These are a couple of our favorite new pieces from Nanette Lepore's Pre-Fall 2013 collection; the designer was inspired by the bright colors and kaleidoscopic playfulness of Marc Chagall's circus paintings. These new pieces are heavy on bold patterns and whimsical touches, but they also manage to be very wearable. Lepore believes that pre-fall collections are "the new resort": rather than being strictly seasonal, designers are using these collections as vehicles for pieces with year-round appeal.
Take the snake-printed, playfully full-skirted "Trapeze Girl" dress above (a refreshingly different animal print option) for example: we'd wear it now with flat sandals from Sam Edelman or Rachel Zoe. When the weather finally cools, it'll look great under a boxy knit cardigan or a biker-style jacket with tights and booties.
Marc Chagall, Le Cheval de Circque; 1964. (via Christies)
