Zahra Saeed’s Fall Collection

This local mortgage broker-cum-fashion designer just put out her fall/winter 2009 collection — her second, ever — and it’s seriously good. 

The Pakistan-born Moorestown resident (whose personal history includes an arranged marriage, a divorce, and moving her way up the corporate ladder at a South Jersey mortgage bank while raising two daughters; she self-financed her fashion business) is constantly inspired by the fabrics she finds around the world. And with the wholesale success of her eponymous lines throughout Europe and the Middle East, she sees quite a bit of it. 

Recently, I happily attended the fashion show for her current collection and was really quite impressed. She does use lovely fabrics and lovely patterns — but it’s not just that: She really cuts a nice line. Dresses have flattering, graphic collars, skirts have peek-a-boo hems, and there’s one item in particular — a flowing, three-quarter length-sleeved winter-white wool cape that fastens with brooch so sparkly I instantly wished I had a holiday party to go to that night, even as I sat in the mid-September heat — that got gasps from the fashionably clad crowd. 

In short, go check it out. Many of her fall designs (and some of her pretty, now-marked down spring styles) are currently in her Rittenhouse boutique, with more being added constantly. In the meantime, to help you preview, I’ve picked out a few of my favorite looks, right here...