There have been big changes in the Azria empire over the past year. A more luxurious niche line called Max Azria was spun off last fall. And—as the company brass tells it—even the long-familiar contemporary line, BCBG Max Azria, is a wholly new incarnation these days, one that s only in its second season. To clear any lingering confusion, Lubov Azria (wife of Max) attempted to define the two collections in terms that fashion folk could more easily digest: "The BCBG Max Azria girl is Sienna Miller or Kate Moss," she explained backstage before the show. "Max Azria is more Cate Blanchett."
While the Azrias did have a front-row smattering of socialites (Fabiola Beracasa, Olivia Palermo, Bettina Zilkha, and Byrdie Bell), neither Sienna nor Kate was anywhere in sight. No matter: It was clear that the raffish, magpie style of those British It girls was being mined on the runway. And yes, you could imagine Sienna pulling on a pair of tights and grabbing BCBG s smoke-chiffon trapeze dress, topped with a cream knitted-fur vest, for a winter s night out. And Moss could certainly put to good use one of the hooded jackets, particularly the version in a stylishly crinkled cotton. There were also the sort of swingy frocks with a touch of detail that are bound to appeal to the BCBG customer, though the dresses were occasionally weighed down with copious amounts of appliqué, crocheted trim, and chains. It s hard to imagine any girl, It or not, opting to look quite so tricked out.
