Back in 2006, Lindsey Thornburg launched her namesake collection with witchy cloaks whipped up from deadstock Pendleton blankets. Over the years, the free-spirited designer has expanded to offer a full ready-to-wear range, but she remains best known for her capes, so it makes sense that she decided to keep the focus on them this season. Thornburg has built a strong relationship with Pendleton, and since Fall ’12 she s been officially partnering with the historic Portland, Oregon-based mill on a co-branded line. Their latest collaboration stars in the Fall ’14 lookbook and its corresponding video, which features models stalking around a dry forest like high priestesses in some coven in Thornburg s signature, sweeping toggled cloaks. What the collection lacked in scope was reconciled by its breadth of vibrant, graphic prints that were either custom-developed or Pendleton originals. To be sure, these bold patterns were the most psychedelic Thornburg has done to date, with highlights including a warped, Technicolor plaid, as well as an American-flag-inspired "stars and stripes" motif and a landscape print that evoked what the designer called a "cactus mirage in the middle of a peyote trip." The result was Thornburg at her bohemian best, but we d still like to see her make a more concerted push into other categories.
