NEW YORK -- Russia had a bit of a fashion moment here this week, inspiring the fall 2013 collections of Ralph Lauren and several other designers, including Los Angeles-based Rozae Nichols.
Nichols showed her fall 2013 Clover Canyon collection, titled "Winter Palace," during New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center on Wednesday night, complete with ballet dancers en pointe cast as models.
The look: Russian to the max. Clover Canyon is all about vivid original prints, to which Nichols brought Russia's beautiful excess, including the opulence of the Hermitage, the Ballets Russes, graphic Constructivism, the czars' crown jewels, glittering chandeliers and Faberge eggs. The prints were engineered to frame the body on streamlined silhouettes, such as a neoprene minidress, shirt dress, bustier and cigarette pants, reversible coat, fur-trimmed cape and silk-front sweat shirt.
There was even a sweat shirt with the words "Clover Canyon" written in gold foil across the chest, which delighted the Russian model who got to wear it.
The verdict: Wearable art. What's not to love about this fun collection? It's made in California, has a sense of humor and the prices are right ($198 to $800).
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