The times they are a-changing, according to Norma Kamali.
Following a successful spring collection, the New York designer wanted to go in another direction for pre-fall 2025 — to experiment and play with new silhouettes, and create more individualized looks.
Her vision nodded to vintage, touching myriad decades’ styles from Mod patent minis to Bohemian-tinged ruffled bodysuit blouses, each imbued with the ease and functionality Kamali continually works into her clothing.
There was also a solid array of all-white numbers, ranging from crochet tailoring and swimwear to sheer mesh skirts and dresses with built-in underpinnings, providing an ideal capsule of wedding weekend wardrobing.
Kamali revived some more of her wardrobing bestsellers from over the decades, too, in mostly red, black and white with pops of reflective silver and gold lame, including the popular pleated, balloon legged jumpsuit; multipurpose 1970s-era convertible pieces that can be worn as dresses, skirts or tops; bias-cut slipdresses with new cowl-front necklines and halter backs, and textural floral layers.
Retro newness also came through on easy jumpsuits with striped mesh inserts brought back from the ‘90s, as well as a great shrunken collared jackets with bow-adorned peter pan collars and matching midi pencil skirts that came in almost every single color and print, including a blurred polka dot and graphic plaid, and proved to be one of the highlights of the collection.
“It’s not ‘60s, but it’s kind of the essence of what it felt like just before big changes happened,” she said of the silhouettes, comparing her feeling about those tumultuous times, when she opened her first boutique in Manhattan, to the now. Her woman will be dressed for it.
