Ruffian: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week S/S 2012
By Sarah Kleinhenz, Fashion Week Correspondent
I started the morning (super earrrrrly) with the Ruffian show. I hadn’t heard much of this designer before Fashion Week, and let me tell you, the label is now on my radar! Robert Verdi, Rose McGowen and Carrie Preston (Arlene from True Blood) were among the crowd waiting eagerly to see this collection. The theme, if you will, was based on the famous filly racehorse “Ruffian.” Flowing down the runway were dresses, pants, jackets and blouses – all in silk. The color-blocked one-piece swimsuits had me me dreaming of a few more weekends of summer, out working on my much-needed tan. Everything had sort of a “jockey-esque” feel to it. Being from the south and growing up around the racetrack, I can totally appreciate the design of this collection.
The razor-sharp tailoring, a signature of Ruffian, was the first thing that caught my eye. I’m becoming more and more obsessed with mixing red and pink, and was ecstatic to see that colorblocking will still be on point for spring. It’s so much fun to experiment with color, and this collection is the perfect example of a great colorblocking look. So if you didn’t hop on that train the previous season, make sure you do next spring. Another stand-out was the gorgeous, rich yellow hue used in many of the garments. I love the mix of black and white with bright bold hues. It’s going to be a rainbow of color for spring, so pick your favorite shade and go bold!
Charlotte Casiraghi was the muse for this collection, and you could see that in all of the looks strutting down the glossy white runway. When I think of equestrian, she’s the first person I think of. These pieces mix the simplistic style of day with the sexiness of night. Nothing says fabulous like a gorgeous silk dress.
P.S. Shoe designer Vince Camuto designed all of the shoes on the runway, and his sketches are below. Just look at the fab array of colors!
[Photo/Video Credit: Sarah Kleinhenz; Vince Camuto Photos Courtesy Vince Camuto]