Venexiana Fall 2006 Collection by Kati Stern

Venexiana Fall Winter 2006 Collection Designer Kati Stern
Sunday, February 5, 2006

At nine o'clock on this Sunday night, cities across the country are focusing on flat screens but here in New York the city is abuzz with Olympus Fashion Week. The decor of the Metropolitan Pavilion is a circa pre-gentrified Gotham vintage loft. Models with sculpted hair and spiky chignons dart past the mobbed lobby and through a wall of black curtains. The Sex Pistols' flamboyant brand of passion poured over the crowded room of market editors and fashion hungry press as a man, dressed in black with a headset leads me to a coveted seat in the second row. Fuchsia lights glow above and below, tints of amethyst and magenta puddle the stage.

Known for bringing the rock goddess to the runway, Kati Stern's fall/winter collection sports a resplendent selection of rich and radiant colors to warm body and soul: Bordeaux, brick, teal, shades of apple and moss, gradients of purple, metals paired with delicate shades of cocoa, sand, peach and celadon. In a staccato percussion of stilettos, the bevy of hooves in metallic leathers and futuristic wedges adorned with studs and gemstones take the catwalk. Sheathed in contrasting textures of chiffon and fur, and leather and knits Stern's cutting edge techniques redefine the feminine form. Inspired by the Italian Alps, she brings the robust and crisp colors of a winter retreat to the runway.
Elyse, a statuesque blonde with piercing blue eyes wears an aqua embroidered shearling coat with oversize satin buttons and Juliette sleeve embellishments, a waist cinch accented with silver buckles. Tamara's ensemble, a pink-tipped Mongolian sleeve jacket with jumbo buttons and moss green leather wrap skirt featuring an abbreviated sweep train pairs two of my favorite colors.  Next, Kathlyn in a moss green Swakara lamb jacket, a straight cut with ruffle cap sleeves and jumbo buttons complemented by a velvet and chiffon skirt, respectively painted in violet and mauve, its matching silk sash tied in a loose bow. Andrea struts onto the runway in a muted teal blue fox jacket with a voluminous shawl collar and hanging sleeves revealing a vibrant matching teal blue velvet dress. Anastasia storms the catwalk, dramatic in a high collared black leather trench with a drape hem and shoulder epaulettes.

The militant procession of models return showcasing hand knit sweaters with pom-poms, iridescent velvets and chiffon, jeweled dresses of copper and rust, stunning gowns in taffeta, velvet, tulle, satin and fur worthy of an Oscar appearance. Elyse reappears wearing a fur gown with a cathedral train in dark orchids, a bodice of chiffon in hues of teal and purple.

As Venexiana returns backstage to its wardrobe, the pavilion bursts into applause and a petite platinum blonde sporting a cropped pageboy emerges from behind the black walls. Kati Stern, the Hungarian fashion designer responsible for this evening's collection strides the runway with confidence. Complementing her trademark Venexie pant and golden wedges, Stern wearing a flaxen suede vest ensemble with a matching silk blouse and contrasting billowy moss green Peter Pan collar graciously receives the encore with eyes smoky and bright.

http://www.venexiana.us.
Furs provided by Saga. 

Photos provided by Getty Images.