Since she launched a new atelier space last season, Sally LaPointe has been focused on a more “couture-like” design approach. The one-on-one time she’s been getting with VIP clients has helped boost sales, and has been great market research for her ready-to-wear; as a result her collections are becoming tighter and more purposeful.
While LaPointe herself is all about the powerful and the punchy, she’s also paying attention to her customers’ desires. “I’m honing in on what I do best, which is statement occasion-wear, but also being mindful that our customer buys pre-fall for summer,” she explained. “I made sure that everything was super-light including the fabrication and colors.”
The brand’s draped one-shoulder tops do particularly well among brides; this season’s version comes in a new soft powder blue. Its floor-length cascading drapes have a princess feel; they’re styled with the brand’s signature feather pants for added edge. Sequins are a staple in every collection, but this season, LaPointe lined her party dresses with mesh instead of the usual viscose to keep them summer-ready. Other creative choices were more personal, like a series of looks featuring a snakeskin pattern that symbolizes the animal’s adaptability to camouflage itself in its environment: a fitting message to represent the LaPointe’s own design ethos.