The Dark Side

A suitable cross between high fashion and the spontaneity of vintage and downtown dressing is harder to come by in younger New York collections than one would think. Eventide, a womenswear collection designed by Sarah Spratt and Christian Stroble, presents the antidote with its third collection for fall.

Key looks in the collection offer the means for young women to look polished without being precocious. "We gave a little frill and flounce to most of our silhouettes. The most exaggerated look we have is a dress in which both the sleeves and hemline have matching bubbled finishes," says Spratt. This design is one of three black frocks in the collection, each of which are quiet with the exception of an ultra-feminine detail; one is a prairie-length witch-inspired dress with a sculpted keyhole neckline; the other, a knee-length number with a column of flirtatious bows down the front. Fabrics are just as alluring, ranging from cashmere jersey to silk georgette.

The more flippant ideas in the collection play up contrasting shapes and silhouettes, such as tapered wool trousers shown with a tunic and a short vest, and one dress modeled after a jumper makes an impact in a burnt orange. It's fitting the collection's color spectrum is dark, since Eventide is the old English word for dusk. The designers cite the story of Sleepy Hollow and the films of Tim Burton and Alfred Hitchcock as inspirations.

Despite its clearly romantic point of view, the collection's versatility lends itself to the unpredictability of the modern woman's life. "We look back into history's closet to see how fashion has played an important role in people's lives," says Spratt. "For example, women of the 1920s broke the mold and paved the way for the modern day woman. In New York there are so many amazing women around all the time. Just a walk down the street or a ride on the subway can be inspiring."

Eventide's Sarah Spratt and Christian Stroble discover a spooky chic flair for fashion via Alfred Hitchcock, Sleepy Hollow, and the female form.