Ladies Who Lunch: Audrey Talbott Spring 2011 Collection

Audrey Talbott?, you ask.  You may not be familiar with this line, but I assure you that you will be.  Audrey Talbot was launched in 2002 as the women’s division of the successful menswear line, Robert Talbott, and has continued to grow and become a true lifestyle brand.

The founders of the Talbott labels, Robert and Audrey Talbott, began the Robert Talbott Tie Company in Carmel, California after transplanting themselves from a life in New York and Connecticut in 1950.  It is from these beginnings that the Audrey Talbott line has taken its inspiration: an East Coast sense of style and fashion married to a West Coast sense of a relaxed lifestyle.  This inspiration has been teamed up with the company’s dedication to the highest quality, both in construction and fabrics, something Robert and Audrey would never compromise on.

During Fashion Week in New York, I dropped into the Audrey Talbott showroom to see what was in store for Spring 2011.  The line is chock full of mix & match separates, dresses and jackets that are all completely in step with the trends for Spring.  The collection is broken up into five color groupings, with a color sensibility that makes it possible to easily wear pieces from one group with pieces from later groups.  Military greens, heathered grays, pinks, lavenders, khakis, linens and mochas flow seamlessly into navies, whites, pale blues, mangos, guavas, aquas and rosemary.

At least two luscious prints highlight each grouping perfectly and give an extra oomph of interest to them.  In addition to Dresses, skirts and blouses, the line uses these prints, as well as prints from the Robert Talbott tie collection, to create beautiful facings and turnbacks on many of the pieces in the collection.  I love that attention to detail, even if no one but myself knows its there, it still makes the garment feel even more special when wearing it.

While there are many knockouts in this collection (too many to mention without writing Gone With the Wind), a few beg to be be mentioned.  

The “OnTheGo” jacket, fits in perfectly with the military trend that will be continuing into next Spring, but in a subtle timeless way.  This jacket is a little more casual and can be worn looser or more fitted utilizing the drawstring waist and it has ample pockets, including a left top zippered pocket for your iPhone/iPod with a channel for ear phones. 

The “Tom” jacket mixes a structured jacket with the ease and drape of an unstructured jersey front/collar, bringing a more contemporary edge to the line. 

And a centerpiece in each group, the innovative “Itsy” skirt/dress.  This versatile piece can easily be worn as a chic and relaxed dress or it transforms itself into a great longer skirt.

Having seen this line progress over the last few years, I have to say that this is the strongest collection yet.  Fashionably chic yet extremely wearable, this is a  line that will appeal to women on both coasts and everywhere in between.

http://www.audreytalbott.com/

www.ladieswholunchtravel.com

Photos by Mdivani Monroe