Fashion Feature: Sally LaPointe Fall 2012

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, the macabre tale of a man whose sudden change into an insect leads to isolation, neglect and finally death, may seem like a bizarre inspiration for a Fall collection, but for designer Sally LaPointe it made perfect sense.

image:S. Whittle for Style Wylde 

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde 

"The story really grabbed me in a way that stuck with me." LaPointe told SW backstage before the show."But I didn't want it to be too literal, there won't be any wings, or weird bugs flying around. But I did want to tell the whole story, I wanted to create a rich narrative. Metamorphosis is my story for this season but it's very subtle, there are little hints, texture and sequins that I worked with to be representational of that story." 

image:S.Whittle for Style WyldeAs the show got underway just a short while later, the Kafka touches were noticeable, but not gimmicky, just as LaPointe promised.  Flowing coats in winged silhouettes, sleek leather accents, laser cut lace, and a surprising sparkle tied the collection together as the color palette gradually shifted from pale ivory, to deep blue, to creamy brown, to  darkened burgundy and finally to a deep matte black.

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

By far the most mature and defined point of view we've seen from LaPointe since her debut at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week just three seasons ago, the collection seemed to also represent the artistic metamorphosis of its designer from fledgling art-school girl to bona fide force in fashion, a story that will undoubtedly have a much, much, happier ending than it did for Kafka's character. 

For more information on Sally LaPointe visit the designer's official web home, and for more images from the Fall 2012 collection check back with Style Wylde in the coming weeks. 

 image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde