Leanne’s out next; her speech is simple and without emotion or dedications. She simply says she loves her collection, lost “millions of hours” over it and hopes they all love it too. First out is a short, turquoise skirt paired with an eggshell blouse. The skirt is a soft bubble shape, the blouse strapless. The silhouette is tailored to show off a small waist. This is the look Tia was to have worn, until the top became mysteriously floppy and increased diameter. The audience doesn’t seem to know, though, and applauds the look. It fits this model well. The skirt’s circular pleating moves gently as she walks; the gently folded ‘wave’ of the blouse is like an abstract sculpture. This would look stunning on a woman with a small waist and beautiful shoulders.
The next garment reverses the colors: turquoise strapless bodice, eggshell poufy skirt. The poufs are made of evenly placed darts, the seams creating hollows in the fabric. The bodice has pointy tucks on top, in a bird’s wing shape. Next is the pant outfit Tim hoped Leanne might finish. The pant is a 1930s bell flare similar to the silhouette Korto used; Leanne’s is in eggshell, with a high waist. The blouse is unusual: a button-down shirt front, but only in the middle. The sides are cut out above the waistline, exposing part of the model’s midriff; there is a V neck with ‘waves’ covering the shoulder blades and tops of the model’s arms. The effect is lovely, if a bit strange. Still, I bet someone rips off that half-blouse idea before the year’s out.
A gold skirt with ‘wave pleats’ on either side is next. It is paired with a white top and white casual belt. The top has gently flounced, elbow-length sleeves, and bare shoulders. A strap connects front and back, however. The blouse is darling; the skirt reminds me of Leanne’s discarded wedding dress design that had the pleat sections seemingly stuck on top. The next look, a white bustier with gold ‘wave pleat’ skirt, receives crisp applause from the audience. The skirt moves beautifully as the model walks; the pleats bounce and shimmer like actual waves. This particular skirt’s pleats are arranged diagonally atop horizontal ‘waves’ and the construction in closeup, even on TV, is stunning.
A blinding white short outfit is next. Micro shorts are paired with a long sleeved white jacket. The jacket has a ruff collar, but what makes it different are the rounded pleats. The myriad pleats lie flat atop each other, but ruffle like wind across water as the model walks. What looks like Leanne’s seafoam-green bridesmaid dress is out next, and it’s been topped with a very short white sleeveless jacket. At the top, the jacket is gathered on one side; a small array of pleats, suggestive in formation of a sprig of flowers, adorns the opposite side. A halter back mini is out next, and by now the pleats begin to seem repetitious. Its skirt is comprised of wavy pleats, turquoise backed with white. Tia in the long strapless turquoise gown is next. The top seems a bit loose on her; understandable since it was fitted on another model. This is more of a basic evening gown, a flowing skirt slit in the front. A mere two pleats, more like layers, stretch diagonally across the hips, uniting the piece thematically to the collection.
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