Monday, February 22, 2010

In review: Calpurnia Peach Spring 2010 line

[Originally published at Vita.mn]

Local fashion darlings Calpurnia Peach showed their Spring 2010 line Sunday afternoon with a private, salon-style presentation at their Northeast studio. Co-designer Luci Kandler introduced the nine-piece collection with a sunny enthusiasm, saying the collection was inspired by "a new twist on lace." Accordingly, many pieces in the collection were punctuated with an oversized, Victorian-styled lace print that was delightfully modern. The melon-pink, grey, and turquoise line featured Calpurnia Peach's signature girly details - bows, pleats, and ruffles - while incorporating body-conscious and loosely-fitting looks alike.


An easy-fitting melon top paired with a pencil skirt in shades of gray was chic, wearable, and showed the duo is more than a one-trick pony of a line. The melon dress was another strong piece, tempering the girls' trademark girlish femininity via bow and pleated details with origami-esque construction. A simple turquoise print dress was sweet without being saccharine - easily something a girl would want in her closet some summer.

The show wasn't without its missteps - namely when the designers seem out of their element. The kimono-sleeve shirt and legging combo seemed uninspired. For one, leggings should never be worn as pants, and secondly, leggings just seem a bit 2008 (and unnecessary) at this point, and the bows at the ankles aren't selling me on the idea.


But it's a minor complaint when compared to the collection as a whole. Its latest collection show Calpurnia Peach to be retaining its girlish, whimsical aesthetic while offering an increasingly sophisticated, focused vision. The collection will be available at Design Collective in Minneapolis and Picky Girl in St. Paul.

[Images by Lauren Gantner]

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