All photos by Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com, via Style.com.
Tibi designer Amy Smilovic described her fall 2012 collection as “the nineties meet the sixties.” And while that simplification might have left some show-goers wary, what came down the runway felt fresh, inspired, and wonderfully wearable. The palette was appropriately autumnal, featuring dark maroon, forest green, grays, blacks, and a pop of cobalt blue. Most notable, however, were the textures ranging from tweed on a slim-cut cropped suit, to skirts and a jacket in heavy polyurethane that felt like a wink to diner booth upholstery from the sixties (a wonderful reference, if that was Smilovic’s intention). The bonded knit and wool jacquard sweatshirts were very cozy-cool, and the billowing ankle-length skirts were a clear nod to the designer’s love of the 90s.
In a bold departure from previous collections, Smilovic showed only separates, no dresses this season (though a few T-shirt/skirt combos could have passed as such). She has been shifting the brand in a new direction over the course of the last few seasons, towards a look that is more urban-sophisticate and less girly-girl. She was one of the first designers to tap mega-blogger of the moment Leandra Medine (The Man Repeller) to style and promote her Spring 2011 collection. Her Spring 2012 campaign hitting newsstands now, features Julia Sarr-Jamois an editor at Wonderland magazine and a fixture on the street-style blog circuit. The campaign was styled by Swedish blogger turned designer/stylist/editor Elin Kling. Smilovic has found a comfortable new groove, her customers – including those young blogging arbiters of style – seem delighted with the results.
