Pamella Roland Fall 2014

Pamella Roland’s fall 2014 collection was a celebration of the razzle dazzle side of fashion.

Roland has always had a penchant for putting a glossy sheen on the all-American look. Invariably her collections are the embodiment of sleek and chic with spectacular pops of color and glitter for evening. But Roland’s oeuvre is a unique one. The Roland muse is a woman who wields real power, not the fictional brand. One pictures her as being equally at home in the boardroom or a legislature office as she might be enjoying the corporate box at the opera or playing host at a company-sponsored benefit.

Increasingly though, Roland has chosen to put the emphasis, with her shows at least, on eveningwear. And that was the case with her fall 2014 runway show. In the Roland world, fall 2014 will be one glittery, shimmering season. The corporate queens may have to look elsewhere for their daytime looks, but there were plenty of nighttime options offered in this Art Deco–inspired collection.

Actually, at a whopping 47 looks, Roland offered perhaps too many options period. Clearly, Roland forgot the old but very wise showbiz adage of “leave ‘em wanting more.”

Of course there were plenty of beautiful pieces to savor and even some surprises such as a midnight blue tile sequin parka with black fox trim that would tempt many women to throw caution and common sense to the winds and wear it even if snowing. It’s that tempting. So too was a pewter metallic sequin cowl back dress that looked like alligator skin.

Neither seemed particularly reminiscent of Art Deco, by the way, but so what. The more literal Art Deco pieces, which featured a cityscape cut-out seemed forced.

Still there were plenty of “wow” moments in the collection that did seem to fit Roland’s stated inspiration—a form-fitting, flapper-esque cocktail dress and later a gown decorated with beaded fringe. And the use of a deep-V neckline and a recurrence of that V-shape elsewhere—sides, backs, fronts—were used well to focus the eye.

This was especially the case with a an ultra sleek, night sky navy crepe back satin dress with black seamed tulle sleeves and back. Here was a look that showed Roland at her sleek and chic best, no extra shimmer required.

—Karyn D. Collins