"I ve always loved to see what my sister is wearing when she goes to the barn," Jenni Kayne said before her show, explaining Fall s strong equestrian bent. Turns out both Kayne girls ride—Jenni s horse, Cupid s Valentine, has a birthday coming up—and the designer called upon personal experience to craft a polished collection that isn t likely to see the inside of many stables.
Although only 15 looks were shown, more variety wasn t really needed, because the numbers presented were so strong. Jodhpur shorts, in reindeer and wool, were perfect cuffed and worn a bit loose. Up top, a sheared-rabbit shell had a gorgeous tactility. Posing a lovely contrast were the slim, silky trousers Kayne envisioned as an alternative to cocktail dresses for after six. A simple T-shirt dress in forest green leather was a stunner, but the real showpiece was a mud-cloth anorak. Deceptively lightweight, the jacket had oversize pockets and exposed stitching that lent it a workmanlike feel and a patina of age. Still, utilitarian as it was, it s destined for city life, not country labor.
