Jill Stuart's rock girlfriend takes beach holiday

NEW YORK (AP) — Jill Stuart had rock chicks on holiday in mind for her edgy but girly spring collection shown Saturday at New York Fashion Week.

Caftans, micro-minis and teeny shorts with tunics came mostly in the requisite black and white for a beachy yet chic-y vibe.

The designer said in a backstage interview that she had just returned from Patmos in Greece when inspiration struck, though this Stuart girl is a rock girlfriend of yore.

"I was thinking what they should be wearing on this great holiday, or what they'd be wearing back in 1971 and in the south of France," she said.

There was plenty for New York streets, too, including a little black dress in black crepe with black lace.

"You can look like a rock star girlfriend on holiday in New York," Stuart offered.

For a time, Stuart's girl had gone uptown, but this collection was all rock 'n' roll.

Lace embellishment adorned risque, sheer chest panels and a pale blue color showed off flouncy pleats in short dresses and skirts. Stuart opted for restraint in the number of leather pieces, mixing in just a few in black.

She had fun with necklines and backs, from plunging or barely there to cutout. She attached puffy lace short sleeves to one black leather dress.

Circles of black-and-white lace embellishment covered full-skirted mini dresses and one maillot fit for the French Riviera.

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Samantha Critchell in New York contributed to this report.

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