Mary Adams The Dress

08/14/03

Do the can-can (or get married) in these flouncy femme duds.

by Contributor

The Scene
Pinched between overflowing coat shops and renovated dive bars is a dress shop right out of the late 1800s. The walls sport wide vertical white and tan stripes, with hat boxes on a shelf to match. Dressmaker mannequins display the colorful wares, and Mary Adams herself (who says "I'm usually here") creates her masterpieces at a work space that doubles as a checkout counter. This place screams sophisticated atelier, and if Toulouse-Latrec were still alive, he'd be bringing Ms. Adams an afternoon Campari.


The Goods
Ruffles, ruffles everywhere, from the "Boudoir" collection by designer Ellen Birkenblit (gorgeous little bustiers with generously cinched waists and a choice of high or very low neck) to the dresses and two-piece ensembles of Ms. Adams. These tufts of fabric are quite narrow and rarely hang below the item; they add flair and femininity. The fabric is mostly a washed silk taffeta, lending an old-world, lived-in feel that Ms. Adams prefers for its softer look and worry-free maintenance (it can be hand washed and is perfect for travel).