In the decade since launching their house, Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo have racked up an impressive clientele, including an enviable number of Hollywood A-listers. One of them, Kirsten Dunst, turned up for Monday’s show and took a front row seat alongside model Arizona Muse.
With this presentation of 55 looks, 54 of them dresses, the brand’s loyal base was spoiled for choice: Every single one was red carpet–ready. The show opened with a series of white silk crepe looks embellished with topaz, pearl, and glass embroidery and was quickly followed by crisp, ladylike suits with scalloped edges or rever collars worthy of a Hitchcock heroine. But the lion’s share of the show was devoted to a dizzying array of gowns showered with flowers, crystals, beads, pearls, or jeweled buttons, with a few tributes to modern architecture thrown in for good measure—one showstopper came in tiers of silver foil fringe, white feathers, and pleated tulle flowers. A few looks, such as an emerald halter dress, were beguiling in their simplicity, but most of the creations pointed up the prowess of Ralph & Russo’s roughly 200-strong Hyde Park atelier.
Asked postshow what a possible awards season pick might be, Dunst gave a nod to the dresses in blue and gold. Commented Ralph, “The women of today have so many different faces, and so many women inspire us collectively, we really wanted to focus on women’s empowerment and offer something for everybody.” This year, that ambition is going to become much more of a reality: Ralph & Russo is making tracks with its fledgling accessories line, and the house is slated to open 10 new stores around the world, including one in Miami.
