Vera Wang's ready-to-wear is synonymous with a sort of artsy dressiness, so her pre-fall collection of tailoring, structured outerwear, and body-hugging knits was something of a departure. "I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone," the designer said. But Wang seems quite assured working with these new categories. A boy blazer in charcoal wool twill with a double lapel in darker gray was coolly confident. If her client isn't quite ready to work a suit (the jacket was paired here with a short, sculpted skirt), Wang included plenty of the layerable lean basketball T-shirts and leggings she's long been known for. Black tinsel trim on hems and Mongolian lamb swatches on pockets or shoulders ensured that her parkas and anoraks looked signature, too. And despite the fact that she was focused mostly on daywear (retailers are looking for versatility and low cost per wear), she showed one of her most stunning evening looks in a long time. It was a tulle T-shirt dress with a swirl of multicolor paillettes, sequins, and beads on the front and simple black jersey on the back. It'll be expensive, but it'll be worth it.
