September 10, 2006
New York City

Nestled among the skyscrapers of New York City's Nolita district, in the Elizabeth Street Gardens designer Holly Dunlap, creator of Hollywould, orchestrated her Spring 2007 Collection with a fun garden style party.  There was no Mad Hatter or Queen of Hearts, but the fete was full of socialites and fashion sightseer's alike.  It came complete with all the botanical bash must have's, Izze Fizzy drinks and miniature Wine Cellar sorbet ice cream cones to snack on.  While most outdoor soiree's boast a chance to show off your Sunday best this fashionable get together was a chance to pick and point what your Sunday best would be for next season.

In her usual style of nixing the traditional runway and twiggy models, Dunlap set her apparel clad mannequins on stone pedestals like picturesque monuments throughout the garden.  Strings of white lights along with oversized star ornaments and Japanese lanterns lit up the trees while purveyors mingled and talked over the designs.  The remaining looks that weren't on display were broadcast onto a building wall by projector.  Also, Dunlap's cosmopolite groupies wore Hollywould's Spring Collection as their evening attire for an animated display of the rest of the looks.  The designer herself weaved through the crowd in a bold pink flower patterned dress of her own design. 

Dunlap titled her collection, California Girls and even though the show was in New York, there were touches of Hollywould everywhere, so it wasn't a hard sell.  Between the colors, fabric and cuts, west coast beach chique glamour shone through each look.  Plotting for spring, Dunlap kept the line cheery and bright with all dresses in every shape and size.  Her color palette mimicked the season's motto with overly vibrant shades of pretty pink, crisp white, bold blue and lime green.  For fabric the designer used mostly smooth silks for its flirty shapes it can be molded into with ease.  Dunlap mixed back and forth between lively prints and standard solids.  A blue and green swirl print dress was available in both long and short versions as was the bold pink flower pattern dress Dunlap wore.  Adding embellishments to the standard silhouettes were gold medallions on a chocolate brown silk dress with purple straps, a bubbly beaded collar on a pink and white print dress and bright diamond buttons on a lime green dress that casually faded into sea blue.  One of the best features of the collection was thin rope belts that adorned some of the silk dresses with soft pleated ruffles at the bottom.

After two too many miniature sorbet cones and a gift back of goodies I left the Hollywould affair.  I realized that Dunlap and her faithful crew of followers really know how to throw a fabulous party.  Even better, they really know how to put out a great line of clothing.  There may not have been any plants growing in this urban garden but Dunlap has nurtured another season of wardrobe necessities. 

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