Stitching Together a Week of Promise

The 25-year-old designer emerged last season as one of the bright spots of L.A.’s fashion week. He exhibited a sensibility that interestingly melded modern and ethnic silhouettes. But his new 17-piece fall collection revealed a strong imagination that hasn’t quite caught up to his sewing skill, even though he’s a more accomplished tailor than many of his L.A. peers. Like many young designers, Kashou fell prey to the idea of exaggerating the season’s prevailing ideas. So flared legs were hugely so, fringe grew to yard-long lengths and multiple loops flapped from tops or dresses until they became tripping hazards.

Sometimes, the ideas all came together well, such as when the long fringe cascaded from a belt or added a pleasing wiggle to structured gaucho pants.

*

Valli Herman-Cohen