Rachel Roy has a keen interest in developing countries, including Kenya and Haiti (she visited Port-au-Prince last year to brainstorm entrepreneurial ideas with local women), and she articulated that with her latest pre-fall collection, which combined influences from those cultures with the designer's urban sensibility. A quilted, cropped jacket came in a batik-inspired print, for example, while a fluid black dress with a handkerchief hemline was embellished with gold mirrored plates. Aside from such artisanal touches, what stood out in this lineup were Roy's office-appropriate (for the non-corporate job) alternatives to the suit. Wide-leg silk trousers paired effortlessly with shrunken blazers that had slightly exaggerated shoulders. A leather topcoat with a marbleized effect and wool insets can be worn with matching skinny pants for a head-to-toe look. Gesturing at a slinky metallic knit pullover, the designer explained that she wants women to toss on a sweater just like they would a T-shirt. Elevating the everyday staple is exactly what Roy does best.
