NYFW Fall 2013

Dennis Basso Celebrates 30 Years With Furs, Celebs, And Bag Checks

By Bonnie Datt Feb 12, 2013, 9:17pm EST

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When we arrived at the tents Tuesday for Dennis Basso's fashion show, we weren't surprised to see a unique, statement-making collection of gowns and furs, an audience filled with some of New York's most legendary divas, and the designer himself triumphantly celebrating his 30th anniversary in the fashion industry with a standing ovation. What we did not expect was that everyone would have to have their bags checked by security guards before entering to make sure there weren't any paint carrying PETA-ites in the audience. As it turned out, the show's only incident was when a woman in the front row accidentally dropped a copy of WWD on the runway while a model walked by.

While Basso's September presentation at the St. Regis was like a fairy tale come to life, the garments in this collection told a much edgier and more contemporary story. Fur and leather accented gowns and uniquely styled fur coats made truly striking runway statements. While the colors tended towards neutrals, there were quite a few greens in the collection. While we could imagine many of the designs being worn by celebrity attendees like Star Jones, Joan Rivers and Joan Collins, we just can't imagine their fellow front row-er, Martha Stewart wearing a chartreuse fur trimmed evening gown.