Unpronounceable But A Memorable Presentation
Text, Photos by J. Ecochard
It’s rare…but once in awhile we go to a fashion presentation without a clue as to what we might see.
That’s how we felt when we trooped over to the 38th Street showroom to preview the new collection of Leifsdottir-helmed by the creative design team of giant retailer, Urban Outfitter’s Anthropologie. (For Spring '09 preview click here)
For Fall 2009 Click Here That company we knew- as our nieces spend serious bucks at the hip, local for them lifestyles store.
When we stepped into the brightly lit showroom, we were happily surprised and it wasn’t just the delish rosé champagne and sugary sweets that did it. We loved what we saw.
Naysayers probably felt the garb wasn’t very wintry but we felt world traveler aka Executive Design Director Johanna Uurasjarvi (from Finland) solidly found a niche for “the girl who grows up” and wants a bit more “chic, iconic novelty pieces” in her wardrobe. Think what fashion house Tocca stood for when steered by Dutch designer Marie-Anne Oudejans. And when the clothes ship in August, they will be perfectly timed for those warm temps that seem to last way into November these days. After all consumers buy what they need in the moment they need it.
With lovely “Wishing Well Chinoisserie” fabrics of silk and “Autumn Bouquet” cashmere-what really did it for us were the details…the huge floral green buttons of a sunny yellow knit sweater- inspired by antique earrings, the delicate ruffles on a black gold buttoned skirt, the graphically and perky brightly printed yellow, gray, orange, red floral “Helsinki Collection,” the Asian-French romantic collage of well cut skirts and trim purple and creamy blue trench coats with flirty folds… all separates wearers will keep.
Reasonably priced from $100-$500 retail (average $220) with a June 30th 2008 ship date, we feel the collection is anything but “bridge.”
Here’s hoping Leifsdottir finds its way to a local Bloomingdales and Nordstrom's. Also available at Bergdorf Goodmans-NYC