[alix*]

NEW YORK, January 31, 2008 – Georgia O'Keeffe meets Cold Mountain for the Park Avenue set? That would be one way to describe Rachel Roy's Fall collection. Before her show, the designer said she was interested in the intersection between Native American and Colonial styles, but brought up-to-date for the women of today. It was a tricky proposition, though for the most part Roy pulled it off. If the geometric black-on-gray jacquard used for a tulip skirt and a belted blanket cardigan that topped a tuxedo shirt came off somewhat heavy-handed, there were plenty of other pieces that finessed the conceit in a more subtle way. Take, for instance, a black wool suit with an extra-long jacket worn with a flounced white silk blouse, or a pumpkin silk sleeveless dress with a bow at the waist and a statement necklace of feathers and beads. Here Roy caught that mix of rawness and polish she was looking for.

– Nicole Phelps

style