Fall designs cued by past, but with updates that sparkle

Fashion goddesses rejoice! The designers of the South Coast Plaza shops showed highlights from their fall/winter collections last week, offering Greco-Roman-inspired garments in luxurious fabrics with folds, gathers, pleats, draping and off-one-shoulder necklines in the spirit of the goddesses of antiquity.

Even the strappy boots and sandals were chic adaptations of ancient classics.

The color palette, too, appears majestic this season. Rich purple, burgundy, royal blue and red ensembles offset the offerings in the season’s traditional black, gray and brown.

“The Art of Fashion 2009” was presented Sept. 24 at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The show marked the fifth year Orange County’s South Coast Plaza joined The Country Friends of Rancho Santa Fe to provide a fashion luncheon to benefit a local charity.

This year, monies raised will support Voices for Children, which funds the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who serve as advocates for the abused, neglected and abandoned children in foster care in San Diego. According to Voices for Children, that’s more than 6,600 children this year alone.

Shielded by sunglasses and sunhats on the very hot afternoon, the 250 guests in attendance watched as designs from Oscar de la Renta, Emilio Pucci, Donna Karan, Marni, Michael Kors, MaxMara, St. John, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ermenegildo Zegna and Roberto Cavalli were strutted down the runway. Men’s fashions were included in the show this year, with clothing and accessories from Zegna and Saks.

In addition to the togalike evening wear in jersey, satin, silk and lame, daytime looks included body-hugging skirts and dresses with hemlines high above the knee, in addition to cropped sweaters and swing jackets worn over leggings and slim slacks. Patterned hosiery, elbow-length gloves and coiled scarves added panache to plainer designs.

After the show, The Country Friends’ President Jeanne Lucia called the presentation “outstanding.”

“The South Coast Plaza outdid themselves on the runway this year,” she said. “I’m thrilled we could raise money for such a worthy cause while enjoying the fun and beauty of these collections.”

With her eye on “that fabulous cheetah dress by Roberto Cavalli,” Susan Jones of San Diego said the show “was very entertaining. It was a great collection.”