NEW YORK, Sep 22, 2010 / FW/ — Unveiled last Thursday in New York by Francisco Costa, Women’s Creative Director of the brand, the Calvin Klein Collection Spring 2011is a statement of sultriness and sexiness.

It’s American sportswear with urban edges and an elegant ease with contrasting dimensions on long and lean shapes in a fresh palette of blues and cream.

Silhouettes are demure yet confident. Bias cuts define the body with new proportions, adding more dramatic effect on shifts and shirts. Apron layers on easy dresses. Soft, collapsing structures flow with precision as they wrap around the body.

Singular, simple shapes redefined: the classic t shirt, elongated and tailored; the camp shirt reconsidered in more dramatic proportions. Dresses are finished with delicate pleating for emphasis and chic narrow ties at the waist. Throughout, shoulders are sharp and angular, or rounded and soft.

An emphasis on pants – styles range from a super long, cuffed, pleated silk crepe pant, to a narrowed boot cut leg radically updated with a shorter length in cupro silk. For evening, long and sculptural.

The backless halter dress, constructed to take shape from the body. A softly pleated top with a very lean, open back and long, soft skirt sets the tone.

Cuts and fabrications have been explored, manipulated and distilled to shapes that are practical, urban and functional. Smooth and sometimes sheer, light-as-air voile or more luxe, liquid silks are finely rendered and articulated to complement softly contoured silhouettes.

Silks and silk crepes are rich and understated. Double faced silk cupro gives depth and dimension for pants, jackets, and shifts.

Light, fresh, natural, sophisticated neutrals, the color palette is raw and made of natural colors – chalk, pearl, ivory, straw, sand, and charcoal – paired with blues, in a variety of shades spanning neptune, pacific, balsam, and dark indigo, with white as a crisp, cool base. A moment of coral.

The sexy statement is the shoe. A leather platform stacked atop a chic, narrow translucent rectangular heel with copper details. Three distinct upper designs: the copper/leather anklet sandal, the enclosed heel sandal, and the harness sandal.

Each style is available in a mix of neptune, dark indigo, black, chalk, and coral spanning naturally luxe materials like matte french calf, polished calf, graphic calf or softly textured goat, all with hand painted raw edges. The apron styled belt adds an element of protection.

Photos courtesy of Calvin Klein Collection

New York Fashion Week Spring 2011