Sarli Couture S/S 2012 Couture for Planete Chic
Inspired by the Mediterranean coasts, Sarli Couture dives head first into Grecian romance in their latest couture collection. “This season respects the tradition of the Sarli Couture Fashion House that has been around for fifty years,” said designer Rocco Palermo after the show. “My mind is always focused on evolution and this season we see the original studies with shapes and geometry that also respect the femininity of women.” The show notes elaborated: “Just as a shell is pushed on the shore by powerful waves, here comes a bride wrapped in pleated asymmetrical spires which delicately reveal a body made precious by golden glows resembling filigree exalted by a warm Mediterranean sun.”
This was Sarli Couture’s celebration of craftsmanship: classic jumpsuits, slacks and vests that lightly touch the body and then gradually infuses color and embellishment with daring geometric shapes and flattering silhouettes that are all too familiar to the Italian fashion house that has dressed celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger, Monica Bellucci to Carla Bruni.
The collection began with a winter white passage: strapless lean fitting jumpsuit with a white train and coral lining, a one shoulder lean fitting dress with silver sequin bodice, a show stopping white waist-length jacket with oversized ruffle detail and lean calf-length pants, a sleeveless vest with scalloped detail and a high waist pants to a high waist jumpsuit with scallop top and sheer panels and a gorgeous sheer overlay.
From there, vibrant coral hues, deep blue and emerald green waters, rich jewel tones, impressions of marble and spiral effects changed the tone of the show that drew whispers from the press pit to the audience. These fashions had many of Sarli’s signatures: a long sleeve structured wrapped blue three-quarter length jacket paired with a simple black dress, a sculpted fire red dress with a broad waist band and elongated flames, and a black mini-dress with a criss-cross sweetheart-style top, broad band waist and orange skirt with a pleated organza detail on the inside of the flowing train.
The finale was a celebration to the craftsmanship used for sculpture dresses that combined showmanship and creativity: cascades of spiral white organza in a gorgeous silhouette and a strapless white gown emblazoned with stones and rocks directly from the Mediterranean Sea and full length cascading organza waist and train gently tiered and graceful in movement. The designer Italian label presented a selection of haute couture and prêt-couture looks that were perfect for the New York market and it so was.