Prabal Gurung: Off-kilter gorgeous

In a flight of fancy that was slightly surreal and off-kilter gorgeous, Prabal Gurung’s cocktail-party clothes for Spring 2013 seemed almost (dare we say it?) comfortable. And confident ladies won’t mind a bit that the collection isn't melted onto their bodies and won't necessarily show off all the hours they’ve put in at the gym. In fact, this collection goes quite the other way – concealing the body with luxe fabrics that Gurung has artfully draped.

These garments are not simple affairs. The first look of the mostly red, black, white and silver show featured a white silk, hand embroidered jacket with a chiffon tail over a sheer top and slouch silk cropped pants. Oh, yeah, there was beading as well.

Okaaaay…sounds complicated, but the effect was decidedly upscale hip with a touch of downtown cool. The same held true for the rest of the show, with its easy, often forgiving silhouettes, including drop-waist dresses with ruffled tulle skirts, low slung pants, neoprene sweatshirts, clever wing prints, crystal embellishment and lots of ostrich feathers for fly girls.