Love is in the air today, at least so far. My busy Valentine’s Day started off with a wrapped box left for me on the kitchen table from my husband—a vintage locket with a tiny note in it to keep me powering through the fashion month.
The first show was 9:30 A.M.: Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti. She was on trend by giving her looks a tougher edge than we normally see from her. On the runways, I’ve seen a lot of this very strong-willed girl whose message is “Don’t mess with me.” Goddess or demoness, and nowhere in-between. She is—as George Bush put it so eloquently—she is “The Decider.” But Alberta gave her looks her very special touch. There were black leather coats, but the leather was soft, and they were tailored and belted to emphasize a feminine form. Strict and starched high collars were eased with a discreet floral detail at the top that was easy to miss, but it completely altered the message once a glimpse was captured. Alberta always puts love into her work. Sure, It’s an old-fashioned word, but I am holding out hope that love will work its way into the cutting edge today! —Alexis Bryan Morgan, ELLE Fashion Director