Sarah Michelle Gellar

The audience was left slightly dazed and confused at Max Azria’s Spring 2007 collection presentation on Monday, September 11th. Since the label’s debut last season, Azria has successfully managed to baffle the fashion industry with oversized shapeless looks that are more unattainable than they are artistic.

Unstructured linen contributed to the demise of many looks, like a stone linen gauze jacket that hung lifelessly atop a white voile embroidered skirt paired with tan perforated leather ankle boots. A billowing stone wrinkled linen gown was also void of any movement, and its voluminous silhouette concealed any signs of a body underneath.

Natural fabrics faired better in a sandy burlap jacket and a beige boucle skirt that was both chic and wearable, while a well-conceived stone faille halter jumper demonstrated the controlled volume that was whimsical and fresh.

A lavender gauze dress with floral embroidered pockets and a khaki bengaline coat were the best two looks of the show, giving the same youthful energy as Azria’s BCBG line but with more refinery and sophistication.

With a little more fine-tuning of the silhouette, Azria’s namesake collection will hopefully be able to stand on its own. And given his success in the past with BCBG and a list of celebrity fans like Eva Mendes, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Paris and Nicky Hilton, Azria has enough lucky stars on his side to make it happen next time around.