NEW YORK, Apr 6, 2011/ — For her Fall 2011 EMERSON collection, designer Jackie Fraser-Swan found inspiration literally from her own backyard, just outside Boston. Acres of New England forest, particularly at dusk, and the surrounding elements; trees, lake, rocks, and shadows, are reflected in the prints and color palette.

Fraser-Swan referenced her New England heritage using her distant relative and brand namesake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, in the creation of this new concept collection, quite intentionally. Both Emerson the philosopher and poet, and the EMERSON collection share a reverence for simplicity, nature and challenging the norm.

The fabrics used for the Fall collection include soft, solid color jerseys, textured knits, pebbled tweed infused with metallic accents and cozy wools in abstract animal prints, and strikingly colored silks. In addition, there is red and black textured wool, black lamb and calf skin, and a jersey viscose in solid colors.

High-end menswear fabrics are used for the more structured pieces, including a black tasmanian Italian wool and a red and black herringbone Italian wool. Nearly all of fabrics are exclusively European.

Deep gem tones and rich natural hues contrast the stark color palette, which include dark red, forest green, charcoal gray and black as well as an inky blue/black abstract animal print, and a painterly tree-printed silk.

There are two key pant silhouettes in the collection, including a high-waisted, slim cut and slouchy trouser cuts with oversize patch pockets, both available in unique fabrics and prints.

Tops include an oversized menswear-style shirt, short and long sleeved tees, an open weave cowl neck sweater and open front vest with detached arm warmers. Other key pieces include a form-fitting belted leather coat, a princess cut, knee-length ‘detective’ coat, and an oversized, sleeved cape coat. Details like shimmering pockets add an unexpected quirkiness and asymmetrical hemlines add a hint of sexiness to several styles.

Launched in 2010, the EMERSON collection embodies the powerful and free spirited modern woman. Luxuriously classic and sophisticated, with unexpected detail and cut, EMERSON encourages each woman to shamelessly indulge in her eccentric side.

Designed by JACKIE FRASER-SWAN, who attended the School of Fashion Design in Boston, the collection mixes many of today’s fashion genres: couture with contemporary, rock with romance.

Photos by Paul Maffi

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