The Row, Paris Fashion Week, Spring 2011 Collection

View other looks here.

You have to hand it to Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, they know how to roll with the punches. When last-minute sample delays forced them to cancel their spring show in New York, they found a slot on the Paris circuit even though it meant downscaling to by-appointment presentations. “We wanted to make sure the production was where we wanted it to be,” said Ashley. “And that meant not being in New York.” It wasn’t a bad trade-off. A salon with soaring white ceilings and lovely boiserie created a grand atmosphere for an intimate viewing of the clothes, all the better for up-close appreciation of their understated sophistication.

The tightly edited 15 looks included traditional tailoring countered with more feminine fare, all of it in a soft palette of black, pale pink and ivory, worn with pink and red crocodile flats, in line with the season’s shoe trend, and, as Ashley noted, their plan from “day one.” There were bias-cut dresses and ankle-length skirts, such as a pale pink shell and matching “parachute” skirt, so named because it fell freely into loose pleats like those of a long ballerina skirt. Elegant suits — classic jackets with shawl collars or peaked lapels worn with straight trousers — felt modern, in blush for day and white satin for evening.

The simplicity of the silhouettes belied their meticulous details and construction: jackets, pants and gowns were silk satin back crepe; buttons were covered; and a white silk georgette tank dress was embroidered with knife pleated panels that released at the waist, which, as Ashley pointed out, was hand-stitched at three points along the interior to ensure proper fit. The sisters clearly know the importance of control, not just stylistically — just about every item in The Row is produced in New York, close to their watchful eyes. The rest of the world can see the fruits of Ashley and Mary-Kate’s labor Monday at 7:30 pm EST, when their presentation will go live on Bing.com.

- WWD.com | October 03, 2010

Beautiful, elegant and classy - three words to describe what I think of the new Spring collection!

Well done MKA, you've done it again!

<br/><a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/the-row/1abi3ws3q?fg=sharenoembed" target="_new" title="The Row">Video: The Row</a>