What would the strong, refined female subjects of Lillian Bassman s portraits from the fifties and sixties wear today? That was the starting point for Monique Lhuillier s latest collection, and her propositions were mostly believable. For day, the designer offered nubby tweed suits, a sleek space-dyed knit T-shirt dress, and linen shifts with fabric-covered beaded trims. For evening, she showed pleated organza gowns in every color of the ROYGBIV spectrum, but the real showstopper was a Lurex jacquard peacock-printed number. Bassman might have got a kick out of that one.
