NEW YORK, Oct 17, 2002/ FWD/ --- "It's not about fuss and the rigmarole of getting dressed. It's about fun, stylish dressing that's light, clean and completely wearable," Australian designer Richard Tyler explained before showing his "tyler" line for the second season in the garden of his downtown brownstone last September in New York.

Despite the much lower price point of this secondary line, the cuts and details he is renowned for were strongly evident.

"The line uses luxury fabrics and is tailored beautifully as with 'Richard Tyler,' but 'tyler' is for a younger, stylish woman. It has no pretension, after September 11th we don't need that. It's about simply looking good," he added.

The collection was a mix of pretty and downtown cool, and the two elements fused brilliantly.

Dresses in nude and marmalade jersey draped around the body perfectly, cargo pants in lemon and tangerine silk was wearable and easy and a hint of embroidery gave them that special something.

Only Richard Tyler could cut gray sweats as if they were an elegant evening pant; they somehow hung perfectly and the zippers and pockets gave them a needed edge.

The denim jackets and pants in washed red and gray were sexy and worn with a tulip print blouse or multi strip silk chiffon shirt could be taken to work, dinner or play.

There were some beautiful washed silk embroidered jackets and slip dresses with ruffle and sequin detail, and as expected a couple of suits; one in a smoke pinstripe and the other a whitewashed silk double breasted number, both of which would be equally at home in the more upscale Richard Tyler line.

All in all, Tyler has given his mastery of precision cut, a sense of color and sophistication to the masses.

Richard Tyler

Richard Tyler