And then there were two… Marcus Wainwright and David Neville lost founding partner Nathan Bogle in June, which may partially account for Wainwright's admission that this show was the most stressful thing he'd ever done. But to the duo's credit, there was no stress showing in their succinct collection. In fact, it was essential Rag & Bone in its combination of utility and flair. "Made in North Carolina," the business proudly declares, and it was easy to imagine good old country boys in the suspendered indigo jeans paired with a short-sleeved shirt and worn work boots. But you'd need more than that to attract Cameron Diaz, Julianne Moore, and Jimmy Fallon to your front row, or to make the short list for this year's CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. And there was more, in the subtle luxe of the fabrics or the thoughtful detailing (the box pleating that added something of a fifties feel to shirts, the French cuffs, the novel combo of biker and bomber jackets called "the Triumph"). If denim is still their main dish, they're perfecting the seasoning.
