"I love the fabric, it s so substantial," Josie Natori said of the neoprene, knit jacquard, and bonded jersey that dominated her latest Resort collection. "You can t go from Fall and then all of the sudden to…limp."
Nearly every look had a strong shape to it, from the black neoprene V-neck dress with wide sleeves that hit at the wrist to the chartreuse cotton frock with raw edges that gave an otherwise polished piece a bit of texture. More relaxed separates, such as a silk-cashmere shawl cardigan and matching cowl-neck sweater, were cinched together with a metal belt for structure.
Embellishment is a big seller for Natori. But instead of doing the typical beading, she added appliquéd swirls of tulle ribbons to dresses, tops, and collarless jackets. It was particularly eye-catching on a black-and-white V-neck dress and matching coat. A tasteful but refreshing approach.
Natori is better than most at designing for her particular audience: professional women who simply want to look attractive. Clad in a skirt from the collection and a sweater from a past season, the designer was also a wonderful advertisement for her work.
