British Designer Shows Imports With Originality

Looking like a cross between a space warrior from “Dune” and a polished courtier from “Amadeus,” British designer Betty Jackson paid her first visit to Los Angeles this week, following a flurry of fashion honors abroad for her fall and spring collections.

Dressed in what she called “modern baroque” clothes and sporting a silver-handled, ebony walking cane, one of Britain’s hottest fashion stars was guest of honor at a Los Angeles Fashion Group luncheon at Robinson’s.

She wore an enormous, stand-up, structured beret (it looked like a chef’s hat, but in black), a tapestry morning coat, a silver print shirt, leggings and heavy stainless-steel costume jewelry.

At 34, Jackson is probably the single most sought-after English designer for American buyers this year. Her spring collection, including bathing suits, T-shirts, dresses and evening wear, will soon be available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman-Marcus, Robinson’s, Torie Steele boutiques on Rodeo Drive and Ice in the Beverly Center. She says she is having the same kind of success in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Miami and Austin, Tex.

The reason is clear. Jackson’s designs are highly original yet comfortable, chic and easy to wear. Recently voted “Designer of the Year” by her peers in England (an honor similar to the Coty award here in the United States), she is also hailed for her highly creative, original prints, which range from abstract etchings to loud, wide stripes and boldly colored patterns inspired by artists such as Chagall and Matisse.

Jackson’s spring collection, which was shown on video to Fashion Group members and their guests, is titled “Urban Jungle” and is, in effect, Jackson’s answer to the tropical, sarong trend that was so big last year.

“I used cold, dark colors and created a sort of abstract pattern of buildings in a city,” Jackson says. The prints resemble brush-stroked, almost cartoon-like renderings of skyscrapers--and the styles are perfect for Los Angeles. Lots of long, T-shirt dresses, halter dresses, straight skirts, caftans, trench coats, dusters and wrap-around cotton sweaters that double as hip wraps.

Gidget goes Hawaiian goes downtown?

“That’s it,” Jackson says.

Accessories include baseball caps with ultra-long visors, big wooden jewelry and head scarfs wrapped and pinned with rhinestones.