Imaxtree
DESIGNER: 3.1 Philip Lim
INSPIRATION: Layers of texture and blocks of colour
TOP LOOKS: The nude leather paillette pieces had great texture and subtle shine; a chiffon tapered-leg pant with hand-embroidered beaded polka-dots would make a terrific evening look; paper-thin laser-cut leather shorts looked so right, especially paired with the thin camel sweater and sheer nude shirt; the embroidered, sheer-black-over-white trench: yes, please.
ACCESSORIES: Lim's growing empire includes all manner of accessories lines: shoes, bags, sunglasses, and jewelry. If our guess is right, we'll see many a chic Lim customer shod in the label's wood platform booties, clogs, and sandals come the spring.
WHO WAS THERE: Alexa Chung, Rashida Jones, Kanye West
WHAT WE THOUGHT: Take an old armory and add a stadium's worth of bleacher seating, a mile wide runway, monumental set pieces, and one look per model, and what do you have? A Marc Jacobs show setting, minus the six-ring-circus vibe. Phillip Lim's showing today mirrored a Jacobs spectacular in many ways, only it was light, calm, and orderly, sans drama or the electric hum of anticipation that defines those Fashion Week Monday nights. At Lim, there was a seat for everyone and everyone in their seat.
Once the show got underway, however, things heated up, as Lim again proved his ability to home in on exactly what stylish girls everywhere want to put on their bodies. For the most part, he gave us covetable sportswear pieces, working this season with layered blocks of colour and texture. The overall silhouettes were clean, but there was a lot going on within each one - not necessarily in a bad way, though there were a few overwrought looks.
The nude paillette pieces were fresh and had great texture, particularly the tunic dress with sheer, crystal-embroidered sleeves. A dressed-up pant is the new choice for evening (we've seen a lot of rejiggered tuxedos on the runways), and Lim proposed his own clever take on the idea. The tapered, beaded-polka-dot pants were flattering and cool paired with a black sleeveless tunic, thick with shimmering rope embroidery on the front. Also a winner was the white trench overlayed with embroidered black organza.
Post-show, we checked in with Rashida Jones and asked what she liked most. Without batting an eyelash, the actress reeled off her spring shopping list: "There was a cropped beaded top that I loved, and I will definitely be doing the little perforated-leather culottes. Oh, the shoes were insane," she gushed, adding, "and there were a couple of great black-tie dresses. I can't wait to get my paws on those." Like we said: stylish girls everywhere.