When we spoke to Lois Samuels recently, she said that she was looking to give her classically tailored clothing a twist. In her fall/winter 2011 collection the menswear influence is still there, but it's gone glam and sexy.
Ms. Samuels is a firm believer in uniform dressing, something she picked from her childhood in Jamaica. But who knew the uniform could look like this? Pared down to the bare essentials, she has created a collection of nothing but must haves. Pieces that will work for years and decades to come, with no effort.
A simple wool skirt suit with bustled jacket can be worn with or without a blouse. Another suit features a jacket with slit sleeves, a surprising element. A favorite is the wool wrap dress with removable capelet. This dress could be worn all week, tweaked with shirts, scarves, and jewelry and still look fresh every day.
Evening pieces still exhibit Ms. Samuels' taste for sharp tailoring, but added shine to austere lines. A long tailed jacket with lurex piping is paired with perfectly cut sparkling shorts. A demure a-line black dress with white pointed collar shimmers under the light like jewelry. The slit in the skirt flashes just the right amount of leg, almost as an afterthought. You could do this plain, with a simple pair of heeled pumps, or a mary-jane with a stilletto heel.
There's also a nod to this seasons's hottest trend- the jumpsuit. Ms. Samuels did one that is tres Studio 54: YSL tuxedo styling in Elvis style lurex. The shimmer and the shine add to the swagger you'd have while wearing it. It's what she's been doing for the past few seasons, but tightened to the core elements. It's a wardrobe of pieces that could take you from New York, to Paris or London without missing a step.
You can find out where theVessel is sold here.
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