sophie albou

The Paul & Joe girl doesn't conform to the whimsies of fashion trends. Instead — and this was evident from the moment Lindsey Wixson took her showstopping opening turn on the runway — she marches to the beat of her own nonchalant sartorial drum. For Fall 2013 that meant a daywear mashup of masculine tailoring in slouchy, feminine fits: big coats with deconstructed shoulders in cozy patchworked fur, wide-leg "Charlie Chaplin" pants in beige wool, and superluxe sweaters in chunky cable knits. But it isn't all business with the Paul & Joe girl; she also knows how to have fun once the sun sets. Thus, there were metallic brocade suits with slim ankle pants, a gold lamé maxi dress worn under a smart little jacket, and — our favorite — a wool skater dress with jewel-encrusted stripes. Just the thing to do the trick.

Paul & Joe designer Sophie Albou crafted a collection that made us yearn for the carefree days of Summer. Marked by a warm palette of colorful prints, then juxtaposed against a crisp set of collared white blouses, tapered trousers, and long tomboyish shorts, it felt all at once beachy, youthful, and very chic. What caught our eye most, though — because let's face it, it was a very pretty lineup — were the oversize two-tone knit tops made for a chilly evening, the baseball jackets reworked with pale blue railroad stripes and floral-printed shoulder details, and the silver metallic minidress that was equal parts formal and laid-back against a sporty denim jacket. This is the kind of Spring '13 collection that never tried to be anything but playful and sweet, and sometimes that's all you really need when constructing your warm-weather wardrobe.

For Paul & Joe's Fall 2012 collection, Sophie Albou showed a luxe menswear-inspired line filled with louche trousers, baggy overcoats, pajama suiting, and plenty of feminine touches to temper the mood. Wearability was key; cropped bomber coats were paired with skinny pants, oversized leopard-print trousers were styled with slouchy sweaters, and printed sheath dresses were tempered with long and lean tailored blazers. Meanwhile, a lineup of luxurious fur coats, sheer lace tops, and velvet separates added an opulent touch to every look. Basically, we'd like to get our hands on every piece. More details from the collection below.

• Trends: Baggy trousers, structured overcoats,
• Colors: Red, brown, green, black, gray, blue.
• Key Piece: We loved the baggy printed trousers and printed sequin tops.
• Accessories: Leather and metallic belts, oversized clutches, printed pumps, point-toe boots, cuff bracelets.
• Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave effortless style like Elizabeth Olsen and Olivia Palermo.

>> Sophie Albou kept it classic for Paul & Joe Fall 2012. Shapes were tailored and menswear-tinged, and offered plenty of unfussy appeal. There were slouchy trousers, boxy coats, patterned knits, and — for kicks — a pair of cigarette pants in leopard-printed velvet.