M.R.S. started a few years ago as a side project for Molly Stern—something to do when she had time between jobs as a makeup artist for rock stars and celebrities. She would literally sew her cotton jersey tops and dresses right onto her clients’ bodies, using a signature overlock stitch on raw seams. Considering that those clients included friends like Milla Jovovich, Gisele Bündchen and Courtney Love, it's not surprising that Stern’s project took on a life of its own.
Now the M.R.S. line (those are Stern's initials) has become a real business, complete with its first fashion show, held at the Barneys Co-Op store in Soho. The designer presented her pastel-toned collection in a tableau vivant inspired by How to Marry a Millionaire. Each outfit came with a title and a narrative: a combination of drawstring pants and pink blouse was dubbed “Active Arts and Leisure"; a soft top paired with short shorts was labeled "The Front Porch Relaxer"; and a short, frilly halter dress was titled "The Saturday Night Swisher," Stern wisely kept things light and brief by showing only 16 outfits, each with enough pert charm to keep its wearer smiling all through the spring.
