Maybe it’s the expected impact of Trump’s tariffs or exhaustion over “greedflation”—please, God, no more $4,000 sweaters—but American women aren’t shopping like they used to. In a survey by Vogue Business, 37% of respondents said they were buying less luxury than they did a year ago. Unless it’s something extremely special or rooted in deep practicality, it’s not getting added to cart.
It’s the latter impulse that explains the success of TWP, Trish Wescoat Pound’s American sportswear brand that has emerged as a bright spot on the NYFW calendar. You won’t see any peacocking looks sent down the runway, ripe for Instagram fodder. But you will find clothes that you’ll see real women wear, and often: wide-leg jeans made from Japanese denim, matching white shirt-skirt sets perfect for a backyard barbecue in the Hamptons, where Wescoat Pound has two stores. This season there were waterproof trenches—multiple trenches—because, as the designer said, “it rains all the time” in spring. (Considering she sent multiple models down the runway in rain boots, it’s clear that weather was very much on her mind.) While several looks were adventurous—like a laser-cut leather skirt, sequined pajama pants, and a semi-sheer crystal top—many pieces could fall under the category of elevated basics. “The overall feel of the collection is very luxe, very casual,” Wescoat Pound said.
That’s not to say boring: Take her bags, which Wescoat Pound sent down the runway for the first time. They’re stylish totes made of leather that are, well, meant for throwing all your stuff in. Days before her show, Wescoat Pound opened a particularly malleable one in her studio, showing off all the pockets inside. “It’s a great soft bag when you are traveling,” she said, miming shoving the bag under an airplane seat. Another one, made from canvas, looked durable enough to bring to both the office and the grocery store.
Which brings us to her hypothetical muse for this collection: “I imagine this girl leaving her house in the morning, running to the deli,” she said. “You know what I mean? It’s all about doing errands and running around.” It’s a far cry from the oft-cited glamorous inspirations of fashion, like Bianca Jagger, the Pre-Raphaelites, or Princess Diana. But two truths can coexist: We can all aspire to dress like a Warhol muse while needing to dress like an errand girl. And sometimes you just need a brand that is for real.
