COMPLETE COLLECTION

NEW YORK, June 6, 2006

By Nicole Phelps

A showroom wasn't a big enough canvas for Zac Posen's largest resort collection yet. In addition to presenting his clothes in his studio, Posen brought them to vivid life in Ma Vendeuse, a short film directed by his friend and collaborator, Lola Schnabel. [You can view it exclusively on Style.com.]

Shot in the Hamptons over Memorial Day Weekend, the film stars Schnabel's 94-year-old maternal grandmother, Anne Beaurang, who talks fashion—World War II-era fashion, to be exact—while models Leilani Bishop and Raina Hamner cavort in the designer's creations. Inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and with a setting reminiscent of the Maysles brothers classic, Grey Gardens, the film is lush with poetic imagery—and great clothes.

"Trends don't interest me," Posen said in his showroom last week, as editors and buyers previewed the collection and the movie. "I want to make clothes that last, like film does." In keeping with Ma Vendeuse's seaside location, Posen's daywear had a Gatsby-esque nautical theme. There were natty suitings—crop-sleeved jackets with shirt sleeves extending to the wrist—as well as striped shirtdresses belted at the waist, and one white dress with a skirt of sail-like proportions. Knits were tee-shirt weight, and some featured burn-out details.

For evening, Posen showed two of the standout gowns he's known for: a pieced silver lam¿ number with a fishtail hem, and another in black with a full, ruffle-edged skirt. Adding jazz to the collection were a series of pieces embellished with ropes of beads, the most ingenious of which was a cashmere sweater attached to an hourglass dress. Next stop: Hollywood?