NEW YORK, Sep 28, 2002/ FWD/ --- Downtown designer Alice Roi has embarked on an illicit love affair with uptown looks.

For fall, she showed twin sets and knee-length pleated skirts.

Now, she's continued in that vein, but this time created more resort-focused pieces for the society set.

An apres-swim theme was prevalent, and velour or terry were used in everything from wrap dresses and bath jackets to slouchy short suits and sweatshirts.

These comfy, cozy pieces were interspersed with more formal looks, like A-line dresses and pantsuits embellished with loop detail that created a clean ruffle effect around their edges.

This series was rather boxy in cut, but several clingy silk knit dresses, tops, even a pair of drawstring pants, offered a slinky but still elegant alternative.

Roi's self-titled "uptown dress" (she's open about her inspiration) was particularly fresh and fun, as it played with the collection's moneyed theme.

Its gathered skirt fell to the knee and it was cleanly cinched at the waist with a thin belt, but a deeply plunging neckline insured that it wouldn't be making any Junior League appearances.

A series of jacquard halters, palazzo pants and skirt suits, however, may be a little too Ivana Trump for the Roi customer, even if she enjoy a heavy dose of kitsch.

Chunky crab-shaped silver belt buckles, hair clips and rings by New York jewelry designer Denise Williamson served as funky accessories in several ensembles, but the by-the-sea concept was carried a bit far in a group of scuba spandex tops and pants.

The show quickly resurfaced though, and ended feet firmly on the ground, with another full-skirted, low-necked uptown dress, this time for evening in black raffia, paired with matching cigarette pants.

Alice Roi

Alice Roi