Minimidimaxi Magazine

Paul Hardy breaks from his usual austerity for spring/summer 2008, giving us romantic and fanciful instead.

Hardy collections of yore might not have paraded crystal-studded pink tulle dresses, or jade green jellyfish skirts. The designer allows a bit of dreaminess into his discipline this season, and lucky for us that he does. A full-length dress with a frilly hem evokes a different time, as do the bell skirts. Off-the-shoulder goes with Hardy’s new romantic look just swimmingly, a creative cut that works its magic on an array of dresses and tops. Even the taffeta bridesmaid dress, with its new copper shine, is made to show off a little skin.

The unassuming series of grey cotton tank tops do an efficient job of bringing this reverie back down to earth.

As a rushed collection, there were, unfortunately, only hints of the silhouette genius that true Hardy-philes might have come to the L’Oreal Fashion Week tent to discover: a satin pencil skirt cinched at the knee with signature style, the snappy ensemble of razor-cut black pants, and gauze top under a chic, wrinkled bolero.

Daniel Cox, Fashion Editor
Marek Wlazlo, Photographer