Robots at Andrew Gn? It was an unlikely sight from a designer who caters to a ladylike crowd. Gn said he went with his instincts this season; he's been watching a lot of Japanese manga and grooving on the art of Yayoi Kusama. But even appliquéd in python and lace, the robots were out of sync with his other signatures. He was definitely pushing at the boundaries of his uptown aesthetic here—there was a lot more sheer than you usually get from him, for example—but happily the other parts of the collection weren't quite so far out. Longtime clients will recognize his ornate surfaces, even if this time he chose polished metal grommets for embellishments instead of more familiar beads and crystals. And with below-the-knee plissé skirts turning up on other runways for Fall, they'll appreciate Gn's versions. Another positive: his striking color combinations—baroque scrolls of royal blue appliquéd on the deep green of a wool crepe coat, Indian pink on the gray flannel of a sheath dress, and apple green embroideries on an aubergine silk blouse. A clever stylist could help Gn channel his better instincts. He's long avoided working with one, but especially now that he seems intent on breaking out of his own mold, he should reconsider hiring one next season.
