NYFW: Dennis Basso’s Opulent Look at Fall 2014

My favorite look from Dennis Basso’s Fall 2014 Collection.  (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

Luxurious. Opulent.  And in some ways, completely over the top, that was the look Dennis Basso sent down the runway at New York Fashion Week on Monday.  If you saw the old MGM classic movie, “The Women“ with Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell, then you’ve seen the Park Avenue looks that Mr. Basso seems to favor.  Mary Haines (Norma Shearer)  the lead character in  “The Women” would’ve been one of Basso’s best customers.   For Mr. Basso decadence, luxury and grandeur will define Fall 2014.  Here at The Recessionista, we’re interested in Mr. Basso’s designs because some of them eventually make their way into his lower-priced QVC collections.   Here’s a birdeye view of the Dennis Basso Fall 2014 collection.

Made for Mary Haines; Fur and Luxurious Dress from Dennis Basso Fall 2014 (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

For Fall 2014, Mr. Basso was  says he was  inspired by “the great contemporary American artists, creating luxury occasion clothes and furs for the celebratory woman.”   The color palette for the collection was a stunning mix of white, black, emerald, platinum grey, sapphire, fuchsia, bordeaux and finally teal.   There was even fuchsia dyed fur.  How’s that for a winter wake-up call?

To get an inside perspective on Mr. Basso’s collection, we spoke to one of his customers, the reigning Queen of Wall Street, Financial Expert Alexandra Lebenthal.  Here’s what Ms. Lebenthal had to say about the show.

Dennis Basso once said to me ” You need a coat to wear to dinner with your husband.” That’s what Dennis is all about. An outfit for every occasion. Yesterday’s show did not disappoint. There were coats for fall walks in the country, coats for winter walks down Madison Avenue on the way to Fred’s at Barneys for lunch, and coats for sashays down the streets of Aspen.

But enough about the coats,  what really got the crowd going were the gowns. Seems like Dennis was inspired by a painter deep within. There were some of the most amazing gowns painted black, white, gold and silver. One white strapless “A frame” is still spinning in my head, visions of me wearing it to next year’s Botanical Garden Winter Wonderland Ball. Other gowns and dresses were lush, jewel toned satins that luxuriously caressed the furs that were slung over them.

The audience, ranging from the Upper East Side’s “who’s who”, to some serious A-listers like Mary J Blige sat mesmerized by each look, and as always, when Dennis emerged at the end, gave a standing ovation for the man who knows that women need something luxurious for every occasion.

The happiest man at fashion week: Dennis Basso (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

Ms. Lebenthal is one of our favorite authors, check out her book The Recessionistas.  If you read The Recessionistas, you can picture those New York City women in their Dennis Basso coats.   As for me, I’d be happy to get that cute, asymmetrical hemmed little black cocktail dress with the sparkling overlay (see picture above.)  Here’s hoping a doppleganger of that beautiful dress makes its way to QVC.

PS: Ms. Lebenthal tells me she did end up buying a coat to wear to dinner with her husband, a coat from Dennis Basso! 🙂