The dramatic, minimalist setting at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center provided the perfect backdrop to launch the Fall/Winter 2012 line of Houghton, a new RTW collection designed by Katharine Polk, on February 9 at New York Fashion Week. Soft hued clothes in white, tan, cream and blush juxtaposed against red-lipped models accentuated Polk’s sophisticated streamline creations. Each piece had an effortless flow that exuded a sense of romance intertwined with a modern sensibility.
Polk’s line honored fashion icons ranging from Katherine Hepburn to Bianca Jagger. The single-breasted floor-length coat with fabric-covered buttons, featured at the presentation, is aptly named Pattie and suggests the songwriter’s (Pattie Smith) bohemian style. The designer’s interplay of different fashion decades is charming and chic. Polk’s wide-leg pant, short swing dress, and full midi skirt demonstrate how various eras can be effectively combined to create a new, unified approach.
Polk’s attention to detail is evident in this softly tailored line. Luxurious fabrics add another layer of elegance to her inventive pieces such as the fitted gown with hand burnt palettes and feathers on 4 ply silk.
A graduate of LA’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Polk began her career at Badgley Mischka. She currently serves as the U.S. spokesperson for the international non-profit organization Designers Against Aids.