Dennis Basso may have been inspired by the South of France, but there was a definite go-big-or-go-home red carpet attitude to the designer’s Resort collection. A red sequin gown with diving décolletage will be irresistible to starlets looking to make a statement. And there was a pair of blush pink georgette trousers with slits that went straight up to the top of the thigh, taking the evening pant to sexy new heights. Paging Angelina Jolie.
In addition to the glitz, there was also a calm, covered-up section. A powdered blue pleated chiffon capelet gown with an embroidered belt would be a great fit for a woman looking to delve into the more modest trend. Much of the tamer parts of the collection were themed around florals. Here, contrast worked best: A white crepe dress meticulously embroidered with florals in pops of purple, yellow, blue, and green had a head-turning, shimmering effect; it made a bigger impact than many of the gauzy dresses boasting petal prints.
Of course, no matter the season, there is the fur factor with Dennis Basso. The designer has long built his business on the material. Fur is an old-school luxury, something that could be difficult to translate for a younger generation. But Basso understands the shift in the market and has been tweaking his pieces to appeal to today’s customers. One standout included a mink cream coat with floral embroidery, a cool update to a retro Afghan coat. Another hit was a gray floral embroidered broadtail jacket with a sable collar and flared sleeves with slits. Basso referred to it as the “Basso denim jacket.” Jokes aside, the topper was indeed a sumptuous, dreamy version of a denim jacket: Come colder temperatures, any young woman on the town could pair the piece with distressed jeans and heels.
