For Alistair Carr's third collection at Pringle, the Balenciaga-trained designer took things literally: "I looked at the classic knit pieces in the archives and wanted to twist things up a bit—so I did: I just twisted it." Twisted collar and seam details pepper the collection alongside other modern interpretations of the heritage company's archives. Instead of a twinset, Carr gives us the "triple set": a coat, sweater, and trousers, the latter two whipped up from the same butter-soft cashmere knit. There was a refit of the iconic Pringle argyle pattern, too, with each argyle amplified and sewn on a sweater in acid-colored crystals, throwing off a 3-D effect. And layering was a theme that extended even down to the shoes on which he collaborated with Chrissie Morris—leather panels you can pull off if the mood strikes.
If Carr, who had never worked with knits before moving to Pringle, was nervous about taking over the reins of one of the world's most iconic knitwear houses, it doesn't show: There was confidence to spare in a graffiti-print dress and jacket inspired by an abandoned van, and dresses and sweaters embossed with neon snowflakes. For Pringle purists not ready to go the way of graffiti and neon, don't fret. An astonishing cashmere coat, fur and cashmere scarves, and multi-ply chunky jumpers show that Carr is very much in sync with Pringle's heritage.
