"There s more than one way to wear a dress," said Tracy Reese backstage after her Fall show. "I think we re so used to categorizing them as pretty frocks or go-to-work dresses, but I do all kinds of things with them. I wear them with sneakers or throw a casual anorak on top." There was a playful modernity about the way Reese styled her latest lineup. Signature party dresses and full skirts—which came in a variety of abstract florals as well as a melancholic, winter landscape print—looked fresh paired with fringy, color-blocked sweaters or a metallic windbreaker. But festive cocktail attire was only part of the equation here. Reese continued to ramp up everyday separates this season, with highlights including herringbone trousers that had a relaxed boyfriend fit and cozy plaid blanket cardigans. She also sent out a range of practical parkas and sharp topcoats updated in novelty fabrications such as graphic, chevron-patterned wool or croc-stamped leather.
There s a characteristic pragmatism behind Reese s approach to designing. "Obviously we want the clothes to be beautiful and striking, but we also want them to really be wearable and serve a purpose in our customers lives," she explained. This flair for functionality made her a natural ambassador for Tide s new Washable Fashion initiative in partnership with the CFDA, for which Reese created two full runway looks (one outfit featured silver denim cargo pants, while the other consisted of a knit pullover and a nice jacquard skirt) meant to be washed with Tide Pods. Saving time and money on dry cleaning is a proposition that will surely resonate with Reese s contemporary customers.
