Sally LaPointe Fall 2014

Sally LaPointe’s aesthetic has always hinged on futuristic, urban samurai warrior meets goth goddess, a point of view that has worked. (Hey, she has dressed Lady Gaga.) However, this season LaPointe has extended her particular signature to include looks that are more wearable for many consumers matched with an aesthetic that is more chic and sophisticated.

Don’t be mistaken that LaPointe’s urban samurai warrior has moved on to greener pastures; not indeed!! That signature look was still evident for fall 2014, especially in LaPointe’s version of the bomber jacket. (And in her case the ivory amazon Pirarucu fish skin bomber jacket was to die for!!)

Still, LaPointe’s fall 2014 collection demonstrates that she has found her stride and is now able to successfully marry her signature point of view with an aesthetic that is more consumer-friendly. Her inspiration for this outing was Charles Bukowski’s  poem ”Bluebird” with references from the poem infused in her collection, especially evident in the navy blue and rich blue bird color themes. LaPointe also connected emotionally with Bukowski’s poem by juxtaposing the hard against the soft.

Like other designers this season, LaPointe combined fur with leather and silk wool, though more successfully than most. Where most designers this season seemed as though they were using fur as an extra embellishment to add a bit more oomph to the collection, with LaPointe, the combination of textures and fabrics seemed an organic reflection of her own specific point of view.

Standouts in this collection, just to name a few and there were many, was the cognac cashmere wool and golden fox turtleneck sweater with black double face georgette tuxedo trouser, the black silk wool degrade gown with hand-beaded applique, and the black Amazon Pirarucu fish skin bomber jacket, black lambskin and viscose stretch crepe skirt.

—William S. Gooch