Sue Stemp Soho Grand Hotel February 3, 2007 Written by Bob Bland Photographed by Katherin Wermke

After witnessing how much fun British designer Sue Stemp had backstage during the show, I can see why the audience for her Fall 2007 collection was filled with fiercely loyal friends and admirers. Held on the second floor of the Soho Grand, Stemp’s show included exuberant pre- and post-show receptions, and the bar area opened up into an intimate runway for the presentation itself.

The collection was entitled, “The Girl in the Golden Atom,” a reference to a 1920’s cult novel by Ray Cummings. Stemp’s prints were clearly influenced by the Art Deco movement, and her sweet, flirty shapes channeled the “…downtown decadence and underground glamour of New York City,” according to the designer.

Sweet pointelle knits, printed chiffons and burnout velvets were wrapped into romantic shapes suitable for the statuesque and the petite alike. Besides her signature kalidoscopic prints, Stemp relied on black, plum, turquoise and copper to compose her color palette. Standout pieces included a cashmere v-neck sweater with a clever turtleneck attachment, as well as a silk satin playsuit embellished with Swarovski crystals. Her fashion roots designing for London-based label Ghost were evident in this collection, which touched on all the important trends for Fall 2007.

For more information on Sue Stemp and store locations near you, go to her website at www.suestemp.com.