By Karen Larde

December 6, 2006

Atlanta, Georgia - The Grape at the Forum Shopping Plaza in Norcross, Georgia provided a quaint backdrop for an intimate evening with Michael Knight. You fashion followers may be familiar with this name from Bravo television's designer reality series, Project Runway. A promising young talent, Michael won several challenges on the show with his feminine and sometimes racy silhouettes.

"My Knight Can" was the title of the benefit show and auction, which was organized to raise proceeds to be donated to help Cure Autism Now, an organization committed to research in autism. Laurence Givens of Q100 radio was the host of the evening. Prizes were given away to random members in the audience. Anna Ferguson was one of the lucky recipients.

Michael presented several of his designs in different categories. There were camouflage oversized skirts with leather pockets, a polka dotted v neck back mini dress and tunics paired with white sequined belts. One of my favorite sections in the mini-collections presented was aptly named Controversy. It featured plunging necklines, above the knee hems and geometrically placed pieces of fabric reminiscent of the Cubism art era.

Though I found this collection to be the most interesting, overall, this was truly not Michael's best work. I guess you could say after the "runway" exposure of Knight, I entered this event having high expectations. The designs failed to deliver the impeccable flawlessness and creativity that I had come to recognize and appreciate as being emblematic of Michael's aesthetic and style.