When will designers stop referencing the 70s? Some say we ll be moving on from the decade soon, but for Rebecca Taylor it ll never go out of style. That s because her inspiration goes beyond flares and fringe; she s more concerned with the sensuality and eclecticism associated with the clothes. "Something about the 70s was very sexy, and I think that s something people are really responding to right now," she said. "They want fabrics that move!" Each piece in her Fall collection had some fluidity to it, from a floor-sweeping gunmetal skirt to wallpaper-print minidresses and kicky trousers. Of course, the Rebecca Taylor brand of sexy is a little offhand—high necklines and long sleeves were just a little suggestive mixed with sheer silk and up-to-there hemlines.
For RT loyalists, the brand s signatures fit squarely into the theme: Victorian blouses, chiffon dresses, and romantic florals were reliably strong. Here, they felt fresh and new paired with retro silhouettes like a sharp A-line miniskirt or an oxblood blazer. The outerwear was also particularly covetable: An icy blue, shearling-lined suede coat was an instant standout. Ditto a trim, belted bomber jacket with quilted sleeves and a leopard faux-fur topper that felt like the real thing. "We made it like a fur manufacturer would," Taylor explained. "We shave down the seam allowance so it doesn t feel bulky, and then we sew it with a fur machine." Why pay a few months rent on rabbit or fox when the PETA-friendly options are this good? The same could be said for a lot of the pieces in Taylor s Fall lineup. She hit the mark on fashion s current state of mind, and at a contemporary price point to boot.
