Rubin and Chapelle Spring/Summer 2013

Rubin and Chapelle debuted their Spring 2013 collection at the Greene Naftali Gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.  With gorgeous views of the Hudson River, the barren setting was the perfect backdrop for the simple and elegant clothes.

This season’s collection was inspired by designers Sonja Rubin and Kip Chapelle travels to exotic tropical locations. From Fire Island and the Virgin Islands, the ready to wear line imitates the breeziness and soft touch of these vacation hotspots.

Kaitlin Christy for WSN

Colors for the resort wear ranged from tropical ocean blue to buttery almond. Rubin and Chapelle experimented with various textures of fabric including silk crepes, satins, and water resistant microfiber stretch.  This fabric blocking added to the elegance of the beachwear, making it easily transferable from day to night.

Notably, the designers created a “double dress,” adding slip detailing into the side panels of the garments.  While most of the fabrics flowed like water around the models, Rubin and Chapelle added sexy finishes like corset boning and belting along with girdle jerseys to add structure and make the dresses flatter a woman’s body.

Kaitlin Christy for WSN

For the presentation, the models’ had their hair pulled back into lose ponytails and chignons with minimal makeup.  They wore casual strappy shoes paired with thin woven, tight socks and square aviator sunglasses.

Though the Rubin and Chapelle brand was founded in 1997, the clothes along with their audience has expanded immensely and celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba have been seen in these beautiful high end designs.

Juliana Kracov is a contributing writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.