By Aneesah Woolfolk for Global Fashion News
Marissa Webb is only in her third season, but she continues to present a clear and focused view of her highly defined personal aesthetic. The former designer for J. Crew, honed her skills as Head of Women’s Design, creating high-fashion looks that are accessible to the modern woman. With a keen eye on the trends and an instinct for what women really want to wear, Marissa delivered a spot-on collection of military and moto inspired jackets and jeans that served as the building block
Webb describes herself backstage as a tomboy in a tutu, which is a part of her design aesthetic that translated quite literally into one of her ensembles. A slim tailored black shirt and tie, worn over a frilly black tulle skirt, was nipped in by an army green corset trimmed with strips of black tulle stretched across the front. It is playfully combined looks like this, that really defined the collection.
Webb toughened things up a bit with a hint of military and motorcycle jackets and pants with leather insets, but her strongest pieces were her ultra-light tweeds. Each individual piece is able to stand up on it’s own, or can be combined with a myriad of others from her collection. A dainty black lace, top with sleeves that reached nearly to the elbows is layered over a sleeveless black tank and skirt. The skirt in gray tweed was slashed asymmetrically from waist to hem, and inset with a black leather panel, creating the look of an angled wrap-around skirt.
Webb’s garments also have the unique quality, that isn’t always easy to achieve, which is the seamless transition from work to play, be it a gallery opening or cocktails. Webb uses zippers that can be pulled up or down, and layers that can be removed entirely to completely restyle a look. One such ensemble, a mottled gray tweed, sleeveless mini-dress with zippered vents unzipped all the way up to the hip was left open to reveal a pair of buttery-soft, black leather shorts. Shorts were prominent in the collection and Webb elevated them with clever styling your boss wouldn’t look at you sideways for wearing to the office. Rendered in black leather, gray tweed, and red silk, they can easily be styled for work or an evening out on the town.
The shoes, which Webb designed herself, were incredible five inch stilettos in black, silver, and moss green leather with a reflector stripe running down the back, and multiple straps that wound around the ankle. These vampy pointed heels gave a wink and a nod to the bondage-y trend that has been steadily seeping into fashion. This was confirmed with the final look. A simple black, sleeveless, cotton jersey floor length dress, cinched with a black leather, corset and harness that met in the back with a buckle.
For spring 2014, Marissa Webb found the sweet spot between high-fashion and great individual pieces without sacrificing style. Her collection is a translation of urban street styles with an edginess that can be mixed and matched regardless of the level of fashion literacy. She offered something special for every girl, which ran the gamut between tough and edgy, to delicate and girly. Marissa Webb is a designer to watch!
