Florida Grand Opera opens season with aria-inspired dresses
Their wearers are merely swept along. Saturday marks the beginning of the 68th season of the Florida Grand Opera.
Once again, the gowns in attendance at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House will take center stage — and not just those with ticket-holders in tow. This is the second year the opera is holding a silent auction of five dresses created by local designers and inspired by upcoming productions.
The garments are glitzy or coy, sleek or frilly. But all possess dramatic flourishes befitting operatic nights of soulful laments, exuberant celebrations — and limousine bottlenecks.
Here, we introduce The Gowns. Fine jewelry was provided by Jennifer Boin Personal Jeweler.
AnaG
3423 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove, 305-441-2998
Why Lakmé? I love music and the opera, and I chose Lakmé because of the beauty of the Indian garments and luxurious colors.
The gown? It has been hand-embroidered in Lima with Swarovski crystals bought in Paris and gold thread. The material is a metallic organza.
My inspiration is the beauty of a Maharaja, luxury mixed with feminity, fragile and strong at the same time. Like a princess surrounded by privileges, but with a lot of duties also.
Retail: $4,500
Lismarie
by Lisbeth Hazoury
by appointment only, 305-721-6474
Why The Marriage of Figaro? Because it’s sensual, multifaceted and romantic.
The gown? It took 40 hours to complete because each flower was sewn individually, one by one, adding a special touch of Swarovski crystals. The inspiration came from the third act. The top of this gown is embroidered in French lace. The gown has over eight layers of silk tulle.
Retail: $8,000
Yoly Muñoz Couture
2920 SW 27th Ave., Coconut Grove, 305 448-4414
Why Madame Butterfly? I love everything within the Japanese culture. I am fascinated by the femininity of the Oriental women, as well as their acute attention to detail.
The gown? The dress was made with 20 yards of duchess satin, and it has a beautiful, hand-embroidered, Japanese-inspired design, which took 120 hours of labor. My concept was to unify contemporary and young. I used the art of origami, which can be visible in all the different pleatings. Red is the color of a Japanese bride, and to me Madame Butterfly was the eternal bride. I added the bolero/kimono because one of the reasons that I am driven to design is drama.
Retail: kimono/bolero for $1,900; the dress for $8,500
Nicolás Felizola
by appointment only, 305-441-5200
Why Cinderella? Because of my connection with my clients who are always beautifully transformed by my gowns. This is what I love about designing, the before and after.
The gown? The dress was created in French silk organza and signature Nicolás Felizola red. It is my vision of a modern Cinderella. My inspiration is a woman with a well developed sense of style, glamour and elegance.
Retail: $4,500.
Rafael Cennamo
Haute Couture
235 Lincoln Rd.,
Suite 100 Mezzanine, Miami Beach, 305-674-6936
Why La traviata? I got inspired by the beautiful fashion from the 19th century, which still inspires me through these days — and the most important reason is because I believe many people in life don’t get to do what they desire and Violetta did, against all odds.
The gown? [I used] as a base, double-face, two-color silk veil with a French lace . . . mixed with pleated ruffles, vanishing from the top to the bottom.
Retail: $5,000
The original source of this article can be found at:
www.miamiherald.com / Thu, Nov. 13, 2008
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