Max Azria, the founder and designer of BCBG, is a man who generally keeps a finger firmly on the fashion pulse. The company has been turning out smart takes on sophisticated trends for more than a decade, making loyal customers out of women who love fashion but whose budgets don't stretch to big-ticket designers.
For his Fall collection, Azria seemed to be tuned more to a jungle beat than a style channel. With a few exceptions, every look consisted of layered, crinkled gauze or chiffon dresses, done in tones of brown, black or olive and weighted down with chains or studded leather belts. Asymmetrical hems and necklines were the order of the day, and there was enough shredding on the runway to pique the interest of the SEC.
Highlights included a black wool three-quarter coat with fur trim, some well-cut pinstripe jackets and trousers, and a suede studded skirt. And knowing how much women love options, Azria created a great boot: With parallel zippers at two heights, it goes from ankle- to knee-high in an instant.
