Let Them Talk: REBECCA VALLANCE

Australian designer Rebecca Vallance presents her FW14 collection "Lady's Man" as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. This marks the designer's first official showing in the US.

Friday, February 7, 2014

The Hub at Hudson, 356 West 58th Street, NYC 10019

HAIR by Tresemme, MAKEUP + NAILS by MAC

GUESTS:

Sami Gayle, Actress (Vampire Academy, Blue Bloods). Candice Lake, Photographer + Model. Nicole Trunfio, Model. Lara Bingle, Model. Natalie Suarez, Blogger.

Australian-born Rebecca Vallance infuses her eponymous line with a whimsical spirit and strong global aesthetic, creating timeless pieces that are both classic in construction and innovative in design.

Through an unexpected mix of structured tailoring and fluid draping, the collection brings complimentary contrast to its unique prints and textures. The result is a distinctly edgy yet sophisticated offering that eschews trends in favor of embracing its own path.

Prior to launching her ready-to-wear collection in 2009, Rebecca began her career as a fashion publicist, working with luxury brands including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Prada. Today, Rebecca splits her time between residences in London and Sydney, further growing her international presence and following as a designer.

THE FALL / WINTER 2014 COLLECTION:

Australian designer Rebecca Vallance makes her New York Fashion Week debut this season with her aptly named collection, “Lady’s Man.” Through a mixture of menswear-inspired cuts and her signature ladylike details, Vallance delivers an alluringly androgynous lineup for Fall / Winter 2014.

“My previous collections had more of a soft femininity,” explains Vallance, “and this season my eye has been drawn to a more androgynous style. This collection illustrates a sharp identity and a taste of what the brand is growing into.”

Vallance’s craftsmanship takes center stage in her exploration of gender dichotomies. Fundamentally masculine pieces, like collared shirts and pintucked trousers, are perfectly tailored to envelop the female form. Pencil skirts with daringly high slits, paired with structured jackets, are this season’s power suits. Boxy tops and moto jackets offset flirty, pleated skirts and fluidly draped dresses.

Texture and print are central to Vallance’s aesthetic, and these elements prove particularly important in defining this season's “lady’s man.” Inherently masculine materials, like a navy hopsack and brown grid-print wool, are used for the collection’s most feminine silhouettes, including A-line dresses and curve hugging gowns. Conversely, the use of Broderie and lattice-woven fabrics lend subtle feminine charm to the collection’s more masculine cuts.

Vallance also shapes her “lady’s man” through the use of innovative techniques and high-quality fabrics, sourced from France and Italy. Treatments like lacquering and bonding are used to craft strong, bold shapes that accentuate the female figure, while snakeskin-effect leather and animal print lace inject the collection with a dose of luxe sex appeal.