NEW YORK - Peter Som turned out his first collection for the venerable Bill Blass label on Thursday at New York Fashion Week, and it was a good first outing.
Consider it one to grow on.
Candy Pratts Price, executive fashion director for Style.com, said that Som captured the spirit of the late Blass in a stunning and elegant white hammered-satin halter gown as well as a series of ruffled, tuxedo-style evening looks. In fact, Pratts Price has an original Blass ruffled halter top in her closet.
But, she noted, this show was almost entirely eveningwear, while Blass' signature really was his suits and sportswear - the outfits his socialite friends and top businesswomen would wear during the day. "I guess the gowns are very good to get the name out there," said Pratts Price, "and the rest will come later."
The designer's commitment to his craft certainly could be seen in a series of thin eyelash-fringe party outfits, especially a lovely black-and-white taffeta dress with a subtle cherry-fruit print, and fur coat that had alternating stripes of mink and broadtail.
The feathers that have become a surprise signature of the fall '08 season also were represented here with curled-ostrich cocktail dresses.
And, for a little glitz - something Blass was not known for but perhaps Som is touting as his own stamp - there were a few shimmer-tweed daytime styles as well as an eye-catching and chic macintosh coat in pearl-coloured lame.
