Dennis Basso spun a romantic tale for Pre-Fall: He envisioned women dressed to the nines, dining on champagne and pheasant under a foggy moonlit sky in the forest. “Let’s say they’re with younger men, maybe,” he continued. “Actually, if we’re going to have a fantasy, let’s make those guys 25.”
Basso’s gorgeous, whimsically embellished gowns certainly belong to the realm of fantasy. This is a good thing; eveningwear, always the designer’s focus, should transport the wearer. It needn’t be practical. His enchanted forest informed the dreamy botanical prints and intricate floral embroidery. In some cases, a sparkly half-moon hovered above the moody prints—the kind of detail that will delight a certain kind of customer who relishes the unexpected (and, perhaps, also a little drama).
But Basso did bow to practicality in some places: A few of his signature furs were perforated so that they could breathe and move more easily, while fur vests were designed to be paired with smart trousers as well as cocktail dresses. “That’s how people dress nowadays,” he said. “They mix it up.” But even his
daywear—embroidered suede shift dresses and wide-leg
pants—captured the extravagant spirit of evening. “The Dennis Basso woman doesn’t just want to look special; she wants to feel special,” the designer explained.
