Good morning, Tuesday. It's a beautiful chilly day in the neighborhood and I'm feeling giddy because Fall is everything, and that's that.
So bypassing Fall and Winter are the Spring shows in New York, of course, and in general, I was seeing some nice things, but nothing that made me really feel something, because good clothes do that to me by the way. And though I loved the Versus show and its rock and roll edge, my wheelhouse has moved past that into something that feels both modern and ancient at once. Ladies and gentleman (as in the one gentleman who may be reading this), I give you The Row. Those Olsens knocked it out of the park yet again, and here's why.
The Row is on a whole other level when it comes to fashion, because really The Row is about true style. What is so genius about this collection is that when you look at these beautiful garments, so carefully and mindfully constructed, I feel like the yin is grounded in an ancient Japanese Zen, while the yang is taking off into the future- because these are clothes that feel postmodern to me- free of artifice, gimmicks, or trends. I've been struggling to figure out how long this whole normcore moment is going to last, but to me, these pieces are the next logical step- clothes that are so transcendentally classic, they quietly tell a story that is just pure magic in my mind- the phrase restrained bohemian comes to mind. So elegant, so what I'd want to wear every day, so easygoing and casual yet artfully formal. All week I've been looking at collections and seeing some good things (the Donna Karan collection show had some real feminine loveliness that never went girly, more strong), but this is a collection that just sort of blew me away. I pictured these clothes accompanying me to the Far East, the West, and wherever else I'd want to go- how carefully I'd pack them into some beautiful suitcase. If I had all the money, I would wear this brand alone. What else would I really need? That navy dress and pants is the past, present, and future, and all of those beautiful skirts are standouts- and the cream color is such a lovely soft counterpoint to white- where white is stark, cream has a more warm and fuzzy intellectual side. These are delicate clothes for a harsh world. Full stop. The end.
And although The Row satisfies the quiet aesthete in me, Rag and Bone speaks to my inner downtown. I adored this collection and there were pieces created to sell, which is a wonderful thing in my mind because it means people can actually wear these pieces- this is also the intent of normcore nation but these looks are just so much more fun, so much more polished, and so much more effortlessly chic.
Both lines feature a silhouette I am in love with- the longer dress or cardigan with a wider pant. I like clothes that move and flow, and these are standouts. Some may see these clothes are best worn by very tall women, but really, I think there's an innate wearability in all of these pieces if attention is paid to how to accessorize them (very sparingly) and how to tailor them to fit your body.
I think that although the economy is (supposedly) turning around and we come to a more hopeful place, I feel that style and fashion are still notions that can show emotion, and in both cases above, a mindfulness and quiet reflection. These are pieces that are far, far away from vulgarity, objectification, and flash in the pan ideals. Bravo to both The Row and Rag and Bone for giving us some clothes to really think about.
And that's what's up this silently stylish Tuesday in the very loud 212. Yours, in a more spiritual approach to dress. I'm a believer. XO