BCBG Max Azria Delights in Draping (Fashion Wire Daily)

New York - BCBG Max Azria kicked off the first official day of fashion shows at the Bryant Park tents in New York on Friday, Sept. 5, drawing celebrity fans such as Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Vivica A. Fox to ogle a parade of diaphanous, modern dresses, the key statement made by designer Max Azria for his Spring 2009 collection.

"All the collection was about asymmetry, volume and draping," said Azria backstage post-show. "It was also about softness and freedom to move inside the garment. It's extremely sophisticated, but at the same time extremely sexy."

Utilizing lightweight fabrics like crepe and jersey, Azria created a sense of movement as well as goddess-like femininity. Depending on whether the draping hugged or fell off the body as flat sheets of fabric, it satisfied differing sensibilities: one that preferred to show off curves or perhaps a tiny waist, and one that favored geometric form over body-consciousness. Luckily, with the addition of a belt, which many of the looks were styled with, the same dress could express more than one aesthetic.

Tanks layered over cropped, jodhpur-like pants, jackets in techno fabrics and jersey jumpsuits added another dimension to AzriaÂs vision of the modern urban woman - aside from the rather silly-looking mauve short jumpsuit draped in a way that could only be described as looking like diapers - but ultimately they were no match for the simplicity and ease of the dresses. Especially eye-catching were the ones featuring color blocking, as though slabs of grey concrete had suddenly been given shock treatment with a light saber, and the shoes - a BCBG staple - followed suit with glossy patent leather heels in bright colors.

"Spring 2009 has to be a season of color," said Azria. "Color looks like happiness and we need to wear something happy."

The brand, known for bridging the gap between high design and reasonable price point with over 500 stores globally, is among the powerhouse labels showing this week in New York that can claim widespread influence across a diverse cross-section of the fashion buying public - here, the runway is reality.