Elie Tahari was full of surprises for spring. Delicate and elaborate evening clothes would not come swiftly to mind when one considers his past collections. But this season, Tahari was all about embellished gowns — lace, tulle, metallics and three-dimensional details. He couldn’t get enough of all the possibilities that these offered, so he mixed lots of them in a single look: a brocade jacket with a lace back; a pleated Lurex panel on a pink and white lace dress, and 3-D floral paillettes on a white cashmere sweater. Even his jeans were thoroughly embellished.
Tahari was inspired by the clothes and the mood of St. Tropez in the Sixties and Seventies. In that spirit, he showed knit and crochet looks, short loose tops and peasant blouses. There were also dressy cardigan jackets, some charmingly paired with short print and lace skirts. “I find there’s a real shortage of available evening tops,” he said, noting that his retailers confirmed the need for more. With these peasant and hippie looks — as much New York and Tangiers as they were St. Tropez — and his glamorous new glitz, Tahari is likely to attract a fresh flock of fans.