It’s only fitting that Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled Lafayette 148 New York’s stunning new spring collection the day after spring arrived.  Edward Wilkerson, design director for the brand (which is a top seller in Sarasota), personally came to town on Tuesday, March 22 to meet fans, present the line and even help customers with styling issues.  You could say Sarasota is one of Wilkerson’s rites of spring—he’s been a frequent visitor this time of year. 


That’s because spring/summer fabrics and colors are so perfectly in tune with Sarasota’s fashion psyche. “Sarasota is about casual living, and our clothes have sportiness, yet they’re sophisticated and refined, conducive to both the weather and the great variety of colors—vacation colors—that women are drawn to here.  In the North it’s still cool in mid-spring and those customers are still wearing lightweight wool.  But Sarasota is ready for natural cottons, linens and floral prints.  Here, spring flowers bloom earlier, and women feel it’s time for a change [of wardrobe],” he says. 

Wilkerson tends to design with a more romantic feel in the spring, and every collection is inspired by his travels. Trips to Africa, Indonesia, Morocco and countless European cities have been reflected in his designs each season.  Spring 2011’s theme is based on a recent trip to Barcelona. “I start with a theme and try to carry it through from beginning to end,” he says. “For St. Tropez, every garment has a touch of St. Tropez; for Barcelona, I’ve been influenced by the beauty of the architecture, the Dali and Gaudi museums, Picasso, Velazquez—even the way they speak [the Catalan language]. 


“The dance, the music is so inspiring.  My spring collection is a blend of classic American sportswear with Latin romance and the flair of Spain,” he explains. Look for hot pink flowers, feathers and fringe, Flamenco pants (the wide leg is the new go-to pant, he says), and ruffled petticoat hems.  They're all subtly done and deftly incorporate Wilkerson's own Barcelona-inspired details into clothes that intuitively also reflect global fashion trends. 


But back to the Sarasota demographic. Who could resist the opportunity to ask for baby boomer fashion tips?  One of the reasons Lafayette 148 is so appealing is they use an American cut, designed to fit Missy sizes, but also petites and women’s sizes.  “We cut from size zero to 24. Not every style works for every body type, but I try to take everyone’s size into consideration,” Wilkerson says.  In contrast, lines that are considered “contemporary” or “European” in fit are very young in styling and cut for much thinner bodies. 

Wilkerson’s talent is the ability to adapt directional style to that Missy body type. “If you want to look older, dress younger—it’s a sure bet,” he quips. “We need to shift as we get older, because we can no longer wear the same things.  There’s a fine line, a balance, that we try to achieve so that mothers and daughters can wear our clothes, and each with age appropriate style,” he explains.
 

For more, call or visit Saks Fifth Avenue, 100 Southgate Plaza, Sarasota (941) 634-5300.