Philosophy is the playful little sister of Alberta Ferretti's namesake collection. So while A.F. channeled Dior and Chanel and their favored Deauville for Resort, Philosophy's philosophy was more in line with Saint-Tropez and that echt Tropezienne, Brigitte Bardot. Maturity may await the Ferretti customer in time. But Philosophy's girls just want to have fun.
That's a good thing and, occasionally, a little less good. Some of the looks shown here were too cute by a quarter: gingham frocks and capri pants embroidered with flowers, say. But dressing à la Bardot offered opportunities to re-spin a few current trends. Marinière stripes crisscrossed this way and that on dresses, pants, and even wedges; looks had lines going both horizontally and vertically for added kick. And if the floral-and-gingham section was a little too everything-and-the-kitchen-sink (make that kitchen tablecloth), other items mixed materials more effectively. Off-the-shoulder long dresses pieced print in with lace, and the "plain white tee" was a three-part assemblage of banded cotton, sequin, and lace. Not so plain. Neither was Bardot.
