Lawrence Steele clearly feels right at home in a season dominated by chromatic extremes; his no-frills collection was done almost exclusively in black and white. But that s not to say that it was all about bare-bones minimalism—instead, Steele played up a naive, if somewhat perverse, girl-wants-to-be-a-grown-up look.
How else to explain black, above-the-knee pleated leather skirts with a white-trimmed sailor top, Girl Scout foulards over liquid minisheaths and Empire-waist playground dresses with gathered short sleeves? Delicate ribbons trimmed fitted pullovers, Bermuda shorts loosened up severe blazers and pearl buttons adorned classic pea coats.
Steele s only concession to color came in the form of a couple of gently ruffled, sheer off-the-shoulder tops worn with black-velvet skirts, black stockings and patent double-bow Mary Janes. Add a plush black fur and you re ready to go—after all, even the nicest girls need a bit of mischief sometimes.
