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William Rast: Easy Rider Does It

In New York this week, a number of designers have not only been showing what’s in store six months from now on their fall 2010 runways, but they’ve also been giving people a taste of what they can buy right now.

At Betsey Johnson, a handful of looks were slated to hit her stores soon after the show, at bebe-Kardashians, looks were already available even before the runway show and at Wednesday night’s Proenza Schouler show, customers could pre-order the latest handbag online and receive it in July.

While the William Rast show, held Wednesday, Feb. 17, in New York, didn’t offer anything you could immediately purchase, it did offer a number of well-tread trends that can be worn now - and have been worn for a while - like fringed leather jackets, motorcycle vests, cargo pants, military-inspired overcoats and flared denim.

Though in the past the William Rast show has attracted a star-studded front row with the likes of Paris Hilton and Gerard Butler, this season was a more calm affair with a poised recent Vogue cover girl Jessica Biel showing her support.

Helmed by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala, the L.A.-based William Rast is known for their Americana take on denim - think “Easy Rider” on a cross-country road trip. Here, denim had snakeskin prints, half-shredded knees or light, mildly distressed washes.

But mostly, Timberlake and Ayala focused on other pieces for fall, namely jackets, from croc print blazers, to olive nylon bomber jackets to variations on William Rast’s bread and butter, the motorcycle jacket. A few Navajo blanket-inspired pieces - a vest and a standard issue poncho - found their way into the collection, too.

They also debuted a new footwear collection, consisting of some platform moccasin booties adorned with fur tassels, beads and fringe.

For a collection that didn’t break any new ground, there was still an overwhelming amount to take in, mainly the fault of some over-zealous styling by Marcella and Johan Lindeberg. Blankets draped over shoulders like flannel pelts and pinned on raccoon tails didn’t make a whole lot of sense unless you find yourself stranded in some post-apocalyptic scenario a la “The Road.” Well, one never knows, so William Rast may just have the last laugh.

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