"Bottom line, I wanted it to be strong," said Rachel Roy of her new collection, the second one she s shown in the striking lobby of Barry Diller s IAC building. So, out went the bubble skirts, the poufs, and the embellishments that have weighed down some of her previous efforts. And in came a slouchy-but-sharp double-breasted gray flannel suit, a peplum bustier top worn with cigarette pants, and a marble-print long column dress. The flourishes came in the form of chunky mirrored necklaces and cuffs by Subversive Jewelry s Justin Giunta. Roy arranged her presentation by color palette, showing similar silhouettes—a narrow, one-sleeved sheath; a dress with geometric cutouts at the ribs—in blush, pale yellow, slate blue, or black. It made for a big visual impact that was somewhat compromised by the models bobbed wigs and black lipstick, a too obvious reference to YSL s Fall 2008 show. That distraction aside, Roy s line has done some growing up.
