Gusto Custo Barcelona

(BARCELONA) Custo Dalmau is the most celebrated designer in the country, and Thursday night's show at the city's epic outdoor gardens attested to his rock-star status. Hundreds of the city's finest--and most photogenic--flocked to the Jardines del Palau Royal de Pedralbes, which were illuminated with mammoth fuchsia spotlights and energized by booming techno tunes. 'Twas a show, surely, but Custo's affairs are always fetes at heart. ("We always plan the parties first!" Dalmau confessed earlier that day at Bread & Butter, the Lollapalooza of fashion trade shows the city hosts each summer.) For the Spring 2009 commercial collection (the Spring 2009 runway collection will show at New York Fashion Week in September), Custo offered groupies more of what they love. The miniest of mini dresses, rendered in shocking neon hues of yellow and blue, had plenty of European chicettes calling dibs. Low-slung, tie-dyed trousers nodded to the seventies but planted themselves firmly in the now, thanks to their extreme fit. There were no basics to be seen, but chez Custo, that's a virtue. Even the swimwear, which will be shown at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim later this month in Miami--was endowed with a special touch, like embroidery, metallic trim, or beading. "We mix prints and colors that once seemed impossible," Dalmau explained. "And that's what the Custo woman loves."