Anyone whose grandmother was Grace Kelly's personal stylist is probably possessed of genetically-ingrained good taste, which is fortunate for designer Katie Ermilio, whose Spring 2011 collection is nothing if not a study in effortless chic.
Ermilio's understated elegance oozes from all of her easy spring looks (think white long sleeve silk dresses and wide-lapel tuxedo jackets), each better suited than the next to a stylish boardwalk vacation. To keep her simple aesthetic looking fresh and new, Ermilio imbues her pieces with quirky details, like sheer lace overlay on a pair of high-waist navy hotpants, or a flirty low back on a plain white cocktail dress.
A bit of Grace-inspired chic comes through in the form of high-waisted khaki shorts and sheer silk blouses finished with prim, buttoned-up collars, but Ermilio is clearly more daring than her Highness, Miss Kelly. A slit-to-there cocktail dress in ivory cream, for example, is sexier than you'd expect from this (relatively) conservative designer. Of course, that's precisely the quality that makes Ermilio such an exciting new talent.
Check out Katie Ermilio's Spring 2011 collection at www.katieermilio.com.
