After revealing different facets of her woman — with incursions into territories stretching from punk and goth up to planet Venus with her last show in Paris — Alessandra Rich returned to the core of her brand and her recognizable aristocratic-slash-“It”-girl look for today’s young Ladies Who Lunch.
But looks can be deceptive — and that’s exactly how Rich likes it. Bedecked in lady-like attire, wrapped in glamour and with an icy sense of detachment, her woman impishly conceals a seductive spirit and fun approach to life — to be revealed from time to time, and only on her own terms.
The pre-fall collection walked the line between the prim and the cheeky, with little bon-ton knits paired with see-through tulle bodices; “Old Money”-vibe sets zhuzhed up with feathers; wool capes worn over bare legs, and satin dresses coming with big bows, ruffles and chunky jewelry for a playful touch.
A series of charming tweed tailleurs offered a sensual take on the go-to uniforms of presidential first ladies by displaying collarbones, which Rich jokingly identified as “the only part of the female body that all women truly like about themselves.”
A dash of fun and frivolity was also injected by a micro-cape barely covering the shoulders that the designer pinpointed as an amusing and conversation-stirring item. “You see a woman entering a room wearing it and you instantly wonder: Why did she buy something like this?”
Yet the collection was a serious and solid affair with all its feminine dresses, ranging from the brand’s signature polka-dot frocks with puffed shoulders to ‘40s-nodding numbers, including a red velvet standout with asymmetric buttoning detail.
Even if Rich sprinkled star-shaped studs on denim separates to include a few daytime options in the lineup, eventually her evening proposition shined brighter. Gowns with deep necklines and revealing backs were simple yet effective in channeling a diva attitude. From the black-and-white look 28 to the bow-embellished look 40, there were no excuses for poor fashion choices for celebrities as red carpet season approaches.
