Born in 2000 as the brainchild of Matt Damhave and actress Tara Subkoff, Imitation of Christ initially emerged as a thoughtful line of reworked vintage—equal parts progressive and retro—showcased in notoriously subversive and theatrical runway shows. (Their first showing took place in an East Village funeral parlor. And they once adorned their runway with... bones). Several seasons and transformations later, amidst rumors that Subkoff might want her baby back, designer Kasia Bilinski has taken the reigns, and it is under her breathtaking vision that a spin-off label of ready-to-wear makes its '08 debut—clean, sophisticated, and stripped of artifice—an understated diversion from the former IoC.

With a background in fine arts, it's no surprise that Aussie-native Bilinski, who previously worked for ThreeAsFour and Richard Chai, has designed a collection so ethereal it could have walked off an abstract painting—and with steady collaboration with a troupe of talented visual artists, no less. Fundamental to Imitation's spring/summer aesthetic is the loose, breathable, and often intricately draped layers which infuse every piece with an effortless sensuality.

Though spare and lacking firm or fitting structure, the pieces in the Mark Borthwick-shot lookbook possess a silky, feminine, fluidity that allows for movement. In pared down hues of rust, cream, and silver, silky, transparent fabrics are adorned with loose, hanging ties, giving the wearer freedom to style and layer each piece as they please. The result? A collection just as avant-garde as the former IoC, with a decidedly more wearable turn. And the makings of a perfect wardrobe for a summer exile in the Galápagos.

Et voilà—with the emergence of Imitation, your search for easy, breezy summer staples may have come to an end. (And did we mention the accessible price tag?)

For more information, including stockists, visit theimitation.com.

- Kristi Garced

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