L.A. Fashion Week Spring '07: Balans
Femininity was the guiding light for novice designer Alison Zimmerman’s line, Balans, which focused on looks that could easily transcend day into night.
The Los Angeles native presented her first full collection Oct. 15, opening day, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif. It also happened to be the designer’s 30th birthday.
Habotai silk was the fabric of choice for Zimmerman, who has a design degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. She molded light-as-a-feather fabric with a special wrinkle treatment into harem jumper shorts; pencil skirts; bikinis; and dresses in various silhouettes that were strapless, off-the-shoulder and with straps. Just about everything had raw edges and was paired with some kind of legging, including shiny, comfortable-looking shirred leggings made out of charmeuse. “I think leggings are the next big thing after the skinnyleg jean,” said Zimmerman, an avid wearer of the style.
Colors in Balans’ Spring/Summer 2007 collection ranged from light dusty rose, moss and lavender to stronger tones in rust, ash and navy blue. —Deborah Belgum
