Brian Reyes hit the mark in a strong collection inspired by the geologically extreme landscapes of Death Valley, Arizona, and Ethiopia. Reyes was sure-handed with his references, and the earthy palette of sand and stone was as literal as it gets (we're giving him a pass on the zebra-print suit). Other subtler prints worked just fine; a marble one in a warm shade of rust could have been an aerial view of Earth's caverns and curves, but the dresses and tops it landed on will look just fine from down here, too. Reyes kept the silhouette clean and close to the body, but the volume-adding pieces he used—like the sleeveless open "dresses" worn as coats that would look right when it's too warm for a trench—stayed light. The navy cocktail number with allover mosaic beading that closed the show was a stunner, and it neatly summed up Reyes' elegant evolution.
