Rockin' Rio

Rio Fashion Week hit full stride early this week as designers debuted their autumn-winter 2009 collections at the Marina de Gloria. Fluffy sweater dresses with hints of Sonia Rykiel, along with structured architectural ensembles, flew down the runway of Coven. Slouchy sweaters shared lead time with spare separates, drawing comparisons between the puffy proportions and lean silhouettes.

Guilia Borges turned to folksy elements for this crowd-drawing collection. Door-knocker earrings, ethnic prints and geometric patterns turned up with a distinctly ‘70s flair. A standout romper in light sienna with aqua piping was equal parts Pocahontas and Kate Hudson. Fashion Week took a colorful turn to the hippie with Homen de Barro’s unapologetically whimsical set. A floral-trimmed band jacket boasted crochet flower epaulets, trailing vines past the collar.

Cavendish sent out washed-out tweeds paired with pale neutrals, while Maria Bonita Extra proved quirky, feminine pieces — like suit dresses with a dark heart embroidered over the left breast — are still cool for fall.   — Bea Ledesma