Count Norma Kamali among the designers inspired by this summer s Olympic Games in London. "I love when you can see the body at its ultimate," she said at an appointment at her midtown flagship. Kamali doesn t need an occasion, however, to celebrate physical fitness; she pushes herself at six high-intensity Physique 57 barre classes a week and serves up healthy pressed juices to customers at her in-store Wellness Cafe.
Borrowing from Kamali s body of work, the new collection is full of riffs on her signature sleeping bag dress in the form of padded nylon scarves and messenger bags. There were also curve-hugging gowns with sheer illusion insets and swimwear in metallic red, blue, and silver. She used the shiny stretch fabric in a less conventional context, too, on tailored pantsuits. You ll find similar suiting separates (plus jersey wrap dresses and harem pants) for under $100 in the KamaliKulture line that launched back in March. It s smart business concepts like the new lower-priced capsule that keep Kamali relevant in today s competitive market full of new talent.
