Presenting his sportswear line, Adam + Eve, for the second time, Adam Lippes chose the Banchet Flowers shop in the far West Village as his venue. This made for a cramped, if fragrant, show location. But despite the crush, the clothes looked smart. Inspired by the rich fabrics and photographs from a long-ago trip to Kenya, Lippes balanced an organic, natural element—with obvious African roots—with his all-American sensibility. This juxtaposition of earthy and clean came to life in a knockout cream satin shift with distressed-metal embroidered trim.
A bright, Afro-centric print on cotton voile was cut into a breezy blouse and paired with crisp pleated shorts. Thick, embroidered cotton eyelet, meanwhile, was hand-painted white to give it a touch of earthy texture, and it showed up in a strapless top as well as a ladylike dress. Combining a bit more sophistication with a solid dose of the sporty edge on which he founded his line, Lippes' collection is evolving each season.
