Runway Recap: Luly Yang Couture fashion show

The Seattle Aquarium provides seaside inspiration for Yang

By Kate Calamusa October 13, 2010

I see my fair share of fashion shows, especially in the fall when Fashion Night Out, Fashion Week and Fashion First are in full swing. So admittedly, fashion shows can sometimes lose their sparkle for me: Luly Yang has restored it.

Celebrating her 10th year as Seattle’s fashion grand dame, Yang’s annual couture show last Friday, October 8th was inspired and perfectly executed. Using her new Seattle Aquarium venue (Yang usually shows at The Fairmont downtown) as a jumping off point, the evening’s Ocean theme ran throughout: the runway back-lit by a floor to ceiling aquarium, flowing, ethereal gowns looked like were floating in the tide and the after-party in the aquarium was dotted with mermaid models.

Patients from Seattle Children’s Hospital (the evening’s beneficiary) kicked off the runway show, wearing outfits designed by Luly. Articulate 14-year-old ever Josey Tomlinson spoke passionately about her care at Children’s and Rishi Nair walked the runway in a tux and performed a song on the piano for the delighted crowd. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as $28,000 was raised for uncompensated care at Children’s.

The couture portion was beautifully executed with garments inspired by the sea and broken into five vivid, energetic sets. In the graceful jellyfish set, models swayed their arms like jellys in gowns with light chiffon layers that moved beautifully. The edgier shark section shimmered in dark gary hues with models wearing black eyebrow pieces to emulate the hard-edge animal. Immediately changing pace, models smiled (smiled, people!) and danced in resort attire for the tropical section. A few glow-in-the dark short, metallic mini dresses popped up the biolumiscence set, but the true show-stopper was the final coral collection, in vivid oranges and reds, the finale dress topped by a 6-foot coral headpiece created by Gene Juarez Team Artistic.

Check out a few of our favorite looks here.

 

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