WHAT THE COOL GIRLS WILL WEAR IN THE FUTURE, AND BEYOND

OK, hands up.  I am one of those people (I’m assuming I’m not the only one) who spends actual time, every season, thinking about developing my personal “style”.  You know, the kind of look that becomes your signature.  Is it pink and girly? No.  Is it punk or hippie or strictly business? No, no and no.  I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. And now I know.  I want to be the Rebecca Minkoff woman.

Her own description says her Fall/Winter 2013 collection “embarks on a voyage into the future, marrying modern, spacesuit-like construction details and a new, sophisticated grunge attitude.”  In the hands of a lesser designer, you can only imagine what that would look like.  But Rebecca Minkoff is also a realist.  Backstage, before her show, she told me, “it’s really fun to design things no one can wear, but I’m in a business.”  She explained, “we call it the ‘trifecta’, when you have editorial respect, commercial success and the customer approves.  That’s what we go for.”

And she achieves it in this glorious collection of wearable designs with a definite edge.  She talks about “fearlessness” and how it taps into todays “confident, self-assured woman.” Yeah, everything I strive to be.

Her jackets are strong, pants are just relaxed enough to be chic without being sloppy.  Dresses are feminine without being too “girly”.  There are so many standouts in this collection, from quilted leather jackets to asymmetrical dresses and straight, sassy skirts.

The spacesuit-influence came in the form of tops and dresses with, well, it’s kind of hard to explain, but you can see them, rounded sleeves at the top.  They could have been comical, instead, they are a soft, creative detail that makes them different, but desirable.

What’s really special here is the range of choices here.  She told me, “we’re opening a store in August, and I definitely wanted to provide every aspect of what I was going to put in the store.”  So, what we’re seeing is, apart from the ready-to-wear, everything from a beautiful and practical range of outerwear to swimsuits.

Her tough-girl-with-taste looks were perfectly complemented by the makeup, by Stila.  Artist Corey Bishop described it as simple and natural.  He said, “Stila is all about obtainable beauty that anyone can wear. For fall, it’s about this bright, almost cobalt, blue.”  He added, “anyone can wear it.  It’s something that makes you feel pretty.  It’s something that makes you feel fresh.”

If you’re already a Rebecca Minkoff fan (and how can you not be?), you know this is typical Minkoff, a pretty girl who can kick butt, when required.  Gorgeousness with an edge.  Everything I see in myself, in my more delusional moments.  But, hey, I’m so happy there’s a designer who sees the real me, and at least I can buy the clothes.

Photography: Anton Brookes