- Getty Images
Vivienne Tam moved away from her signature East-meets-West aesthetic with a spring 2011 collection that was more beachy and bohemian than tailored and elegant.
The show opened promisingly with a series of crochet and lace garments in muted beiges and soft ivories. Wearable, ’60s-inspired shift dresses and ’70s-inspired bell-sleeves were unassuming, while a relaxed, ankle-length drawstring pant in striking cream lace was covetable. Light-weight denim played prominently in the collection and was used most successfully in Asian-influenced jackets and vests featuring mandarin collars and silk, frog-buttons.
The third pass was a series of nondescript ethnic prints in blue, green, and red separates worn together indiscriminately and accessorized with chunky jewelry and appliqués that seemed crafty, not artistic. A silk, gypsy blouse was attractive and silk bubble pants that knotted at the ankle were fresh in a variety of patterns, but the duo of tank dresses overlaid with sheer, pink lace tunics looked dangerously similar to grandma’s tablecloth.
Overall, the majority of loose silhouettes seemed best suited for the beach, and details like handkerchief hems and crochet-necked halter tops came off as unoriginal, even sloppy.
- Getty Images
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