Ann Taylor Gives Us a Sneak Peek at Fall
*Images coming back soon – be right back!
By Tiffany Reo, Guest Blogger [24KtStyle]
Where the streets only have names, New York gets a little confusing, even to a veteran city gal like myself. I can do numbered streets with my eyes closed, from uptown to downtown, river to river they are a laid out clearly with all points intersecting like the weave in a Bottega Veneta tote. However, with a little help from hopstop and an excellent playlist, I found my way to Beauty & Essex on the lower part of the lower east side, and let me tell you, it’s worth the trip! Now I am totally late to the party on this place, it’s been open for awhile and for pure psyching-myself-out reasons of not being able to find it, I had never been, until the uber-glamorous Ann Taylor Fall Preview last week. The setting alone was an attractive alternative, giving the entire collection an edge without even seeing it. You actually enter a pawn shop (sounds shady, but I was window shopping as I walked through), to another door and then you enter the venue of all venues. A spiral staircase built for the house of Dynasty, with walls lined of horse hair and framed with a glorious chandelier, lead me to the Ann Taylor preview that was the party of all parties and if it had to be described in one word: rich.
Four deliveries, one gradually more opulent than the next had party-goers abuzz. The Pre-Fall collection titled “City Chic” is for the woman about town where day to night is a way of life. This delivery focused on style trends of color blocking and silhouette classics like an elongated fit, giving the entire group a feeling of manageable glamour. The shoes for Pre-Fall were fantastic! Cut-out sandals in a textured leather with a retro kick to them, ladies will be treating sidewalks like catwalks.
As I ventured over to the next group “Sporty Luxe” I imagined a chill in the air, that crisp bite that lets you know it is time for some luxurious layers, and that is exactly what Ann Taylor has in store. Suits that could go from the boardroom to the ballroom, with the right pair of shoes, of course and texture, texture, texture made this delivery drool-worthy. Fine fabrics were the background to the luxe look that was found in the details of quilting, patches and tassels.
As I kept moving the palette got a little darker and the second delivery of “Sporty Luxe” turned up the luxury with a little help from a feline print. A simple color story of rich neutrals became the canvas for some really amazing accessories, including an epic pair of spotted stilettos. Chic capes and refined leathers can only reach their full potential when being paired with the “Little Luxuries” assortment.
I had reached the final destination of the collection and I could sense the holiday spirit it was designed around. The “Uptown Girl” delivery lightened up in shades of camel with a focus on pristine tailoring and pops of glamour. Exciting pieces like a leopard coat were balanced with the iconic glamour of bracelet sleeves and could easily be paired over a dress or some fabulous trousers. The fluidity of the deliveries show’s a strong and fashion savvy Ann Taylor in the works for fall. Hope you can handle all this allure!