In reality, Alexandre Vauthier's ready-to-wear collection features more than double the looks shown here. This has nothing to do with overworking Lindsey Wixson and everything to do with ensuring the tightest edit. In the wake of Vauthier's well-received haute couture collection, ideas flowed steadily for this follow-up. While he is adamant that one is not a distillation of the other, there's no denying the likeness of the cutout gowns—which is a good thing. Surely more women should have access to Vauthier's original designs before the knockoffs start appearing. Sticking to the realm of racy, he proposed a suggestive anatomical motif of laser-cut suede atop second-skin tulle and an indisputably alluring décolleté design, in which cleavage was hemmed in by a W-shaped neckline and V-shaped straps.
Vauthier can easily shift gears and address daywear imperatives—papery stretch-leather pants, smocked suede tops, blousy blazers, fur-paneled varsity jackets, and satin utility jackets added up to a wardrobe for Bond girl aspirants. To round out the offering, he designed a wider range of jewelry made by Goossens, as well as accessories that benefited from his sleek, relatively restrained hardware. Vauthier sticks to a comfort zone that seems to be working in terms of red-carpet exposure and commercial distribution. But there are signs of a desire to break his own mold. Not shown here: a plaid silk-satin shirt, the cloth sourced from Holland & Sherry. For Vauthier, revamping his vamp might yield strong—and equally sexy—results.
