“Showing in L.A., showing in Hollywood, definitely did affect the collection,” said Peter Dundas before putting on his seventh Dundas show at The Art of Elysium’s star-studded annual Heaven fundraising gala in Los Angeles last night. “I used to binge-watch Old Hollywood movies when I was a kid so that found its way in . . . there’s a little bit of Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story and a little bit of Elvira Hancock in Scarface.” Known for his unabashedly extroverted silhouettes and bold use of color, beading, animal prints, and lamés, Dundas was almost restrained in his focus on black and metallic red carpet gowns.“It’s that time of year,” Dundas said simply. “And it’s long because the last collection I did was entirely short.”
Among the black floor-length asymmetric tuxedo and ’40s-style pouf-shouldered dresses were occasional flashes of color in the form of Dundas’s signature jewel tone caftans; metallic fil coupe dresses; and a tangerine satin jacquard jacket, pants, and bustier ensemble. “Because it’s a smaller collection I was able to play with different elements and really think about individual pieces,” said Dundas. For the designer’s hyper-glam posse of devotees, an African-inspired giraffe-print cape and sequined bikini top, shorts, and duster were the most outré pieces on offer.
“With having my own brand I’ve become more and more sensitive with each collection to what the client needs,” said Dundas of the evolution of his self-named line. “I guess I can communicate more directly with my clients now. My girlfriends (he counts Poppy Delevingne, Eugenie Niarchos, Bianca Brandolini, and Emily Ratajkowski among their ranks) come and try on the clothes and tell me what they like and what they are missing in their wardrobes.” And that, it appears, after a season of microminis, is length.
