At a Barbara Bui appointment, finding a top-notch jacket is like shooting fish in a barrel. The French designer is known for her casual cool outerwear, so you can always expect covetable toppers like the moleskin bomber with shearling collar and leather sleeves from her new pre-fall collection. Of course, Bui is always pushing her own envelope; new for this season was a Jean Shrimpton-inspired cocoon coat cut from plush cashmere wool with intentionally broad shoulders that gave the piece a menswear-y appeal. Another fairly fresh silhouette was the to-the-knee, pleated shirtdress that came paired with high python boots. She described it as an ode to Faye Dunaway's character in the 1976 film Network.
Bright accessories like an on-trend cross-body bag in flamingo pink gave the predominantly shadowy lineup a necessary kick. Considering sunny California makes up 60 percent of Bui's stateside sales, the designer might want to consider mixing in a bit more color going forward.
