WALKING into the Lincoln Center setting of the Perry Ellis show for spring, the typical media circus was in full tilt. A horde of photographers were crowded around a VIP, snapping pictures and shouting aggressively. At this point in the week, basketball stars have been the surprise celebrity sighting of the season, it was assumed it was just another sport star making a guest appearance. The crowds parted to reveal actor Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood. A press release sent later informed that Perry Ellis' daughter, and an actor from Twilight was also there. Oh, and a basketball player.
After the show, we spoke to creative director John Crocco, who looked great in a chambray button-down, dark suit, and an inch of pocket square, about his starting point for the season. It was a place, not a person that inspired him. "It all began with colour," he said. "The desert tones from the Painted Desert in Arizona," he explained. The collection was crafted almost exclusively from loosely knit and breathable cottons and linens, with a few more substantial cable knit sweaters thrown in. While it was mostly beige, some browns, rusts and orange were presented. There were paisley printed shorts and safari jackets shown and classic suits that moved freely with the body. Espadrille slip-ons or brogues were the shoe of choice, and almost every model sported a neckerchief.
As a grand finale, a dozen or so models closed the show in just swim trunks, but not many people were looking at the clothing at that point. It was a sure-fire way to get an enthusiastic round of applause.
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