video transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: Designer Tadashi Shoji created romantic gowns for Fall 2013 in rich velvets and lace that recalled an exiled Russian princess for his runway show on Thursday (February 7), the first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Shoji dipped into the Romanovs' jewel box for his color palette of sapphire, burgundy, jet black and carmine red. He spoke with Reuters Television about his inspiration for his fall/winter runway collection. "Princess. Royal princess is escaping from St. Petersburg or Russia and wearing, disguising, peasant-look, peasant-girl. But we can't make peasant-girl, so looks dressy peasant-girl," Shoji said, referring to the fall of the Russian Empire in the February revolution of 1917. He used fabrics that move and breathe with the modern woman. Neoprene, a stretchy synthetic material favored for workout clothes and outerwear, got a glamourous upgrade for some of Shoji's ballgowns and capelets. Shoji, who was born in Japan and studied design in the United States, is based in Los Angeles. He launched his own label in 1982. Since then, he has built up a global clientele of women who need gowns for galas and weddings - and celebrities who must look good on the red carpet. Last year, he was in the spotlight when actress Octavia Spencer wore his gown on the night that she won her first Oscar. Next: He plans to open a store in Beijing. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will run in New York through Valentine's Day (February 14) at Lincoln Center and in other venues around the city.