Silvia Bours closed the second night of Phoenix Fashion Week 2012 at Talking Stick with a line of bedazzled, fairy tale dresses with flared tulle tutus fit for a kooky yet-uninvented Disney princess.
Her collection was mesmerizing, extreme, and exaggerated clothing. Two fruit-print frocks that resembled a clash between Stella McCartney and Chiquita Banana stood out as playful storybook designs that we could imagine sugary pop divas wearing. But, her well-crafted sparkle burst did little to buoy some of the other designers who showed before Bours.
See also: -Phoenix Fashion Week 2012 Opening Night at Talking Stick Resort (Slideshow) -Phoenix Fashion Week 2012 Friday Night at Talking Stick Resort (Slideshow) -Recap of Phoenix Fashion Week 2012 Opening Night at Talking Stick Resort -America's Next Top Model Contestant Brittany Brown Talks Tough Competition, Sisterly Love, and Phoenix Fashion Week
Three menswear labels brought varying perspectives to the runway. Madison Park Collective looks like its hoodies, T-shirts, and basics are ready to be racked at Urban Outfitters. Emerging designer Paulie Gibson wasn't short on creativity -- though personally we'd be hard pressed to find a man willing to wear shirts that shiny -- with his collection seemingly aimed at cigar-smoking playboys and imitators of Breaking Bad villain Tuco.
Jean Paul Jeune showed nicely made suits in surprising textures, including seasonal fave lurex, some of which skewed a little boy band. (See all-white, open-shirt ensemble for a total Nick Carter get-up.) JPJ showed a few women's pieces, too. The highlighter yellow dress with the scrubs-style neckline grew on us the more we thought about it.
On the side of women's clothing, unfortunately, things were far more scattered. Things started strong with JOI by Jewel Oribe's line of space age lines and peasant shapes in black and white. Oribe's jumpsuits and braided belts were beautifully constructed.
EYE Thread faired less well with oddly constructed denim tops with flowing floral skirts and ill-fittting dresses. A purple and black flowing number with V-straps stood out as the easy favorite, and while a denim dress with studded sleeve was conceptually interesting, it's fabric failed to convey the punky idea properly.
Jhaus was a nice collection of well-fitting, colorful denim. Although we didn't care for the denim gowns (shudder) or the closing look of a gown made out of burlap sacks, we know if they'd been made with different materials they would've looked better.
We hoped that after seeing Sew Twisted at the Emerging Designers 2012 announcement that the label would be able to elevate it's Holly-hobby-looking creations. But with unfinished hems, bunching seams, off fabric choices, and a little salvation by way of a black mini dress (the best piece of the collection) we were mostly disappointed.
