How apropos the fluidity and dancer-like qualities in Gilles Mendel’s spring J. Mendel collection given the Lincoln Center show venue–right in the heart of performing arts central (not to mention home base for the New York City Ballet, whose costumes Mendel designed this past spring). The balletic qualities emerged via a pale palette of short dresses and skirts with leotard tops that loosely skimmed the body–all the while beautifully giving the alluring effect of floating on a cloud. Aside from a pop of bright color here and there, the chiffon-heavy collection benefited from the delicate tiny shrugs, boleros and vests–in Tibetan lamb or shadow fox mounted on tulle–that was the ideal spring touch.
