Despite her reputation for lounging in Ibiza more or less year-round, the Matthew Williamson girl is actually a world traveler. For pre-fall, the designer imagined her in an alpine forest. Brrr—but the more things change, the more they stay the same. To face the chilly slopes, la femme Williamson just slips a chunky coyote coat or a fox-trimmed parka over her usual finery. Even in the woods, you never know when you ll need a one-shoulder draped cocktail frock, an MW specialty.
So, party people, breathe easy. There s plenty for you here. But also some cute options to take you from the dance floor to the daytime. A series of boxy, boyish cropped peacoats, available in responsible taupe or funky citrine, were properly cute. A few variations on the ski sweater, in a multicolored Fair Isle-ish marled wool, spoke to the alpine theme. And of course, it wouldn t be a Williamson show without a little high drama at the end. Here, it came feathered: a nude frock dissolved into shredded chiffon and ostrich plumes, and a gold-sequined minidress—of the sort Christophe Decarnin has made a signature at Balmain—into vivid teal wisps.
