Sharon Wauchob is one of those designers who flies under the radar of most big editors but who gets plenty of respect from top retailers. "You get a lot of value for your money, and it looks special without being complicated," said Sarah Rutson of Lane Crawford, the chic Beijing and Hong Kong emporium. For Spring, Wauchob, who s Irish, brought the special via handmade lace spliced onto drapey, deconstructed jackets with volume at the shoulders, and tops with ruffles spilling down the front. Paired with silky drop-crotch pants or slouchy shorts, these wispy looks in white, black, and gray positioned her squarely in the Spring fashion mix: A lot of houses are exploring handcrafted traditions right now, and, of course, sheer is just about the biggest thing going. Don t cotton to broderie anglaise? There was a white party dress and a shorts suit or two that got the sparkle treatment, with metallic beaded shoulder pads or thick chain necklaces. This was a pretty show for girls who take their pretty with a helping of edge.
