If Justin Timberlake brought sexy back to iPods world-round, then Herve Leger not only brought it back to the catwalk, but redefined and exemplified it for fashion. Look up the word “sexy” in the dictionary, and right beside it should be a picture of the iconic bandage dress. While the masses may still be trying to figure out how to bring sexy back, Max Azria proves that for Herve Leger it never left. I remember my first Herve Leger piece; it was a bandage pencil skirt in a deep shade of espresso. Just putting on that skirt, instantly transformed my persona, like my favorite Christian Louboutin sky-high stilettos. These clothes change your posture, your carriage, the way you walk, the way you sit; every little more you make is magically enhanced by the transformative powers of shape and silhouette—that is the genius of this construction! For Spring 2009, Max Azria sent out 48 of the week’s most womanly wares, seductively sashaying down the runway to Tone-Loc’s “Wild Thing.”

Workin' all week 9 to 5 for my money
So when the weekend comes I go get live with the honey
Rollin' down the street I saw this girl and she was pumpin'
I winked my eye she got into the ride went to a club was jumpin'
Introduce myself as Loc she said "You're a liar"
I said "I got it goin' on baby doll and I'm on fire"
Took her to the hotel she said "You're the king"
I said "Be my queen if you know what I mean and let us do the wild thing

When Max Azria acquired Herve Leger nearly a decade ago, the brand’s triumvirate seemed complete, joining the eponymous Max Azria and BCBG by Max Azria collections. According to the company website, Herve Leger is a collection of supremely seductive couture and deluxe ready-to-wear designs. Created for a glamorous and sophisticated woman, bands and tucks that closely wrap the body have become the signature of the collection. By smoothing and shaping women's bodies, Herve Leger dresses create a sensuous and feminine silhouette. The body-shaping cut of each item, characterized by the aptly named "bandage dress," sculpts the woman's body to perfection.

Since its inception in 1985, the striking and sensual style of Herve Leger has attracted an international clientele consisting of the world's most beautiful and fashionable women. The roster of celebrity clientele has included: Lindsay Lohan, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Charlize Theron, Beyonce Knowles, Eva Mendes, Jessica Simpson, and Jessica Biel, to name [more than] a few. These ladies have become some of the label's most devoted fans—forever linking the Herve Leger name with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

When BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP incorporated the Parisian couture house Herve Leger in 1999, it marked the first time in history that a French couturier had been acquired by an American designer. The Los Angeles-based fashion giant immediately set out to expand Herve Leger's retail presence. The collection is currently available at four eponymous boutiques on New York's Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, Paris' legendary rue Cambon and sin city’s Las Vegas Boulevard.

Responding to an increasing demand in the marketplace, a capsule collection of cocktail dresses and separates designed by Max Azria was launched exclusively at Intermix for Spring 2007. Additional wholesale partners such as Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, Ron Herman, Fred Segal Flair, Henri Bendel, Wynn Las Vegas, Brown Thomas in Ireland, Holt Renfrew in Canada and Della Spiga in Melbourne, Australia, have also carried the collection since 2007. The Herve Leger and Rose Leger fragrances are sold exclusively at Herve Leger boutiques and select department stores worldwide.

Herve Leger by Max Azria embodies the modern, powerful woman with its alluring couture and dynamic ready-to-wear collections. Each Herve Leger by Max Azria look is designed with the iconic “bandage dress” in mind, seamlessly forming the female silhouette with signature banding construction. The Herve Leger woman knows she will make an unforgettable statement, whether walking the red carpet or simply painting the town red!

For Spring 2009, the direction was “seductive sophistication meets the fast-paced beat of an urban night. Layering elements to compose designs in graphic slices, the body is revealed through the affects of optical illusion; sculptural accessories and neon bandage silhouettes define a modernist superstructure of feminine power.” It truly is empowering because at the core, these dresses make us feel sexy, fertile, feminine, fearless, confident—instead of hiding my shape, I have the freedom to flaunt and celebrate my femme fatale physique!

My favorite looks from the Herve Leger by Max Azria Spring 2009 Collection included: the chalk one-shoulder linear appliqué mini dress with a multi-faceted oval minaudiere; a pale grey and neon coral leather dress with airbrush inserts with lipstick red leather multi-faceted square clutch; the coral ombré bandage mini dress; a grey and black ombré bandage one-shouldered mini dress; the grey airbrush bandage dress with shoulder strap detail; a black beaded one-shoulder mini dress; and the black beaded mini dress with leather belt. The finale of 14 bandage swimsuits was the proverbial cherry on top!

How wonderful, spring brings with it the promise of longer days and warmer nights; after hibernating and surviving the harsh winter, we’re able to shed woolen layers. And these garments instantly make women feel their sexiest! They are carefully constructed to hug every womanly curve. Granted, I’m sure most would say it doesn’t hurt that I inherited my mom’s well-endowed hourglass figure, but even if you don’t have a 36-24-36 frame, these pieces will instill you with the greatest feminine-fashion-confidence ever because they hug, shape, and support in all the right places. The bandage dress which was first popularized in the 80’s has been given a reconstruction-resuscitation of sorts. The predominant silhouette has been modernized and tweaked, with the integration of asymmetrical straps, appliqués, contrasting insets, and gradients of color. This is statement dressing at its most provocative and the message is “I’m a woman, W-O-M-A-N.” Do I really need to say it again?

Images provided courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Newsgroup.

For additional information, please visit http://www.herveleger.com/fall2008/index.php

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