Class Act:

–Trends may come and go, and styles and looks may be subjected to fashion’s ever swaying highly schizophrenic pendulum, but there is no question that some things are forever enduring and will NEVER lose their appeal.

Case in point, the ever chic and always modern vocabulary that was originally at the heart of Yves St. Laurent’s street wise philosophy. There is a reason classic ‘staples’ like the trench coat, pea jacket, safari suit, tuxedo, and the perfectly tailored pant suit are still viewed as the most important foundations of a smart woman’s wardrobe and are the items that are constantly being ‘reinvented’ by designers – both young and old. Taking over where Tom Ford left off is Stefano Pilati, the relatively unknown Milanese who worked with Tom at the Gucci Group and according to WWD, “together, they carved a new direction and image for Saint Laurent.”

Pilati’s new vision just happens to be WWD’s cover story today, and based on several pictures shown, along with an accompaning profile and interview, it looks as if he should have nothing short of a hit on his hands. I don’t know about you, but after seeing months and months of overtly ‘feminine’ cloyingly saccharin sweet flirty designs, pastels, florals, piles and piles of jewelry and accessories, nothing looks better than the somewhat utilitarian, straight forward, refreshingly masculine

and polished clothes, rendered in chic neutrals. The large canvas bags with rope handles, high heeled rope soled espadrilles, and sturdy yet sexy round toes high heeled pumps are signature St. Laurent, and the resulting effect is one where the customer always looks smart, chic, refined, modern, intelligent, serious, and ready to face the world. These are not ‘objectifyingly’ or overtly sexy, overly self conscious, in your face, over the top designs. To me, this is the most modern look of all.

– Posted by Marilyn Kirschner

Marilyn Kirschner

I am a long time fashion editor with 40+ years of experience. As senior market of Harper's Bazaar for 21 years I met and worked with every major fashion designer in the world and covered all of the collections in Paris, London, Milan and New York. I was responsible for overall content, finding and pulling in the best clothes out there, and for formulating ideas and stories.

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