Towards The Light ... BCBG Max Azria S/S 08

For non-frivolous fashion devotees who are comfortable without the extra frills, nonsensical voluminous silhouettes, and over-the-top style seekers, BCBG Max Azria has always been their favorite choice.

Incorporating full blast femininity feel without adding too much frivolity and hyper-sexiness into its creation, the brand has long been not just your typical girl-next-door favorite, but also to Hollywood drama queens and party princesses.

Like birds migrating from a cold country to seek warmth and comfort, the Spring/Summer 2008 collection can be equivalent as a transition for fashionistas who are seeking to escape from the wrath of cold winter winds and storm of snows into a fashion paradise where they can found refuge in airy, light and sheer fashionable pieces.

Staged during the highly-coveted New York Fashion Week 2007, the audiences were enthralled by pieces crafted in yards of lightweight yet airy organza, sheer tulles, and liquid jerseys. Almost all apparels were sheer and displayed an enormous layers of transparencies applied with belted silhouettes (think of self-belted skirts, self-belted dresses and trenches), and immersed in a working color palettes of pales and washed neutrals.

At the same time, unlike the last season's collection that are dark and sombre, the new collection is walking further towards the light, thus suggesting its airiness and lightness. For working girls who are tired with plain pinstripe pencil skirts and somber jackets, BCBG's Spring/Summer 08 collection proves to be style-worthy.

Pieces in shiny fabrics such as the belted sheath dress with ribbon details, or so Desperate Housewives-looking printed shift dress with (again) self-belt should be attractive enough for you to wear at the office. Pay close attention to its extraordinary hemming. Large knife pleats decorates much of the dresses and skirts, giving it a little volume.

But my pick of the crop will definitely be feathery pencil skirt worn with belted shiny satin bustier top. To be honest, the feather skirt reminds me of Roberto Cavalli's F/W 05 runway lineup sans the extreme volumes and excessive embellishments.

Other fashion-worthy pieces that you should include in next year's Spring/Summer wardrobe are sheer layered trench with printed patch pockets, satin bustier dress with knot detail on bust worn over a v-neck short sleeved top, and three-piece sheer cardigan worn over a metallic camisole top and satin skirt.

The BCBG Max Azria Spring/Summer 2008 collection will be available at all BCBG Max Azria outlets worldwide early next year while its current Fall/Winter 2008 collection is in stores now. Good news for BCBG fans in Malaysia, a new BCBG Max Azria store has just been opened at Pavilion KL and carries a complete selection of apparels and accessories.

*Photos by Marcio Madeira for Style.com

BCBG Max Azria - 132A, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur; G318, Ground Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Center, 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.