When friends bemoan that fashion is boring right now, I always ask them how much they’re paying attention to the contemporary scene, where, to my mind, some of the most exciting style moments are happening. Yesterday’s Nanette Lepore Spring 2010 collection, for instance, is a fine example.
Lepore, who’s known mostly her for uber-girly looks that sometimes border on the frilly and frivolous, really evolved with this line, presenting a look that retained its feminine sensibility while playing with silhouettes and graphic designs that were more abstract and modern than her usual offerings.
I’m a devotee of Splendid and James Perse so the cotton pieces here really impressed, especially the striped one-shoulder dress and the crocheted bib on a few of the tops. The colors were also really enjoyable: bright citrus hues and jewel tones that were just the slightest bit muted, enough to lend the clothes a more sophisticated, sobering air.
Another favorite was the above balloon-sleeve khaki jacket, which I thought was a smart take on the strong shoulder trend without giving it the normal boxy treatment. And I think you’ll all love the wedge booties that accompanied each look: strong, distinct, and playfully sexy. Nanette did include some of the femme frocks she’s known for but even they were somewhat quieter here, and not rife with her normally blaring girlish overtones.
What say y’all?
~Adri
