A loose, beachy vibe infused the first collections for spring 2009, drawing inspiration from fantasies of far-off places. Tropical prints combined with an easy slouch to evoke less stressful times.

“When the economy is so bad and with the horrible things happening all around the world, one gets inspired to create a certain kind of beauty,” designer Narciso Rodriguez told The Associated Press before the shows began. He promised an “anti-stress” collection later in the week.

On Friday, BCBG’s fresh-faced models had the air of waking up late at a small beach resort, tossing on whatever was nearby. Perry Ellis had two words for its beach-bound customer — “leisure suits.” And Elie Tahari dressed the glamorous couple on a seaside vacation, sipping frosty cocktails with warm sand between their toes.

When the economy slumps, some designers turn to bright colors and go beyond basics to lure customers into stores. But this Fashion Week, labels were also counting on currency-rich foreign buyers to take advantage of the weak dollar.

If this early glimpse is any indication, the retailers, editors and stylists who will see more than 100 fashion shows over the next eight days will escape the doldrums of the down economy and seriousness of the upcoming presidential election. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week runs through Sept. 12.

Subscribe to The China Post and save.  Click hereSharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 800 characters max

Receive China Post promos

Respond to this email