Up Close And Personal At Katie Gallagher’s Spring ’13 Presentation

Katie Gallagher's show at The Standard gave us the weird feeling that often accompanies these standing-room-only presentations. Getting so close to the models that you can see every single detail of their skin is eerie — but luckily for the designer (a friend and R29 favorite), the clothes were meticulously crafted enough to distract us from the slight awkwardness of being so close to tall, fine-boned strangers.

The collection, magnanimously titled "Everything Is Forever," featured the designer's usual 50 shades of neutral (forgive the reference), with smoky-gray chiffon complementing thick, beige fabrics in layer after layer of separates, dresses, and jackets. And yet still, somehow, the ensembles managed to be sexy — with skin showing in unexpected places and spot-on drapery that manages to flatter the figure without re-shaping or dominating it. Paired with updos by hairstylist Cesar Ramirez that were at once messy and refined, it was a chic downtown girl's dream wardrobe.

And, of course, we can't leave you without mentioning the jewelry. Oh, the jewelry! Brooklyn designer Megan Isaacs provided multi-purpose filigree, handpieces, earpieces, and give-us-a-piece-of-that ornaments threatened to steal the show (as did musician Ella Joyce Buckley). All told, the clothing has the rare honor of holding up to close (like, see-your-goosebumps-close) scrutiny.