Bebaroque Spring/Summer 2009 Collection

Bebaroque is a luxury hosiery brand founded by Scottish designers Mhairi McNicol and Chloe Patience in 2007. The Bebaroque trademark is intricacy--ranging from hand applied metals and fabrics to hand drawn designs. During my European adventure, I purchased a pair of feather tights in turquoise from the Winter 2008 collection and, though I haven't worn them yet, they're on the "shortlist."

Let's start with a few general notes about this season's collection. While I believe Bebaroque makes a good showing design-wise, I really miss the bold, punchy colors of previous seasons. This year, they're using a lot of whites, creams, and pastels which makes the collection feel a bit too one-note to me. Think Easter egg, not summertime.

When it comes to the actual designs, I think Bebaroque really shines in their embroidery and painting. A few of the Spring/Summer pieces continue last season's experimentation with fringed and ruched backseams, and I find those designs to be bulky and distracting...not usually the effect I'm looking for from my hosiery.

Bebaroque also introduced a new design concept this season, namely the reversible pattern. While the stockings themselves aren't reversible due to the decoration, they allow for the option of wearing the design on front or back giving you at least two different looks.

All this handworking doesn't come cheap, and Bebaroque tights are outrageously expensive. Whether they're worth the price or not though, is up to you. On the one hand, you're paying for limited edition, hand-constructed, couture-quality work. On the other, even I find it hard to justify a $60.00 pair of hose.

When I (finally) wear my feather tights, I promise to give you, my readers, a full report and let you know if they're really worth it.