February 05, 2007
Behnaz Sarafpour's moody collection left many in the crowd scratching their heads, wondering if they understood exactly what the designer was trying to say. Tough chic? Goth? Minimal? For those aware of Sarafpour's modern medieval inspiration, it could be argued that most looks theoretically pertained to the theme at hand. But abstract concepts can only take clothing so far, and there was little to help square such wildly disparate elements as a gray T-shirt dress with sporty yellow zips, a goth black velvet gown, and a luxurious but ho-hum cashmere trench. Along the way, Sarafpour offered occasional glimpses of why her show is always a draw for starlets and socialites, this season including Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer and Jamee Gregory. A black chemise with lantern sleeves and a neckline embellished with hammered metal, for instance, captured her youthful slant on uptown chic. But it wasn't enough to sustain the sweetness and light that we've come to expect from this young talent.