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PARIS (AP) - Swimwear and naval themes inspired Anthony Vaccarello this season.
But if only it could be this simple.
For spring-summer 2014 the young Belgian designer infused these references with his signature no-holds-barred raunchiness.
Most of the 34 looks dripped with sex appeal in their melange of plunging necklines and breast-exposing mesh tops. That's not to mention myriad revealing straps which held together cave-woman style loin cloths.
At points, ensembles evoked the aura of Donatella Versace.
But it was pure overkill with one splash-dye, cropped, white demin jacket which jarred against a split microskirt with red and black leather straps.
The best designs were, predictably, those that kept it simple.
One all-black look nicely twinned a thick, textured cropped T-shirt with a cotton vest that _ only slightly _ exposed the midriff. It was twinned with sober and classical black pants.
Another nude, sparkling sheer minidress worked well _ but only thanks to the simplicity of its silhouette, which was given a lift with huge, oversize studs.
The designer revealed backstage that these shiny studs were, in fact, smooth rounded gems. It was a rare, lovely touch.
Next season Vaccarello might do well to tone it down a notch or three.
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Thomas Adamson can be reached at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
