My Ports 1961 coverage is live on JSD  (which you can read complete with full photo spread here or see the basic copy below!)

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Ports 1961, a label that debuted in 2006, as a spin-off of Canadian sportswear label “Ports International,” is led by Vancouver-native, Tia Cibani. Her designs beautifully illustrate women’s Ready To Wear, with romantic silhouettes and often, an ethnic twist. Last year, her Fall 2009, took on a very timely theme, with Indian inspired music and dress. This season, Tia channeled what seemed to be an Asian-inspiration, indicated in both the choice of music and the sushi platters included in the gift bags.

On our way in, we found MTV’s “The City” filming for the show with Elle’s Creative Director, Joe Zee, sitting front row with fellow Elle staffer, Olivia Palermo; and best buds Whitney Port and Roxy Olin seated one row back.

The Thursday afternoon show began with a much deserved “moment of silence” for Alexander McQueen who had just passed that morning, and for that moment, the tent fell completely silent while the lights were still up.

After some smoke and a gong-like sound, the show was off to an interesting start.  First out were a lot of neutrals, with helmet-style hats, and layered architectural trenches with bold dresses. Grey, beige, camel and cognac dominated with unexpected leather and wool accents throughout. Shoulder pads and asymmetrical patterns were shown and most looks were decorated by a unique metallic detailing or off-kilter neck piece.

The evening wear came in gold, copper, dark browns and deep purples, showings more chunky knits, layers and soft separates. Although I loved everything about the line, the looks, and the colors du jour, I was most obsessed with the big free-flowing curly teased hair, which billowed out on the models with volume, body and little structure.

Cibani characterized the line as “inspired by the relationship between discovery and invention.”

*Finale Walk footage by me!

*Roxy Olin & Whitney Port filming a scene for MTV’s The City…you may also recognize Roxy from this season of ABC’s Brothers & Sisters (she plays the surrogate)

We were seated across from Olivia Palermo who had the cameras in a tizzy, and diagonally down from Julia Allison (who was there with her super cute mom!) and was sitting next to Celebrity Lifestyle Blogger, Tia Walker. I noticed Anna Wintour during the show, watching with a stone cold face, in her signature oversized sunglasses and full-bang / bob hair ‘do. Twitter also informed me that Adrien Field was in the house (although we didn’t cross paths), and I later noticed Mary Rambin filming a ‘Head to Toe’ segment with Julia Allison on the runway on our way out.

*Olivia Palermo getting seated

The show was great: very timely in that it was reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire, with Indian-inspired garments and Indian-inspired music. The M.I.A. remix from the Slumdog soundtrack pumped on the loudspeakers as people found their seats and when the models took the stage, they were accompanied by a live band (brass and drums), deriving its rhythm and inspiration from the infectious Punjabi rhythm.

Tia Cibani, designer for Ports, says of the line, “at a moment of challenge in our own history, we look to the very human need to rejoice in beauty and art. Luxury today can be defined in the process of creation, and in the discovery of beauty in the simplest gesture and the grandest spirit.”

Overall, the line included a focus on: apricot, amber, moonstone, jasmine, organza, gold lame, and ruby coloring, with a streak of black garments accented by hot pink.

*Jessi meeting the designer backstage, Tia Cibani

*Julia Allison & Mary Rambin filming a quick Head-to-Toe Segment

Annnnnnd… I’m officially done with Fashion again until September (except for Brooklyn Royalty’s March 20th show, of course, stay tuned for details).

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]