Aaron Potts returned to the New York Men’s Day showcase this morning after a season away. “Men’s Day to me is like a family reunion,” he said. “We all come here to get together and do our thing, and we know what we’re doing.”
Potts had two ideas in mind for spring: The color blue—its textures, shades, and a variety of iterations from patchwork and denim to fringe—and the goal of keeping his clothes exciting but not too precious. “It’s about making and finding that special element in an everyday thing,” he said.
Taking a hue as versatile as blue was an effective starting point for Potts, and his ingenuity in approaching its many applications lent his collection a good dose of dimension, particularly after his blackout fall lineup. In his silhouettes, Potts continued to expand on his exploration of utility in the context of everyday city sophistication, finding more success in his oversized shirting and his riffs on quintessential workwear styles. A pair of coveralls, which he shaped loosely and with ease, was a particular hit.
Entirely new chez Potts was a run of jersey styles. The designer explained that he found his sculptural silhouettes could also be constructed close to the body, not simply oversized as is his signature, and that jersey was the right material with which to do so because of its flexibility. This was promising new ground for Potts, particularly in the womenswear space. While the A.Potts label is committed to its genderless outlook—and output—the retail landscape is considerably less flexible. Potts has been a good sport with the way he’s included more women’s options for his customers in his collections, but these have not always stuck the landing. Jersey may just be the ticket that takes him from player to winner.