When Nili Lotan launched her eponymous label with a spare eight-piece offering, among the styles was a utility jacket inspired by her ex-husband s Israeli Air Force jumpsuit. Lotan s take on the garment remains among her top sellers a decade later, showing her commitment to (and keen eye for) the coolly timeless. 2014 marks her brand s 10th anniversary, and for its third Pre-Fall season, Lotan turned her eye to 50 (or at least, several) shades of gray—inspired by the slate steel roofs and pale stucco of Paris Saint-Germain neighborhood. Liquid silk tops came in a shade Lotan dubbed "fog," boiled wool, raw-edged coats in a deeper charcoal. The knit offering grew again here from last season, having performed particularly well for Lotan. It s little wonder why. Her fabrications are sumptuous, and unusual enough to stand out in a well-saturated market: nubby cashmeres, space-dyed yarns, a double cable-knit. Also stellar? A cocoon-like hoodie in olive wool. Lotan styled another version in gray jersey atop one of her hyper-sensual slipdresses—equal parts easy and elegant.
