NEW YORK, Sep 22, 2002/ FWD/ --- Boiler suits, cargo pants, pinafores and cotton tanks: Jill Stuart's utilitarian spring 2003 collection is made for hard at work, hard at play downtown girls.

The color palette of pinks, blues, greens and natural cotton softened the made-for-work wardrobe and gave the collection a girly twist. And details such as drawstrings in the pants and shorts and thigh-high splits in the dresses and skirts gave the pieces an edge.

Having had success with her jeans line, there was plenty of mixed denim including fitted jackets, vests and pants.

As far as accessories go, the bags kept in with the laborer theme including an fabulous oversize leather tradesman bag, but the shoes were not meant for anything more strenuous than looking good.

Sexy and strappy, the heels came in girly pink, silver, white and black.

There were hints of the romanticism of her last collection.

'20s-style silk and sequin dresses with strappy chiffon fastenings came in pretty prints and soft muted colors; a sexy red dress with full fringe and the sequin silk dresses were winners, but for the most part it was simple, straightforward cool.

There was lots of layering in the looks, from T's under shirts and chunky sweaters under jackets, to the layers of the dresses.

There was nothing new or innovative here but Stuart has a marked ability to give the public what it wants, or make them want it.

The easiness and wearability of the collection will thrill the style and price conscious urbane customers who follow Stuart faithfully.

Jill Stuart

Jill Stuart