The Gramercy Players' Club was a perfectly warm and inviting setting for Alice Ritter's Fall 2007 Presentation. I made my way past the wrapping banister of the historic brownstone up to marble fixtures, plush furnishings, and the awaiting roaring fire. The townhouse turned actor's club was just the escape I needed from another bitterly cold winter afternoon in New York. The second floor parlour room's rich textures of mahogany and velvet were illuminated by a chandelier and stained glass panels. Empire sofas and tufted chairs cried out to comfort me and the piano sonatas playing in the background put me the perfect frame of mind to view Ms. Ritter's Edwardian-influenced collection.

Ms. Ritter's finely tailored craftsmanship took center stage

This was a very romantic collection of fitted, cropped jackets with gathered sleeves and flounce back, alongside crisp, button-front shirts and dresses that Alice Ritter has become known for. The palette ranged from dark shades like black and grey to richer hues of olive, purple, and caramel. Employing a mixture of fabrics from heavy cottons and twills to wools and silks gave way to a blended silhouette of softened structure. From a perfectly elegant silk blouson top with accordion butterfly arms to a simple silk chemise with a tiered ruffle bottom to loosely fitted jumper-style patterned dresses with cinched bottoms, this collection's focus was on the charmingly ethereal and romantically inclined woman.

Signature feminine details lead the design direction here

My favorite pieces were: a taupe cropped jacket with pleated peplum; a white blouse with a dramatic pleated collar; a caramel silk blouse with a necktie and wool trouser; a coffee silk windowpane banded dress; a shawl collared herringbone coat; and a purple silk blouse with bow detail and black cigarette pant.

The collection was punctuated beautifully by delicate pleats and ruffles

According to her bio, the French native bought her first sewing machine nine years ago, moved to New York, and decided to follow her passion to become a designer. 'I came from a traditional family where you studied to be a doctor or a lawyer,' admitted Ms. Ritter, who was an economics student in Paris. 'But I always loved fashion. As a child, I dressed up in treasures that I found in my grandparents' attic, like 19th century corsets, skirts, and capes. And I lived for my French Vogue, fascinated by pictures of couture from Yves St. Laurent and Lagerfeld at Chanel.'

The classic windowpane print was softened in silk

Determined to succeed in design, the young designer tore apart vintage clothes to learn pattern-making, read as much as she could about fashion, and took night classes to learn sketching and other design elements. She was soon making one-of-a-kind pieces for a Brooklyn boutique, which sold out within a week of arrival! Last year, she sold her collection to Barneys New York and Colette in Paris. The French designer has described her style as 'feminine, romantic and bold. It's a mix between the dream of couture I had as a kid growing up in France and everyday practicality. I like clothes with spirit and a touch of humor."

Even masculine tweeds are imbued with a feminine mystique

Images provided courtesy of Felle Photography, for additional images and information, please visit, http://fellephotography.com/

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