“This season there was really a feeling to cut the noise and pull back,” said designer Nellie Partow during an appointment at her Manhattan studio. The result was a surprisingly sensual collection in a strict color palette of black and white. To wit, the sheer knit mesh bodysuit, paired with a matching skirt that opens the lookbook. A closer look revealed a subtle geometric pattern in the knit, as if the needles had skipped, which added interest. But Partow hasn’t abandoned the real working women that love and buy her clothes; the second look showed the real life way of wearing the bodysuit, layered over a white T-shirt, with a pair of black jeans, and a white tailored blazer nipped at the waist.
The collection was very simple: pleated baggy Bermudas had instantly cool appeal, as did two-tone swingy knit skirt, bodysuits, and a narrow, high waist trouser. A couple of great dresses, including a strapless, A-line number, were made from a cotton fabric woven with metal which resulted in a crinkly texture that has the touch of linen. The A-line dress was also recreated in a mix of cotton shirting fabrics—using the basketweave usually reserved for men’s tuxedo shirts—that created a subtle contrast. The same mix was prevalent in Partow’s shirting series, where she often uses these specialty cottons to create contrast on a collar, a cuff, or a back yoke.