The first clue was fold-out poster that came with the invite: a macro image of the frothy shades of blue that bubble up and stir in the wake of a ship. And then there was the Cedric Charlier team, who came to greet Jennifer Wheeler as soon as we arrived. A word to the wise: If you're not into spoilers, don't go to runway shows with our VP of designer apparel. Designers' staff love to come say hi and let her know what to expect-in this case, a "fresh, young riff on the Navy."

Which Navy? Charlier was born in Belgium and is based in Paris, but his sea-farers didn't particularly seem of either provenance. Rather, they're bound to some far more fabulous maritime endeavors-one that dresses up in lurex and stripes and wears bright yellow slickers in the rough waves and deep water swells.

Starting off in pea coats and pea coat-style dresses, models took to the double-wide runway and outlined zig-zagging, criss-crossing formations across the floor while Charlier revealed essential elements, slightly twisted. (Watch for what might have been fur life vests in the gallery below.)

Flare-leg pants with killer cuffs, long lean side-button sweaters and lined officer's coats tied back to the naval yard, but in such a way that you'd feel perfectly comfortable in them in say, landlocked Nashville.

Here's a clip of Jennifer and I after the show, talking about the nautical inspirations and innovations:

http://blogs.nordstrom.com/fashion/files/2016/03/Cedric-Charlier.m4a

SHOP: current season Cedric Charlier

-Laura Cassidy