Pre-Fall Shoe Preview-2008
Press and Buyers Presentation-NYC: December 4-6th, 2007
Text, Photos by J. Ecochard
Former Lilly Pulitzer fashion designer Holly Dunlap often gets lumped in with designer Tory Burch in that socialite world spawned from the rarified Carolyn Roehm/Vera Wang upscale milieu. Both are:
- Popular in Palm Beach
- Design affordable luxury lines of women’s clothes, shoes, accessories
- Schooled by retail veterans
- Pretty picture-perfect 30 something blondes
-
IMHO- Dunlap has more posh panache to her products- because she sources top of the line Italian materials and manufacturing.
And does not emblazon her initials on the goods you wear.
Hollywould’s glamorous play on words modus operandi successfully translates into her flirty pre-Fall 2008 collection that was staged for buyers and press last week at her spacious 57th Street, NYC showrooms. Coined Sucré and Epicé –sugar and spice- Dunlap’s collection is inspired by the interplay of contrasting materials and textures in largely deep earthy colors. Our favorites included a lush brown (also black) sensuous suede ankle boot with removable matching suede upper with criss crossed closures wrapped around (in satin grosgrain ribbon)-and a sure to be popular dark brown suede stilleto with grosgrain ribbon that cleverly wrapped the heel. Plush caramel leather booties without the tongue are not a manufacturing goof but intended to show off what lies beneath.
Other notable looks are flirty girly pink leather edged, black pony skin ankle boots and espresso/ slate gray eel skinned pointy toe pumps that are sophisticated re-interpretations of the now standard stilettos. Best selling flats are refreshed in styles like the new elasticized ballet flats and rubber studded driving shoes in patent leather black, silver, burnished bronze, rust and anthracite metallics. Animal prints also abound, as women are still demanding these eye-catching prints.
Feminine, fun and fashionable.
