Tucked away in the basement of the Union Square Ballroom on this Valentine's Day morning was a theatrical, Prohibition-era speakeasy presentation of the Lorick fall 2010 collection.
Designer Abigail Lorick presented 15 Lorick Ladies clad in cocktail dresses and a suit or two, in a color palette of kelly green, slate blue and gold. Ethereal ruching and rich, shiny satin were nicely balanced with weighty boiled wool coats. Each spritely ensemble came across like a jewel box hodgepodge of sparkle, sheers and intricate brocades.
Outfits were accessorized with statement necklaces, jumbo earrings and antique-style brooches, all by Subversive. Necklaces were the stars, created from piles and layers of wooden, pink acrylic and crystal ball beads, thick silver chains and, our favorite, a giant, rainbow crystal-encrusted paisley charm.
There were also retro toppers with mesh face cages, feather flourishes and black flowers. Girls who weren't sporting leather, elbow-length gloves in citrusy orange, yellow and green, showed off nails in neon pink and orange. Matte sparkle tights and Tashkent booties in neutral suedes completed the look.
With their pouty faces over-blushed in a most youthful way, and hair frizzed out or pulled up into a chignon, the Lorick ladies played their melodramatic roles perfectly. The group was carefree and the overall vibe was punchy. The collection evoked a highly styled, Miss Havisham-in-prep-school glamour and a fun-loving elegance that seemed pulled out from a fantasy dress-up trunk. These are the sugar plum fairies about which J. Crew dreamed.
