Rebecca Taylor described her muse for Spring/Summer 2012 as “contemporary, ethereal, and fresh” and the pearl and sequin embellishments, eyelet lace dresses, and alabaster shades suggested images of dancing in the moonlight. The shimmering palette of nudes and optic whites was punched up with playful asymmetrical hems, racer back and tank dresses, digital prints, and the occasional statement hue in bold citrus. What started off light (with a perpetual, delicate twinkle) took a decidedly darker turn in the second half with gunmetal dresses, denim silk, and the lovely black “storm wild roses” print making their rounds. Taylor worked variations on several thematic prints and fabrics – cycling black and white eyelet, alabaster snake leather, and the cloud-like Cobalt shibori print through various appearances on tops, bottoms, and dresses. Creative, whimsical aspects like cut-out backs on leather apron tops lent an edge of unexpected sexiness to understated pieces.

The muted palette, delicate peach-hued rose print, and pointelle fabrics appear modern, with romantic and nostalgic nuances. These elements evoke the haunting and ethereal vibe of The Virgin Suicides, the beautifully-rendered 1999 film by Sofia Coppola (based on the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides set in 1970s suburbia).  Both the moonlight silk and the darker, metallic elements of this Spring/Summer collection called the Lisbon sisters to my mind in their enigmatic, unforgettable mystique. I can picture a modern –day, glamorous version of the foxy Lux Lisbon blurring the fine line between girlhood and womanhood in the gauzy, simple chiffon t-shirt dress as she glides across the lawn one evening at a summer party. Rebecca Taylor’s ethereal touches and spirited, wholesome designs seem to evoke the charm and melancholy of an end-of-summer party, or perhaps of the lingering, moonlit memories of certain summer nights.

– Jessica J. Tsai
See images from the collection in the slideshow below

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Photos by Stevyn Llewellyn