Reem Acra Mercedes Benz Spring 2009 Fashion Week The Tents at Bryant Park September 11, 2008 Written by Jamie Sharpe Photographed by Cindy Ord

Lebanese American designer Reem Acra made a name for herself by turning out stunning wedding dresses. Lately, her strong knowledge of tailoring, beading, and embroidery has been surfacing in full blown collections at Bryant Park. The most recent Spring 2009 line was brimming with sumptuous fabrics and vibrant hues. The tone of the show had a Taj Mahal influence that was expressed in jewels, dupioni silk, and full-on glamour.

Clearly, Acra made a point of including garments for different walks of life in her line. A black and white pantsuit, kimono style dresses, sheer frocks, artistic prints, and tunics rounded out the collection. Over all, everything worked in harmony to create head-turning ensembles. But, the sweeping gowns constructed of shimmery textiles were incredibly beautiful, and they were truly the stand out pieces. The show was attended by front row starlets Ashanti and Leonor Varela who applauded enthusiastically for the stylish evening wear.