Istante line mixes fluorescent fun with smart chic<\/p>\n
By Parvathi Nayar Narayan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Istante is not, as is often assumed, a second
\nline for the Gianni Versace label but a brand that stands on its
\nown. The other popular misconception is that it is designed by
\nDonatella Versace. Not true, for the clothes that make up the
\nIstante line were created exclusively by Gianni Versace.<\/p>\n
The showing of Istante Spring\/Summer 1996, as part of the
\nGrand Hyatt Fashion Series, is probably one of the last of the
\nSpring\/Summer 1996 Collections to be shown in Jakarta this year.
\nThe Versace Fall Collection 1996, after all, has already been
\nunveiled in Paris.<\/p>\n
The Istante range is strong on simplicity, minimum fuss and
\nwearability. The clothes are designed for the slightly more
\nmature working woman; the ultra-young ultra-hip market is the
\nexclusive territory of Versace's Versus label, which incidentally
\nis always presented first in New York. However in the Istante
\ncollection that was recently on show here, it could be argued
\nthat there was some crossover; the clothes had a trendy
\nsilhouette-enhancing line to them, \"... unlike the straighter
\nlines that are usually part of an Istante collection, \" says
\nSylvie Cecilia, the Advertising Promotion and PR Manager.<\/p>\n
The colors dominating the collection are an unusual mix of
\nblack, white, a buttery yellow and fluorescent green. The clothes
\nare fashioned from materials with plain and textured finishes,
\nstretchy synthetics, and playful combinations of opaque and sheer
\nfabrics.<\/p>\n
The show opened with a selection of slim swinging skirts
\nteamed with tops that celebrate skinniness. Those that sport a
\nfigure-hugging look cling like second skin in the collection's
\ntrademark punch-in-the-eye green or yellow, or are de rigeur body
\nsuits in black or white stretch lace, while others are of thin
\nmaterial complemented by softly rounded collars.<\/p>\n
These outfits are all accessorized entirely from the Istante
\nrange. Most notable and noticeable were the large baroque sun
\nglasses. Bags, little boxy numbers with a small handle or bigger
\nversions of the same shape, seemed to be designed largely with
\nJapanese tastes in mind.<\/p>\n
Prints are mostly restricted to trousers. An overall
\ngeometrically arranged print of red flowers on white with an
\noccasional flower in surprising black, is eyecatching, and comes
\nin other color variations. These sassy trousers were teamed with
\nseverely plain tops whose only ornamentation is saddle-stitching
\nin a contrasting color.<\/p>\n
Many clothes have a cheekily sporty look. T-Shirts and dresses
\nare jazzed up with a bold colorful stripes, a dress in not one
\nbut two shades of fluorescent green. Zips are used to interesting
\neffect - as an accent for work clothes peppering up, say, a
\nyellow checked suit right down to zippered wrists; in casuals,
\nfor example, down the front and back of a dress and accentuated
\nby contrast piping; even amongst the evening wear there is an
\neminently wearable black dress with metallic embroidery worked
\ndown the sides of the zips.<\/p>\n
Other formal wear consists of form-fitting dresses in plain
\nopaques -- black or white -- cut low across the front and back
\nwith transparent material in the same color making up the neck.
\nEnlivened by interesting accessories - a broad silver mesh
\nbracelet or tiny square bag slipped over the wrist with a wide
\nleather band - the shorter dress worked better than ones with the
\nlonger, somewhat uncertain hemlines.<\/p>\n
The Istante collection is not as vast and varied as the Gianni
\nVersace range, and does not for instance have any chinaware
\n(Medusa-inspired or otherwise) or furnishing. Still it does offer
\na fairly comprehensive selection which includes menswear and
\naccessories, though the show at the Fountain Lounge, Grand Hyatt,
\nshowcased only women's apparel. These range in price from Rp
\n200,000 to over Rp 2 million and are available exclusively at the
\nIstante Boutique in Plaza Indonesia.<\/p>",
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