Designer Carlos Miele is known for bringing the bright, upbeat style of his native country of Brazil to the runway, and his spring collection followed in this tradition.

Described as a “hallucinatory jungle,” the collection featured a wide variety of animal prints in boisterous colors, complemented by fringe and crystal accents.

The show opened with an ethereal blue background, which shifted to an intense orange as the models stepped out. This first look, a chiffon gown, with blue giraffe print layered over yellow tiger print summed up the vibe of the entire collection.

Following this look came a short black dress that featured two more prominent trends in the show – fringe and epaulets. The rest of the show, which included dramatic gowns and practical separates, featured many more vivid animal prints in airy fabrics, as well as several looks that incorporated black lace and fringe details that evoked the flapper-style of the 1920’s. The crowd emitted a gasp over a silk organza gown that brilliantly showcased both leopard print and black embroidery.

The beauty look was kept simple, with bold red lips and pin-straight hair. Many were accessorized with fringe bags and embroidered high heels.

Among the celebrities spotted in the front row were Vanessa Williams and Paula Abdul.

Valerie Nelson is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected]