This designer started showing his contemporary line, Richard Chai Love, on the runway two seasons ago, and for Resort comes word that he'll be focusing full time on this in lieu of his signature collection. That should be a win-win for his fans: Under the Love label, Chai is offering interpretations of his now-signature silhouettes—including pretty dresses and tailored trousers—at very attractive price points.
This season, Chai—who nabbed the Swarovski Menswear statuette at Monday's CFDA Awards—carried over the ideas that made his grunge-inspired Fall collection so appealing to editors and buyers alike. "It's about an eclectic mix of proportion, textures, and layering," he said at his new Tribeca studio. A pencil skirt was shown over a gray maxi dress, while a khaki twill and satin utility coat was paired with a floor-sweeping black skirt. Other high points in the all-neutral parade included a sheer white jacquard dress with scarflike detail and a perfectly slouchy tailored pantsuit. In a phrase: more to Love.
