The Lion's Roar: Resurrecting the Anne Klein Brand and Legacy

Charles Nolan, a self-confessed "Anne Klein admirer", and the designer hired to re-launch the house of Anne Klein, intends to "remain faithful" to the Coty Award winning designer's "legacy of separates dressing", and stated: "For me, Anne Klein has always been about great pieces that work together to express a woman's personality. My goal was to respect this legacy and interpret it for the now." If his Resort 2001 debut collection- which was shown informally at the company's West 42nd street showroom- is any indication, he is off to a promising start!
Hallmarks of the collection include 'the perfect jacket', which is 'at the heart of separates dressing', the 'essential blazer', 'boy meets girl' (the play of masculine versus feminine), and 'an abundance of pleats'- accordion pleats, wedding cake pleats, permanent pleats, and tennis skirt pleats- which show up on skirts, blouses, and even a bikini bottom.



Colors remain 'faithful' to Anne's legacy as well…neutrals like camel, black, and white, co-exist with lacquer red ('the classic Anne Klein color'), and vibrant shades like citron, viola, and rose, live in harmony with muted tones of cactus, cayman, and thyme.

The line has everything from natty tailored pantsuits, and crisp cotton button down shirts paired with double faced pants, to flirty black silk chiffon ( I loved the pleated 'Stevie' blouse and pleated skirt). Festive sequined striped tops worn with shantung pants, and bright cabana stripes paired with white nylon bikinis are perfect take-away items for that warm weather destination, while black leather (I liked the classic black leather pea coat) and furs (a black Russian broadtail pea jacket, and a white sheared mink bathrobe coat) solve the problem of being warm and looking chic anywhere at all.
But the real proof that the company intends to 'revive' the name and image of Anne Klein, is the resurrection of the lion's head- which had been the designer's trademark logo, and was in a '4 year hiatus'. It currently appears for resort in the form of diamante belt buckles, and will show up later in many different incarnations, including linings of coats, and soles of shoes.

Go to other recent reports: 'It's a Mod, Mod, Mod World!' Stripe It Rich! Better than Prozac! Have Bag...Will Travel! I Smell a Skunk!, Shining in the New Year, and What is Black and White and Available All Over?

table of contents