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Jason Wu, the New York-based designer known for dressing the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama, announced that he will be launching a new sister line called Grey by Jason Wu this spring — a risky move considering the waning nature of diffusion lines these days.
The designer took to social media earlier today to announce the news and share sketches of the upcoming collection. The line's new Instagram account notes that the clothing will be designed with Wu's close-knit group of stylish friends in mind.
"I often look to my friends for inspiration, and I created this collection for women who look for beautifully made, well considered clothes that have a sense of whimsy and uncomplicated chic that suit their everyday lives," writes Wu in a post.
Diane Kruger is one of these friends, so you can expect tons of tailored, feminine silhouettes. He uses words like "seasonless" and "relaxed sophistication" to describe the new collection of dresses in dynamic prints and striped wrap-skirts.
But this isn't Wu's first time at the sister line rodeo. He launched the contemporary label Miss Wu with Nordstrom in 2013 and collaborated on an affordably-priced one-off collection with Target in 2012.
The announcement of yet a new line may prove difficult, though, as more and more designers have taken steps to either merge or close their diffusion lines altogether. Marc Jacobs folded his Marc by Marc Jacobs line into his flagship label last March as a way to unify all of the brand's merchandise. And Dolce & Gabbana closed its D&G line in 2011 to give the designers more "strength and energy" to dedicate to their main collection.
Other notable examples include Burberry's decision to consolidate their Prorsum, London, and Britt lines, and Kate Spade's discontinuation of her Kate Spade Saturday line last year.
We've reached out to the Jason Wu brand for more details about pricing and when the collection will be available, but you can check out some of the sketches below in the meantime: