You could almost taste the tangy, delicious Kool-Aid colors of Tracy Reese’s spring collection. With its floral, scallops, and puffed sleeves, it had a sugar-and-spice kind of grown-up girliness. A sleeveless dress with a V-neck and backline and a draped skirt were just waiting to be spun around in so the skirt can catch air and float. The designer described the opening floral as “a hazy, warped watercolor” that’s very “dreamy.” The brand’s signature puff sleeve was soft and rounded; there were scallop details, too, for spring. These were most irresistible on a pair of awning-stripe shorts. (The same shape was cut in a shadow plaid, and came with a matching cropped bolero.)
Reese’s pattern clashes were inspired, especially when it came to stripes. And there was, more generally, a mix-and-match ethos to the collection. It was also easy to see how pieces could segue into an existing wardrobe. “I’m one of those designers who cares what sells because I want to see people wearing the clothes and I want to serve our customer and bring her things that she’s actually going to wear and use,” Reese said. “My goal with every collection is that it is easy to wear, flattering, understandable, but something you don’t already have.” Something like a top-and-pant set with diamond cutouts was a different sort of cool aid.
