Merlin Castell Where Fashion Meets Fantasy
By Laura Medina May 9, 2007
The Merlin Castell Fashion Show at Montmarte Lounge on April 20th, was high tech textiles crashing into Renaissance clothes, dotted with Old Hollywood, resulting into a glamorous mix.
Bobby Trendy, Anna Nicole Smith’s former decorator, decked out in cherry red and snow white flounced tulle with matching rhinestone tiara and choker, lend a hand of moral support for his friend, Merlin Castell. Other celebrities showed up for the evening. Shedrack Anderson the III, the star of the Warner Brothers movie, “Stompin” premiering on September 11th, enjoyed the show with the movie’s producer, Deon Reid. The movie’s writer/producer, Deon Reid informed, that “Stompin” will be the feature film debut of Sinbad’s daughter, Paige Bryan, and Clint Howard will also be starring. After the informative introduction, the emcee Manny from KIIS-FM’s “Manny On The Streets,” introduced Merlin as “a little kid from Honduras, who eventually grew up designing for Paris Hilton, Lenny Kravitz, and Paula Abdul for the past five years.” The alternative-country rock, Black Cowboy opened the show to a rousing applause. The actual fashion show didn’t actually start until a trio of arabesque dancers in white Egyptian tunics, headdresses, sandals, and makeup performed a Busby Berkeley dance piece with shawls and cloaks.
A black and white striped jumper with a pouf mini skirt, trimmed with black lace and satin hemline, and diamond center front insert, jumped start the fashion show to a cheering audience. It was immediately followed by another pouf dress topped with a black and white ruffle capelet. In fact, a line of Christian Lacroix-influenced pouf skirts dominated the first fourth of the show.
Then the show reverted from Eighties Medieval to Old Hollywood Glamour of the Flapper Vamp of the Twenties and the restrain Thirties, a black lace gown resembling a shaggy fur. A black Regency Empire Gown drifted next in a deconstructive cape with a tall collar. The crowd cheered when a hot pink kimono dress with a hunter green band emerged. Merlin is well-known for his textile improvisation using unexpected fabrics and texture, exemplified in the seldom used mercerized cotton dyed mustard yellow.
Sometimes, Merlin tries too hard in exemplifying Old Hollywood Glamour and Sex Appeal when he showed a double slit gown, slashed thigh-high, showing off both legs, when one would be seductive enough. He curtailed it when retaining the glamour by displaying a classic but cozy cowl neck, sleeveless sweater in spangled silver acrylic knits. He hit another high note with a silver acrylic jersey dress with a pleated neck with an equally classy turtleneck turn space-aged Elizabethian ruff collar. Merlin displayed his strength in using innovative knits and texture while promoting ladylike glamour, simmering with restrained sexuality underneath, very Katherine Hepburn, very Jean Harlow, and very modern-day Project Runway Laura Bennett. These are timeless pieces a fashionable mature woman can wear.
The show progressed into edgier territory while clinging to restrained glamour by presenting fluid silver with thermal pressed pleats, making the clothes sway with a movement while accurately but delicately draping a the wearer’s curves. The fabric’s softness and flexible pleats emphasized the ease of the outfits. Sometimes, Merlin pushes the limits with this forgiving fabric by making a pouf mini dress with pouf collar and pouf bell sleeves.
But, he demonstrated the fabric’s strength when he pares it down to simple flowing lines and v-necks and effortless trousers. Such as this unadorned, deep-neck halter jumper with palazzo pants, revealing the elegance of sexy sophistication.
Even though the fashion show was promoted for its use in futuristic fabrics, Merlin lifted heavily from fashion and costume history. Towards the end, Merlin presented a voluminous sixteenth-century trunk hose in pleated silver. He ended the show dressed as a Late Renaissance courtier in a rich black velvet Northern Renaissance skirted jacket or doublet, black tights, black poulaines, and black feathered cap. For all his publicity about using unusual textiles, Merlin Castell is a traditionalist at heart, following the history of past fashion closely to his vest.