On hearing the revelation that Porsche produces a line of clothing (it has in various forms since the 70s), people s response is almost invariably a baffled, "But what does it look like?" And the answer is almost too obvious: sleek and expensive. This season Porsche Design creative director Thomas Steinbrueck dubbed his show "Zentech" and riffed on elemental Japanese minimalism with a hearty dose of the futuristic. Working with a palette of navy and neutrals, he topped his outerwear with obi belts; those obis even subbed in on occasion as tube tops, teamed with flowing, high-waisted trousers. To balance out airy shapes, there were shiny, sculpted vests and figure-hugging shell tops with plunging necklines. But like Occam s razor, in some cases Steinbrueck s simplest solutions were his most successful, as with an exquisitely draped maxi shirtdress in navy washed silk, or asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder tops in buttery leather.
For men, Steinbrueck conjured up cargo jackets teamed with crisp, collarless white shirts; baggy shorts; and handsome ribbed knits. One white pullover, sheer except for some sporty paneling, was admittedly less wearable than some of the pieces that bookended it, but had a certain techy richness. The collection on the whole was full of winning, elegant propositions. In a couple of places the clothes felt a little bloodless—so lean and luxe as to seem standoffish, like a chilly beauty just out of reach. But my, isn t she lovely.
