Haute Living has teamed up with the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue to bring you an exclusive preview of the season to come in fashion. Today, the fashion gurus at Saks bring us a Q&A with designer Rebecca Taylor.
Saks: You have some amazing transitional pieces such as the pearl & grey jacket with silver chain detailing which can take you from the board room to a luncheon and then an evening out on the town! Would you say that you focus your designs for the modern woman on the move?
Rebecca Taylor: It is so important to have versatility in your wardrobe! For instance, I’m here with you for the day so I had to be ready for the morning product meeting, we are also going shopping later and we have an event tonight – so I focus on pieces that could take a woman through the different events of the day.
Saks: Leather seems to be everywhere this Spring. You use leather in innovative modern ways to create unconventional pieces. Miami is hot and our Saks customer loves to bear skin. Are light-weight leather pieces a focus for this region?
RT: Lightweight leather pieces for this region really work because although its warn all year round you want to be able to dress seasonally. Leather works great for this purpose since you can mix leather with fabrics that are seasonless. You can buy the trendy items without having them feel heavy or bulky.
Saks: You brilliantly created cotton & silk blend pieces that are casual enough for day and easy to dress up in the evening. Please share your insight about form & function when it comes to your design process.
RT: Function for me is very high on the list and I think a lot of women being very busy, such as all of us are here represent the modern woman which needs to be ready to multi-task. It could range from picking up the kids at school to having a cocktail party after work so everything feels like it must flow together and that goes back to the versatility aspect. It needs to be comfortable and the fabrications we use also lend themselves to diversity.
Saks: The combination of your color infused floral designs with the light and breezy fabric gives women the option to wear these pieces in a variety of ways. What would be your favorite look for a day out in sunny Miami?
RT: What wouldn’t be a favorite look for a day in Miami! There is a really beautiful strapless dress I love that is in a lovely. I call it “Porange or Oink” it’s like a pinky/orange hue that can be paired back to a flat for day or a jeweled high heeled sandal for evening or even platforms for date night. I think that works really well for Miami.
Saks: Peplum continues to dominate the runways and provides a chic yet discrete way to add curves or hide the tummy. Do you focus on creating silhouettes that flatter all body types?
RT: Absolutely! That’s a really big thing for me… We are not all size zero which is good. I myself am petite yet curvy and the peplum helps to accentuate the hips while disguising any signs of a belly. The whole covering a muffin top is definitely a benefit of the peplum style. I fit on a real model with curves. I even try the clothes on myself to make sure they fit a variety or women, not just the stick figure N.Y. girl.
Saks: Lace is such a classic that will never go out of style. How do you make a classic into a fun fashion piece?
RT: I think by mixing it with fun versatile fabrics such as silks with a very lightweight t-shirt lining that makes it feel very comfortable and provides for a casual look with a little something extra. You can wear a top like this with jeans, leopard pants or even a long silk skirt. It’s a transitional piece that you can have forever.
To shop Rebecca Taylor, please visit the Saks website. Photos courtesy Rebecca Taylor.
