Rubytone

Even though I sigh at 99.9 percent of the clothes I see on the runway — when I say “runway” I refer to those planks of wood constructed in New York, Paris, Milan and London — there are gazillions of other amazing designers creating extraordinarily crafty and inspirational pieces. Whether they show their collections in Brazil, L.A., Dubai, Brooklyn or an itsy bitsy teeny showroom in Lincoln, NE., they are no less sigh-worthy.

Rubytone, a New York-based label, has perfected a look I would describe as Contemporary Vintage. Before she ever threaded a needle, Designer Claire Vuillemot was a tattoo artist and illustrator. If I didn’t know better, I’d have guessed she majored in architecture and early 20th Century lit, as well. The details on her pieces seem like they shouldn’t work — a cropped jacket with an assymetrical wrap around collar that turns into a ruffled florette could make a body look lopsided and distorted — but work they do. Other times, she seems to be channeling Daisy Buchanan or some other gorgeous woman Dorothy Parker would get a kick out of writing about.

Of course, you should judge for yourself.