Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, the sisters-in-law who ended up with the same name and also happen to be young, attractive working mothers, are a marketing dream come true. Now how to tap into that potential? They’re evolving not only the blazer-and-dickey concept they started with, but also their prices with a recent shift to advanced contemporary, while delivering their most youthful, fashion-driven collection for spring. “Eighties uptown girl goes underground,” said Swanson Beard of the season’s inspiration, which registered in a bright floral-print scuba jacket and a mean pencil skirt that fit so well “it’s like wearing Spanx,” she said. Overall, the collection was sportier and more body-conscious than previous seasons, with tight racer-back dresses and denim-printed leather. The attitude served the dickey angle — which the designers are smart to not lose sight of — best, infusing it with a confident edge, as in a trim white cotton moto jacket.
