Fashion

Photography by Stephanie Loy Son

Go inside Roksanda Ilincic’s bag »

There are a few things you can safely assume about a designer just by looking at their stuff. And in the case of London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic, you can figure this: She’s arty. Between the inspiration behind her Spring 2013 collection (an Opposites Day combo of Niki de Saint Phalle and Josef Albers) and Fall 2013’s fabric play (she blended baby pink PVC and taffeta on evening coats and used laminated lace on dresses), she’s a regular renaissance girl. You can also figure she’s ladylike inclined, given her consistent leanings towards dresses, collared coats and embellished eveningwear). One thing, however, that you (or at least I) couldn’t have known, is how breathtaking she is to behold IRL. I met the Serbian-born beauty last month when she was in town at The Room at Hudson’s Bay and was completely confounded at first glance. The violet eyed, porcelain-skinned, raven-haired designer is over six feet in heels. She’s the perfect model for her clothing, (she wore the opening look from her spring collection during daytime press interviews and this dress from fall for dinner later that night at the buzzy Bent restaurant) as is the similarly slender Duchess of Cambridge, who has worn her dresses in the past. “It’s a huge privilege and such honour and to have somebody like her wearing my dresses. I’m just really, truly honoured I must say,” she raved. To boot, she carries a beautiful purse—a purple satin clutch from her own collection that mirrors the effects of Mary Poppins’ bag. So, as if this ado hasn’t enticed you enough, have a look for yourself.
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