Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring '05: Arthur Mendonca

Arthur Mendonca delivered a strong opening for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City on Oct. 25 with a sexy, chic and polished collection of tailored looks and feminine styles.

The Toronto-based designer said the collection was inspired by the idea of a summer vacation at a Greek villa. One could imagine herself in his urban looks, traveling in a helicopter from the city to the villa, shopping during the day for peasant blouses, relaxing in the village in one of his colorful floral-print dresses, and wearing a beautiful goddess dress to dinner on a yacht.

Mendonca, who has been designing for two and a half years, gave a soft touch to the collection by adding handkerchief hems and casual cotton looks to his signature bold, yet feminine style.

The designer said he decided to show in Los Angeles because it seemed like a good place to break into the U.S. market.

N. Jayne Seward