California Apparel News

Sarah Scott appreciates fine lines and feminine, unfettered silhouettes. Her Sarah Scott labelwas conceived under Scott x Scott, the Los Angeles–based lifestyle brand whose philosophy honors familial allegiance and hard work.

Scott x Scott is an extension of B:Scott, the urban-inspired, tailored menswear line founded in 2009 by Brandon Scott, Sarah Scott’s brother.

“In this year alone, we launched Sarah Scott; One of One, a bespoke accessory line; and a luxury men’s sportswear line [called] The Odds,” Sarah Scott said.

The Sarah Scott label is the contemporary women’s offering under the Scott x Scott umbrella. The collection was created for the 9-to-5, career-driven woman who may want to step out for an evening cocktail. The debut collection was modeled, in part, by “women who are strong, confident and sophisticated—entrepreneurial women looking for transitional, comfortable clothing,” Scott said.

The 16-piece Fall 2012 collection features a range of tops—including cap-sleeved, lightweight tees, silk and cotton buttons-downs encrusted with “chromatic-collared tips and elongated front and back plackets”—and deep-V tanks and dresses that create a slimming effect, she added.

Scott eschews prints and froufrou pieces and focuses, instead, on ease and functionality. Her garments feature a combination of warm autumn hues—eggplant, emerald, rust, stark grays and blacks—in a textured array of silk, rayon, leather and wool.

“The fabrics I chose are all meant to accentuate not only the structure of the garments but the structure of the body, as well,” the designer said. “As women, we have so many hang-ups about our bodies. I want to create clothing that highlights a woman’s curves.”

With a background in home and product design, Scott is one who knows how to dress both a living space and a woman. “To me, designing a home is much like designing a collection—in the sense that each piece of furniture is like a garment, each fixture is like a trim, and each blueprint is like a tech pack. Just like interior design, an inch can go a mile, and one wrong proportion can throw off a whole room or garment,” she said.

That attention to fine detail is evident in the collection. The wide pockets on the leather shorts transform into a belt loop for a complimentary fit, and the leather moto leggings have a similar flattering finish. The brocade-inspired, palazzo trousers are trimmed with leather tuxedo detailing. Scott’s festive frocks include a form-fitting leather dress with a heart-shaped upper bodice that demurely drops to the knees, including a hugging back zipper.

“I want women to act confident, look understatedly chic and feel a bit provocative when they wear my clothes,” she said.

Scott’s outerwear is engineered for a woman who enjoys taking risks with both construction and style. The two-toned “Varsity Blazer” has a wool body and leather sleeves like a traditional varsity jacket but features a blazer collar. The multi-functional, architectural-inspired “Two-Way Utility Jacket” has a detachable coattail that can transform an outfit from day to night.

The Sarah Scott collection doesn’t stop with apparel. The line also includes leather handbags with magnetic-front closures; zipper belts with spike details; and necklaces featuring religious icons, silver- and gold-plated hearts, coffins, and crosses.

Scott named her debut collection “Stranger I Came,” after her grandmother’s autobiography, which describes her transition from Berlin to New York. “The story of my grandmother is much like that of any modern, fashionable woman of her time or ours—acclimating into American society while maintaining a powerful presence and sense of style,” she said. “My grandmother has always been a style icon to me. She always looked incredible no matter what the occasion. My story as a designer is much like that of my grandmother’s. In my first collection, I am coming into the fashion industry as somewhat of a stranger, trying to create something that is larger than me or my ideas.”

Retail prices for Sarah Scott jackets start at $150 for the “Varsity Blazer” and go up to $420 for the “Two-Way Utility Jacket.” Bottoms retail from $130 for “Liquid Leggings” and go up to $600 for the leather moto leggings.

The Sarah Scott Fall 2012 collection debuts at the Feb. 13–15 run of the Workroom trade show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

For more information, email sarah@sarahscottdesign.com or shannon@thecloque.com.—Sarah Wolfson