Nuance and shadings, the textures illuminated in black and white art forms like photography and film noir, these are a few of my favorite visual things, and they were the launching points for our fall 2010 collection.
Yes, it sounds very aesthetically driven, but it is also practical: this is our most diverse collection yet, something, I believe, for everyone whether she is accessorizing a new wardrobe or updating looks from her closet - a new accessory or two is perfect for this - just the right bag that makes an already gently worn outfit look fresh and different.
In a variety of sizes and shapes, leathers and materials, there are buttery-soft bags and satchels with an urban Jet Set boho chic, like the large Ross bag I just traveled with to New York for appointments at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus and it functioned on so many levels that now I can't live without it.
There are medium sized clutches perfect for lunch with friends and then on to cocktails and dinner with more friends or a beau. There are our trademark, glamorous evening bags and this season, when I previewed a few to friends, they really liked the embossed reptile-inspired leathers, and the bags with ornamental crystals and all the noir colors, the smoky pastels, the Campari red, the tobacco browns, and olives. Softly feminine, strongly independent, and bravely adventurous, here is something to compliment every major mood and component in a modern woman's life.
What happened specifically to inspire this collection? I was already thinking about the 1940s because so many references have been surfacing in fashion circles among designers, photographers and stylists. Then my family and I were watching "This Is It" the documentary about Michael Jackson preparing for his last concert tour, which includes so many clips of old films, noir classics such as "Gilda" with Rita Hayworth. I don't think of noir as retro, I am not nostalgically inclined that way, but what I did see watching the Jackson film, in visual terms, was the lens through which these actresses become abstracted into a sort of color field of moody hues, evocative, mysterious textures, nuances of grays, faceted patinas, femme fatale shadings. With all that in my mind's eye, I knew what I wanted to look for in fabrics and leathers.
I told my mother about my inspirations, that I was "feeling it for noir" so to speak, and showed her some of the earliest designs for this season. As she has done before, she has illustrated this collection for us. I love how she responded to my "noir" inspiration with what she drew, including the dresses. As much as they could be perfect costumes for a noir classic like "Laura" with Gene Tierney, they could also be looks from John Galliano's fall collection for Dior or Alber Elbaz's for Lanvin.
I hope you will feel this, too. First the versatility offered in this collection, then something visually appealing that concurs with your current thinking about what is stylish now or, well, basically because fashion is first and foremost fun - or at least it should be - something so cute you just have to have it.