“This collection was a study in the ‘right way’ to wear something or the ‘right way’ a garment should fit,” Khaite’s Catherine Holstein said of her pre-fall lineup. The designer was pregnant with her second child while designing it and observing how garments were sitting on her changing body during that time — a feeling akin to when she was a teenager — was her starting point.
The idea brought forth an approach of challenging the perceived notions of what an outfit should be, so for pre-fall, she played with silhouettes by slightly twisting seams around the body, and placing buttons slightly off-kilter on striking blazers and jackets.
“I created this brand to serve women, thus comfort and functionality will always be a priority. But it was an exercise in challenging conventional concepts of each silhouette and bringing opposing elements together,” Holstein said. “Reimagining traditional form, while staying true to the brand.”
For Holstein, comfort equals luxury, which she imbues into each piece, no matter if it’s the collection’s stealthy ultra, ultra-cropped plonge leather jacket or specialty, hand-done knitted and knotted tulle sets. No matter the twists and tweaks, she designs for customers to not just look good, but feel good without having to readjust.
One of the most delightfully surprising twists she debuted this season came through a section of malleable, pointed square-toe shoes (flats and pumps) that on the foot, laid flat, but on the shelf, curled distinctly upward at the toe — a nice differentiation point that will surely stick out to shoppers browsing in-store or online.
And it wouldn’t be a Khaite collection without a little nod to the ‘90s, here through the lens of feminized grunge with an ultra-cool off-the-shoulder hand-draped pink dress with Venetian-inspired drapes — her take on the grunge prom dress, which also came as stellar long skirts. Furthermore, popcorn knits melded novelty with a sense of playfulness alongside great oversize waffle knits with unfinished hems, paperbag pants and an extension of the brand’s bestselling, sharp leather — in happy, unexpected sky blue — and elevated pony hair layers.
Holstein rounded it all out with a slew of new accessories, including a smaller size of the Joan bag, the Lotus in fringe, and a clutch-size Blake bag alongside cool menswear-inspired loafers, new takes on their Lotus-shaped silver and gold earrings (accented with suede), and cool shades as part of the brand’s continued partnership with Oliver Peoples.
The collection offered ample wearability for the transitional season to cater to the brand’s growing global customer that come fall, will include Japan due to the new Khaite Japan Corp., a. joint venture and long-term strategic partnership with Yagi Tsusho.
