Ruffian F/W 09

Call me a dummy but I had never heard of Ruffian up until yesterday, when I found myself browsing Ruffian's  (designers: Brian Wolk & Claude Morais) past collections in part amazement, part admiration. Some of Wolk & Morais' previous collections weren't really my sort of flavor (think overly fringed heels, bohemian flow-y skirts, and schoolboy outfits with loosely knotted ties), but I respect them as designers for always testing the waters and using their many random inspirations (seventies punk, rebellious prep-school kids, Bob Dylan in the fifties, etc) to create fun, modern, and youthful collections. 

This season, all Ruffian models stomped down the runway donning what seemed to be a polka dot bodystocking- which were presented in the most flatteringly feminine manner... you know, without looking like some sort of gothic queen. Pieces such as tailored jackets with matching skirts, short lady-like dresses bursting with ruffles, satin bustiers, and jeweled corsets were layered over the pretty bodystockings. The pants were high-waisted, tapered above the ankle, and resembled the trousers I saw in a previous YSL collection which equals beautiful-ness in my book. 

I kind of really love Ruffian now and as scary as this may sound, I'm dying to try the whole "let's make a bodystocking look super sophisticated" ordeal.