Columnist Murial Stevens: Escada hits the heights of fashion

Las Vegas has entered the world of high fashion in a big way. The recent presentation of the Escada Couture Fall/Winter '99 Collection at Caesars Palace was a successful benefit for the Nevada Ballet Theatre.

It was a grand event that featured Broadway legend Tommy Tune, star of "EFX" at the MGM Grand, as the special celebrity guest, and dancers from the ballet company.

The fashion show was also a statement of the importance of Las Vegas as a shopping destination.

The Escada Fall Collection was launched earlier this year in Munich, Germany. Las Vegas is one of only four American cities chosen to premiere the fall collection. The others are Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco.

Included were more than 130 outfits from Escada Margaretha Ley and Escada Couture. Ley was the company founder and the founding designer of Escada.

Several of the gowns modeled were recently seen at the Academy Awards. The black gown with a jeweled bodice worn at the Oscars by Annette Bening is a stunning example of Escada Couture.

To show the fashions, Escada chose its favorite models from New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles -- even Germany. Such gorgeous gals. But, it takes more than just good looks to be a high fashion model. It takes individual verve, style and flair. These femmes had it all.

The collection is billed as a celebration of the millennium -- as dazzling as "champagne at midnight" when 2000 arrives.

"It's all about fireworks," Escada Design Director Brian Rennie says, "whether you set them off yourself, with sexy feminine shapes, or let the light of rhinestones, sequins and beading explode all around you."

And explode it did. The beaded and bejeweled evening wear and ball gowns are glorious. All of the beading is done by hand in India. It can take up to a month to bead a jacket; much longer for an evening gown -- this according to Hillary Turchin, buyer for Escada Couture.

Escada considers these decorative pieces to be works of art. No two are alike.

A rainbow of fuchsia, lavender and royal blue silk blazers were paired with black shirts and skirts. There were coats, long skirts, jackets, trousers and dresses of leather so fine they draped as if made of cloth.

Classic cardigan sweaters (the old/new look this year) are a far cry from the beloved sweater sets of the '50s. Some were made of Super 140, an exceptional wool that feels like silk. Super 140 is exclusive to Escada, and is made for it by Zegna Men's Suits.

Of course, there's a millennium gown -- three, in fact, all exclusive to Escada for this historical moment. The fabric design is replete with champagne corks and sparkling pinwheels, and embroidered with 1999 and 2000. A brilliant bit of whimsy.

As a finale: a wedding gown so exquisite it drew applause from the audience. Escada wedding gowns are usually done only on special order. The one in the show is an exception. It is available in the boutiques for $15,000. For more information, call Escada Manager Sharon Bader.

This fall collection is the concluding celebration of Escada's 20th anniversary. Escada will cross over into the new millennium with its upcoming spring collection.

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