For early fall, Zuhair Murad ventures into unexpected territory with an unorthodox pairing: ”s interior designer Dorothy Draper and Alice in Wonderland.
sounds crazy, but it’s not as far-fetched as it seems. Murad found kindred spirits in Draper, a staunch anti-minimalist who defined Hollywood with bold colors, baroque flourishes, large print and ubiquitous mirrors Regency style. For the designer, her freewheeling approach to pattern, texture and proportion naturally brings to mind Alice, who duly uses tulle, Lace and diamonds adorn colorful hearts and diamonds in Duchess satin. Three-dimensional effects dominated, mixing red velvet lace, rhinestone patterns on black velvet, and bare appliqués or cutouts. For floral lovers, rich roses appear in lush black and white and saffron prints on silk charmeuse.
That said, Murad held back in a few instances: Lilac was talking about a sparkly taffeta bustier gown, an apple green tutu Simply adorned with wispy bows, black T-shirt silhouettes are artfully embellished with shiny appliqués at the neckline or sleeves. Meanwhile, he played up his sense of humor in evening looks and red carpet looks, charmingly in a black velvet bodice and a lilac skirt embroidered with hearts and diamonds. While heart pockets and placement on the chest may not be the designer’s forte, they express a love for his clientele. Murad admires strong women, and here he brings a series of characters to life—the urbane Alice, the indomitable Queen of Hearts, and (for the White Rabbit) the sultry Rabbit Jessica—and welcomes them to join him party. In this era of diversity and power, this is key.
60
