Despite her reputation for lounging in Ibiza more or less year-round, the Matthew Williamson girl is actually a world traveler. For pre-fall, the designer imagined her in an alpine forest. Brrr—but the more things change, the more they stay the same. To face the chilly slopes, la femme Williamson just slips a chunky coyote coat or a fox-trimmed parka over her usual finery. Even in the woods, you never know when you'll need a one-shoulder draped cocktail frock, an MW specialty.
So, party people, breathe easy. There's plenty for you here. But also some cute options to take you from the dance floor to the daytime. A series of boxy, boyish cropped peacoats, available in responsible taupe or funky citrine, were properly cute. A few variations on the ski sweater, in a multicolored Fair Isle-ish marled wool, spoke to the alpine theme. And of course, it wouldn't be a Williamson show without a little high drama at the end. Here, it came feathered: a nude frock dissolved into shredded chiffon and ostrich plumes, and a gold-sequined minidress—of the sort Christophe Decarnin has made a signature at Balmain—into vivid teal wisps.
