The Tamesis
It may only be May, but for us New Yorkers, the heat of summer is already upon us. Luckily, Lafayette 148 is anticipating baking days and cooler nights with this year’s resort collection. Last season, the brand celebrated 30 years and what it means to be a New York woman. But the cosmopolitan woman’s journey doesn’t stop at the edge of Manhattan. She decided to look west—no, not New Jersey—but New Mexico, and the wealth of female artists, including Dorothy Brett and Mabel Dodge Lujan, who immigrated to the desert landscape. “They basically broke away from New York City’s sartorial conventions and stripped down to just what was necessary, just because they were dressing for the land and themselves,” says designer Emily Smith. “Isn’t that what minimalism is all about?”
There have been corresponding subtle exchanges in her woman’s wardrobe. A fringed leather top suitable for ranch wear stands where a boxy leather jacket might have been before. A similar story goes for a cinched pleated dress with a paisley bandana print, where previously a solid neutral might have sufficed. The palette warms up, relying on rich Sedona clays, dusty blues, and burnt oranges that blend the sunset with the sand. However, the series does not completely surrender to the Western lifestyle. No Canadian tuxedos here: mimic denim via speckled wool. Meanwhile, the relaxed silhouette retains the polished feel of the Lafayette 148 with details like leather trim, horn snaps and leather overlays. The most exquisite one is a speckled tan cowhide jacket. For jet travelers, this look is sure to work everywhere.
