You can guarantee we'll be grabbing a spring coat or two from the latest Tibi collection. Designer Amy Smilovic is perfectly in-tune with what women are seeking from the runways right now...and that would be wearable styles. Those came in droves, from a camel-suede coat that opened the show, to a gorgeous, strong-shouldered brocade-print dress.
What's even better? Smilovic gave comfort to her models' feet by sending them down the catwalk in flats. Specifically, she's set her sights on brogues for spring. All the arguments for statement heels get brushed away when you picture the cool, downtown air of a perfect dress with perfect flats. And maybe the perfect coat to top it off.
Opposites attracted at the Fall '10 Tibi show, which designer Amy Smilovic described as "Napoleon and Josephine." Steering far clear of anything rocker-grunge ("if the look has made it [to Palm Beach], you know it's time to do something new," she told Romney Leader), Smilovic mixed masculine and feminine to sellable appeal. Draped pieces contrasted garments of structure. Neutrals were paired with with brights. And most of it seemed perfect for one of the show's front-row guests, Olivia Palermo.
Arlenis Sosa strutted the runway in a cutesy floral strapless dress worn over a long-sleeved grey tee, and we also liked her in a a relaxed gold goddess dress worn only with tough black platform booties. An artsy print in friendly colours (raspberry, buttercream yellow, peach and blue) took on an appealingly ominous tone when overlain with a crawling black-branch design.
There was something for everyone in the latest Tibi collection, whether a customer in question is seeking mixable separates, versatile day dresses or something shinier for evening. And that, as we're sure Smilovic will find, makes the best contrast of all.
When you think husband-and-wife dream team, think of designer Amy Smilovic and her husband, Frank. Amy launched her label Tibi in 1997, making her trade in pieces perfect for a city girl's day of dressing sweetly. Two years into the business, Frank joined in, and he now serves as president of a label that retails in more than 500 specialty stores worldwide. During the day, Amy designs at her massive New York studio, then commutes back to Connecticut with her man. We'd be jealous if we didn't like her dresses so much.
