Designer Prabal Gurung was feeling in a modern fairytale sort of mood on Valentine’s Day. He kicked off his show notes with the line “this season I take you to a place where magical realism reigns” and that is exactly what he did with a collection that really tried to sprinkle a bit of sartorial magical fairy dust on clothing meant for the real world.
His avenue of choice for getting this sensation across was the incorporation of a feather or leaf motif on many of his looks. Sometimes they appeared literally, as was the case of one standout feather-and-pearl embellished cream top. But more often the image was figured as a print of fluttering feathers falling down the length of a dress, embroidered in gilded thread on a semi-sheer top or as an outline inserted into the pelt of a fur coat.
The other take-away idea of this collection was Gurung’s use of buttons to close up skirts or pant legs, which he left sexily undone and a stylistic choice that was a bit hit-and-miss on the runway. Better was the covetable outerwear. The fur-collared duffle coat that opened the show was divine and the lavender flounce-sleeved astrakhan velveteen coat was also a romantic winner.
If this collection felt slightly out of step with current trends in fashion, that didn’t take away from its beauty. There will always be women who want to dress as if they lived inside a perfect storybook world, and for them Gurung has just the right Happily Ever After outfits.