Muse by Matthew Williamson

>> Matthew Williamson has been making the rounds, promoting his new namesake Rizzoli book, but next week, he says: "I’m going on holiday! I’m going to the Maldives. I genuinely really need a break. [I]’ve been flat-out for a good year and a half working on various projects." That includes his new diffusion line, Muse. So will we be seeing that on the runway when it launches next season, a la Zac Posen's Z Spoke? "Oh, God no. You’re making me draw my champagne at the thought! Not initially, anyway. We’ll have agents selling it, and we’re hoping it will have kind of a global presence, and then who knows? We’ll see how it goes." [DFR]

Come Fall 2011, Matthew Williamson fans will be able to score his fantastic prints at lower prices. Muse by Matthew Williamson — the working name of the line — will range from $474 for a day dress to $790 for evening gowns. "It's for a woman who wants feel-good clothing, and it will have the same aesthetic, DNA and surface signatures as the main line," said Joseph Velosa, the designer's business partner. Look at it like the younger sister, much like Marc by Marc Jacobs is to Marc Jacobs.

The administrators of the manufacturing group they will work with have nothing but praise for Matthew: "His own creative ability, together with the highly identifiable brand DNA of his main-line brand, has, without any doubt, created an innovative luxury concept in the fashion market, which we now believe is ready for a global diffusion line." The plan is to create two collections per year. Are you interested or is it still too pricey?

>> Matthew Williamson is prepping to unveil his first diffusion collection — working title Muse by Matthew Williamson — for Fall 2011. "It will be womenswear but all will be revealed in due course — watch this space," Williamson said. "It just felt right — we've been here for 13 years and it's time to take the label further. We're ready for it now." Joseph Velosa, Williamson's business partner and the brand's CEO, added: “We’re confident, the identity of the first line is solid, and we feel like there are very clear parameters for a diffusion line.” Jeffry Aronsson, founder and chairman of the Aronsson Group, which has a stake in Matthew Williamson, is said to have conceived the idea.

Velosa sees Muse as a “younger sister” to Matthew Williamson's signature collection, meant to sell alongside Marc by Marc Jacobs and See by Chloe. Prices will range from 300 pounds ($474) for a day dress to 500 pounds ($790) for evening pieces. Williamson will design two Muse collections annually; as for what it will look like, the designer replied: "That's a good question, it's still being worked on at the moment. I'm just a workaholic — I just needed even more to do." Velosa elaborated: “It’s for a woman who wants feel-good clothing, and it will have the same aesthetic, DNA and surface signatures as the main line."