L.A. Fashion Week Fall '05: Mason by Michelle Mason
Los Angeles designer Michelle Mason revisted her days spent living in London for her Fall/Winter 2005 Mason collection. The line, presented March 19 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, had the feel of heading to the stables for horseback riding in the English countryside.
“It is a little Victorian- and Edwardian-influenced,” said the young designer, who was born in Korea and raised in Southern California’s Orange County. “I took a look at riding jackets from the turn of the century. But I also wanted to be modern. So I showed the jackets with tattered-edged skirts.”
Mason also took her years apprenticing with famed Los Angeles designer Richard Tyler, who was in the audience, and incorporated what she had learned into the line. There were plenty of menswear fabrications, including pin stripes, tweeds and herringbones. The predominant color in the lineup was brown, which was livened up with bright teal and burgundy blouses.
Fitted silhouettes ruled the day, with jackets and sweaters nipped at the waist. Slightly puffed sleeves added volume at the shoulders. Balloon pants that ended right below the knees gave a jodhpur effect to outfits. Mason also used wide-leg trousers and three-pleat pants to round out her ensembles. —Deborah Belgum
