Escada show

Things I can say with confidence this season: platforms, any shade of red, hip interest, structured, ladylike, and drape. I saw all that two nights running and expect to see more tonight at Kenzo -- stay tuned. After I've seen everything I can formulate an over-all theme.

Last night's Escada show wasn't a glittery as Ferragamo's -- no champagne and fewer Hi-So 'Fros. Nevertheless, B and I had a great time, were photographed, and wangled good seats. Still no swag bags.

I wore a black Italian sheath with satin trim and X-top Charles Jourdan sandals. B wore a navy pin-stripe suit and a violet shirt. I gave myself a Hi-So 'Fro that would have made Texas proud, and off we went.

What we saw:

Camel, brown, aubergine

A sort of "camouflage" print in brown and aubergine on camel

Platform shoes with stiletto heels in colors ranging from red through all the wines right up to aubergine -- RTB, your new red boots could not be more au courant!

Fur -- collars, hats, trim on sleeves and hems

Bell sleeves

Cropped jackets

Drape. pleat, and tuck details at the hip on skirts and trow

Long ruched gloves

Double skirts -- a short pencil skirt under a shorter flirty skirt

Trench coats

Long breaks on trow

Half-belted dresses

Structured, architectural boat and funnel necks

Square but not padded shoulders, sometimes with pleating

For evening, ruched tops with empire waists and long draping in the front and/or back a la Givenchy circa 1978 and an anomalous lavender bubble dress with pockets -- beautiful but Easter-eggy and I had to wonder where it came from!

Shiny lips, geisha eyeliner, and hair slicked back into chignons at the nape

The fabrics were gorgeous: silk georgette, silk jersey, wools jersey, quilted silk in saturated colors. And don't get me started on the fur. I love fur, and I'm sorry if that hurts you. I promise not to buy any that wasn't dead before I was born, ok? That being said, I need a mink hat!