Britney Spears’ “Overprotected,” boomed through the speakers at Ashley Williams’ intimate Soho show, a riff on female naiveté, and perhaps on Spears herself.
There were babydoll bodysuits with peter-pan collars and long, drapey dresses printed with cutesy bunnies, while bib collars were transformed into frills.
It was all feeling a little Lolita until halfway through the show when models appeared in slinky jersey dresses and miniskirts with a 3D gun print. They also wore cropped jackets with padded plates of armor.
“The main inspiration was exploring the different parts of yourself: how your emotional states and frames of mind change the way you engage with the world,” said Williams, adding that she pulled back on prints in favor of focusing on silhouettes.
Williams certainly has her finger on the pulse. Anti-heroines are having a renaissance among 20-somethings right now, and this collection’s eclectic mix of sweet and sexy should prove popular among that crowd.
