Ports 1961 Spring 2010

A general view of atmosphere at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park on September 10, 2009 in New York, New York. (Getty Images)more pics »The Spring 2010 show for designer Tia Cibani's Ports 1961 was themed from the start: guests were treated to tiny printed fans as invitations, sesame cookies upon arrival, and glorious kimono-inspired sculptural dresses during the show.

Using a palette of pale rose, ivory, and the occasional (and beautiful) crimson, Cibani has created a starkly elegant and innovative collection replete with alluring fan shapes and large, draping cowl backs. Particularly inspiring were the fabrics alone, which set man-made materials like aluminum against traditional silk, cotton, light wool, and linen.

One was left with the impression that these were clothes a woman like Grace Kelly might have worn, had she been our contemporary. Spotted in the front row were writer Patrick McDonald, actress Tiffani Amber Thiessen, and - according to some sources - Solange Knowles.

Pictures of the collection hopefully soon to follow.