Walker’s Youthful Sophistication

‘Karen Walker pits arty school girls against working women for a youthful but ultra-sophisticated new fall collection,’ writes Olivia Fleming in The Daily Mail.  Walker’s fall 2013 collection is called New Rose. The inspiration comes from The Damned and Siouxsie Sue’s ‘post-punk tough kind of cuteness’, says The Mail. ‘The New Zealand-born designer, who has built her womenswear brand around a formula of quirky prints, man-style trousers and off-beat ruffles on blouses, decided to take a slightly rebellious detour for yesterday’s New York Fashion Week show. For the first time, her eclectic prints took a back seat and instead, a mixture of high-tech fabrics took center stage – wooly knitwear, flannel, angora, neoprene and tweed were harmoniously mixed with conviction through dresses, oversize sweaters, tunics and tulip-shaped coats with raw hems. Ms. Walker showed an ‘alternative view to prettiness’ that was equally as, if not more, compelling and covetable – basically, it was an instant upgrade to sophistication’ according to The Mail.