Oscar gives peek of 2003 couture collection

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Flowing fabrics, color combinations, beautiful colored beads, stones and shinny paillettes were the decorative details that accentuated the feminine silhouettes at the recent show by fashion designer Oscar Lawalata.

During the show, the young designer showcased his works under the brand name Oscar Oscar Couture, consisting of 15 elegant evening gowns and eight shirts for men.

The display also served as a preview for his next year's couture collection.

"For this preview, I concentrated more on women's designs, which make up about 70 percent of the total designs, while the remaining are for men, focusing on shirts," the 25-year-old designer said on the sidelines of his show at Le Touche Resto and Lounge on Jl. Mahakam in South Jakarta, sponsored by the newly launched S sports magazine.

For Oscar, the preview was aimed at giving a hint of what his designs would look like in 2003.

"I want to describe Oscar Oscar Couture to the public. But in general, these designs are still a continuation of those launched last year," he said.

The designs unveiled at the show included a black gown with decorative beads and paillette around the torso, an asymmetrical cut skirt with dark red layers and a plunging-neck violet gown with lace of a darker violet hue embellished with a brooch of decorative beads. There was also a green and brown layered gown with a soft pink top, ornamented with a beautiful paillette.

Apart from using flowing materials, Oscar richly added colorful beads and stones as elegant accents around the torso and for the bustier, which not only added sparkle but also flattered the feminine feature of his designs.

While for men, Oscar concentrated more on shirts and these include a knee-length shirt and one made with a textured fabric and ornamental beads on the upper left chest. The shirts were dominated by the color beige.

By showing only 23 designs (instead of the usual 40 to 50), Oscar seemingly was trying to create curiosity about his show next year.

"We'll meet again next year," he said with a smile at the end of the show.