New Brand Alert! THEYSKENS' THEORY

Olivier Theyskens (the Belgian-born "dark angel of Paris fashion") shot to stardom at 21 when Madonna wore his epic coat-dress to the 1998 Oscars. After stints at Rochas and Nina Ricci (wildly acclaimed but didn't stick - the “demicouture” pieces were too pricey), the designer at long last reemerged to unveil a capsule collection for Theory, the massively successful, quintessential working-woman label that’s never had a designer personality spearheading it - and he just might finally have found his footing.
"My vision was to make a wardrobe of cool clothes to wear if I was a cool girl", is how Theyskens describes Theyskens' Theory. Living up to the hype, the designer has delivered a parade that contains practically all those pieces you have searched for, but probably rarely found: work-appropriate clothes with that cool, contemporary, comfortable and sexy factor.

Pieces from Theyskens’ Theory primarily use premium fabrics and display a clear knack for sharp, imaginative tailoring. The collection also retails for over 20% more than Theory’s main collection (still a fraction of what his designs once went for at Rochas and Nina Ricci), but it’s been such a sublime hit --customers reportedly blew through the Spring delivery at Bloomingdale's-- that Theyskens has now been appointed artistic director of the entire company.


Theyskens’ urbane take on the blouse features a notched back collar - a technique which gives the piece a unique shrugged shape. Worn with a demure camisole, there's nothing more posh. Then push up the tapered sleeves and loosely tuck in over skinny combat, denim or smartly tailored trousers. (RRP US$285)