New York Fashion Week: Tadashi Shoji Fall 2013 Winter in Imperial Russia

A gown from Tadashi Shoji’s Fall 2013 collection

Tadashi Shoji sent and elegant collection for Fall 2013 down the runway at New York Fashion Week today.  There were beautiful cocktail dresses and evening gowns in bonded lace and chiffon.  The styles were fit for a Czarina and with good reason, for this  collection was inspired by the fall of the Russian empire.  This was a time when wealthy aristocrats tried to escape the revolution by wearing peasant clothing to make their way out of Russian.  With that historic background in mind, Mr. Shoji showed opulent styles married with Russian folklore style represented by embroidery and full gazar skirts.

Gown from Tadashi Shoji Fall 2013, photo M. Hall

There were also garments inspired by the Russian Orthodox clergy presented in the voluminous shapes of the skirts and the trapeze silhouettes.  I enjoyed the collection and the high caliber of the show’s production.  Mr.  Shoji is keeping the lace overlay trend in style for another season with all the lace he showed on the dresses in the collection.   This collection is well- suited for the luxury buyer or shopper who wants to invest in a special occasion gown.  There’s nothing edgy or over the top here, for Fall 2013 Mr. Shoji showed his usual elegant and reliable style.