The Tamesis
Designer Aaron Potts stayed up until the wee hours this morning, just hours before his new fall collection was to launch during Men’s Day. He is putting the finishing touches on his new creation, including hand-splashing one of his patterned nylon capes. It’s this spontaneous, on-trend energy that drives his new genderless clothing designs. “I wanted to focus on my clients, and I found they were creative professionals,” Potts said. “I wanted to create clothes they could actually use—they could easily be dressed up or down and still be fierce.”
Given that his collections have always been about a genderless, inclusive ethos, many of this season’s silhouettes and pieces lend themselves to effortless style. There’s a loose leather crew-neck sweater paired with matching wide-leg trousers, and a low-cut cotton jumpsuit that zips up the front. These are based on classic wardrobe staples, but with just enough details to make them feel more interesting. This cozy knitted tweed jumpsuit with extra-wide sleeves and legs is perfect for the snowy weather New York has been experiencing lately, and as Potts describes it, it’s like a wearable comfort blanket.
The color palette is kept relatively neutral—“It feels fresh to me,” Potts says—with shades of brown, black, and gray. “The word I’ve been saying a lot lately is editor,” he said. But what Potts lacks in bright colors, he tries to make up for with unexpected textures and combinations. For example, one of his tank tops had a wool upper, but the leather skirt was trimmed with brown and black stripes.
However, the more Potts leans into fun and whimsy, the better. The collection may have been designed to offer wearability, but it’s clear that Potts works best when he creates something weirder and more unexpected. His real winner was a black T-shirt decorated with colorful felt polka dots, draped asymmetrically like a belt and falling like rainbow fringe. It’s one of his craziest and most unforgettable works. The quirky bow hats worn by the models were made by one of his in-house interns and embodied the youthful spirit of the collection. Potts shouldn’t shy away from getting a little weird: He does it well.
