Thomas Pink Amps Up Women's Line

Thomas Pink, the U.K. brand famous for its men's dress shirts, will showcase a new woman's wear concept in New York. The new concept will then be revealed to customers in retail stores starting in August.

The redesigned 60-piece line centers around the white shirt and also includes skirts, jackets and slacks.

Thomas Pink's women's wear was introduced in 1992 and has grown to represent around one-third of the brand's sales.

"When we started doing women's wear at Thomas Pink," said creative director Florence Torrens, "it was all about women wearing their husband's, boyfriend's or significant other's shirts. They loved the looseness and ease."

She said the new collection will play off that vibe. "We went back to the original idea of a slightly oversize shirt," she said, adding that the new collection was inspired by iconic shirt wearers such as Diana Vreeland, Katharine Hepburn and Fitzwilliam Darcy of "Pride and Prejudice" fame. "We put them all in a pot and came up with this," she said.

Fifty of the 60 pieces in the collection are shirts with colors ranging from bright white to ivory, and a few colors and pattern as well. A major highlight to the collection is a shirtdress that can be belted and buttoned in at least five different ways. There will also be two jackets: a four-pocket tweed and a tuxedo jacket in wool mohair. Retail prices for the tailored shirts run from $160 to $250, silk blouses range from $250 to $500.

The new collection will have its own dedicated section in stores and sizing has been simplified to small, medium and large. "It's really easy to shop," Torrens said of the collection, adding that "the pieces we've homed in on are non-age-specific and versatile. They work for work or the weekend."