – it was amazing by all accounts -the clothes, the gorgeous tango at the start of the show, ths music… wow!

I had another wonderful opportunity to ogle at Farah Angsana’s exquisite couture workmanship – this time her fabulous couture wedding gowns. These gowns are for the young, gorgeous Upper East Side starlets whose lives are as colorful as the set on Gossip Girl. Thoroughly aspirational, Farah Angsana Couture’s bridal fashions will also be a hit with the style-conscious Los Angelistas.

The classic Farah Angsana Couture trademarks were all there – the lovely rusching, the fabulous embroidery and drapery, the ethereal fabrics used, and that je-ne sais-quoi of her Asian heritage and European sensibility . Silhouettes were very modern, with only a couple of pieces that accented traditional wedding gowns. And even those were subtley executed: with more flattering shapes, and sleeker trains and veils. Another cohesive and beautifull presented collection. Well done, Farah!

This was such an eye-opener for a starry-eyed fashion outsider comme moi! I am ashamed to say that I had to google Lilly Pulitzer to find out more about her. But what I discovered was astonishing. The colors – psychadelic pinks, yellows, greens, blues – were just super. I LOVED every piece that I saw. I felt that I was at an outdoor market in Rajasthan and not in an uberchic space in Manhattan. The colors are one thing, but the prints and embroidery are so adorable.The clothes are light, airy and so summery and perfect for the beach. In her clothes I saw hints of Pucci, Missoni and Alpana Bawa.

This was a super retrospective of her work and so well executed. I particularly liked the wall of framed prints, along with framed quotes from desginers like Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, and Michael Kors about Lilly’s timeless style. I am such a fan now!

Zac Posen Spring 2009 New York Fashion Week – Final Exit on Vimeo. Check out the turkey flounce dress at the end!