The Pieces They Reached For
30looks were made that day.
A few pieces never quite made it back to the rack.
There was no product assignment behind that part. No one was asked to choose a favorite, identify a hero or make a case for what should sell. The stylists had spent the day pulling things apart, trying them another way and deciding what deserved another look.
What each responded to was different.
So were the pieces they kept.
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The Textured Satin SetErin wore all dayErin's own version paired the set with sandals. For a look on a model, she layered the Lucius flare pant with the Lohan ruffle neck dusty rose-colored blouse, the Cornelia blazer and Roda long jacket. The contrast is useful to see side by side. The textured satin set forms a complete look on Erin; in the layered version, the pants become part of a different combination. She describes adding or removing layers as the weather changes. “I've been wearing this all day, it's coming home with me today,” Erin says in the interview. |
Hanna's attention toMovementHanna singles out the Badru jumpsuit for its flowing shape and comfort. She's also drawn to our indigo twill pants, that read like denim but give way more stretch and room to move. Given Hanna’s design background, she notices construction first, but what ultimately wins her over is whether a piece feels good in motion, not just how it looks in a photo. |
The returning shapes Veronica recognizesVeronica has seen XCVI collections change over the past twenty years. She describes seeing a tank return in a different fabric, with cotton and brocade as examples. The familiar fit gives her a reason to look again. For this shoot, she brought that knowledge to ten looks intended to offer inspiration without over-styling the clothes.
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The finished edit makes these choices visible. Erin's set can be seen on its own and under layers. Hanna's selections bring movement into the frame. Veronica's looks offer another read of shapes she already knows.
A garment earns its place differently once someone has to live with it instead of photograph it. Fit matters more. So does fabric. What seemed like a detail on the rack can become the reason something gets worn again.
That has always been a better test of XCVI than novelty.
The collection changes every season, but the pieces that stay tend to have something in common. They leave room. They work more than one way. They get better once someone makes them her own.
