Lundi

Photo by M.D. Dupuy

NoDef took a peek into NOLA Fashion Week last night, taking seats for Molly Stackhouse’s Mesdress Collection as well as for Kelli Cooper’s designs from her spring line, Loretta Jane. Set at the modern and welcoming Saratoga Building by Marcel Wisznia, both shows brought looks that were fun, elegant, sexy and sophisticated, and perfect to withstand a sweaty summer in the Big Easy.

Local designer Molly Stackhouse referred to her design aesthetic as wearable, editorial, and full of clean, sharp lines, and last night’s Mesdress show delivered.  

As promised, Stackhouse’s Spring ’13 Collection was an homage to the triangle, and the NOLA Fashion Week rookie did an excellent job of taking advantage of the versatile shape without using it arbitrarily.

Stackhouse’s designs were cohesive without being limited. Diamonds, sharp lines, and classic cuts graced the runway, sewn from coolly toned and deeply colored fabric of mauves, blacks, and light blues, with pops of white.

Stackhouse’s “Gem Dress,” was particularly cuneiform, utilizing triangles and diamonds along the side of the short, structured piece to create flattering lines. 

Stackhouse’s “Crystal Maxi Dress,” was one of her springiest looks to grace the catwalk, with its thin straps, powder blue fabric, and white accent to create the perfect warm-weather frock.

Her diamond maxi skirt offers buyers a more flowing, high-waisted version of the regal design. Paired with her dashing “jasper jacket,” the look was one of the more transformative on the runway, providing the wearer with an easy transition from daytime professionalism to comfortable yet sexy casual wear.

In keeping with the season’s trends, Stackhouse wasn’t afraid to make her models look good in leather. However, the designer didn’t overdo the popular material, putting it to appropriate use in her sexiest look, “The Hex Leather Skirt,” paired with a “Jet Top” made almost entirely from sheer fabric.  

(Text and photos by M.D. Dupuy)

Loretta Jane

Bold prints and vibrant colors dominated the runway at the Loretta Jane fashion show last night.  Form fitting and feminine, the garments, designed by New Orleans' Kelli Cooper, could be dressed down with flats in the daytime or accessorized with necklaces and stilettos at night.  With flowers behind their ear and sunglasses many of the models looked as if they had just come from a glamorous day in the park. This versatility makes these clothes an easy choice to throw on during a wardrobe crisis.  

All of the models looked comfortable in confident in their garments.  The fabric appeared light and cool, perfect for a New Orleans summer.  

After watching so many mini dresses, rompers and short shorts move across the runway, a full length, looser-fitting dress provided a welcome break to the routine, and elevated the collection from sweet to whimsical.

The entire collection meshed very well together down the runway.  Repeated patterns—  a colorful flower pattern started out as a dress and ended as shorts— and spring color schemes of blues, greens and yellows tied the collection together neatly. 

Although there was a sweetness and playfulness about some of the garments, such as the polka dot dresses, a slit in the back reveals some skin.  In playing with different low back cuts and slits the designer creates a subtly sexier and edgier look that is unexpected at first glance.  

(Text and photos by Emma Boyce)