Just When You Thought It Was Over...

(NEW YORK) Cynthia Rowley
Tatum O'Neal wasn't the spaciest thing at the Cynthia Rowley show-that honor goes to the mod and Mylar collection for Spring. Rowley used white quilted cotton and shiny cream satin, with streaks of silver, yellow, and dusty rose accenting mostly a-line dresses with circular pockets and puffy ring sleeves that were slightly sci-fi. Highlights included an ivory babydoll dress in white satin with an empire waist, which gave way to a stretch of crunchy silver fabric, plus a silk tank dress with a dangerously low neckline that hung loose until its mid-thigh hem, which gathered into a black silk band. While the space odyssey was fun, it seemed out of place in the garden-party setting, begging the runway-to-real life question. But the halter dresses and silver-rimmed bandeau tops were too much fun to sit on a hanger all season.
FARAN KRENTCIL

Baby Phat
Tyra wasn't the only one sporting big hair at Radio City for Kimora Lee Simmons' high octane Baby Phat extravaganza, where the models were all Jacqueline Susann clones. The lights went up, the backdrop was a screen of colored bulbs, the models held their visored heads high, and people got up and wandered around freely or sat on seat backs to get a better view of the near endless parade of Versace-esque tight pants, ruffled tops, cut-outs and diamante. Most everything sparkled in some way or other and, save for a brief trench or two (albeit very tightly tied), modesty was left at the door. Kimora's little daughters, practically patrician with green ribbons in their hair, might also have been left behind instead of being trotted out to take a bow with their long-limbed mom. Kimora's unlikely to enter the couture hall of fame any day soon but she knows how to pull together a fun romp.
KARL TREACY