Guy Laroche On The Right Track

PARIS, March 6, 2005 - The happiest person the morning after the Oscars was probably not Hillary Swank, but Hervé Leroux, the red tufted designer behind Guy Laroche. The actress chose one of his dresses at the last minute, turning down Calvin Klein, and a whole gang of red carpet suitors.

And perhaps Ms. Swank is on to something. The Guy Laroche show on Sunday was full of classic suits, understated outfits, and sparkling eveningwear timeless in their elegance. The soundtrack played harp glissandos from a Ravel orchestral suite, as the prettily styled collection passed down the runway. Among the solid colors to be found, shades of orchid, lilac, purplish gray and ice-blue were scintillating.

Guy Laroche is an old Paris house that has had trouble finding an identity, and even more trouble getting traction from it. With Leroux in the driver's seat, everything is right on track.