What's the philosophy behind Crippen? No one speaks to the brand's ethos better than Susie Crippen herself. This season, the Los Angeles-based designer, who launched her namesake collection in 2012, went in front of the camera to articulate her credo. "I love making things for women. I love that conversation I get to have with them. I love creating something for women who were too busy to do it themselves," she said. "I do not want to give up ease and comfort for style. Everything that I do comes from a very strong place of logic and how women think."
Keeping this in mind, Crippen aims to create understated, everyday clothes that will take her customers through the entire week—from the office to after-work events to a soccer game on Saturday—and there's an underlying emphasis on functionality. Denim has been a core category from the beginning (which makes sense, given Crippen was a cofounder of J Brand), but in addition to premium jeans, the collections have evolved to include tailoring, knitwear, and lots of leather. Themed "Winter Gatsby," the new lineup reinterprets traditional menswear elements in a casual, feminine way. A sharp suit with slim, cropped trousers came in a flecked tweed with just a hint of sparkle, while a graphic bouclé topcoat nicely balanced tough with soft. Crippen ramped up her sweaters this time around with engineered ribbing, discreet notches, and side vents that took them from basic to beautiful. Other highlights included a snug, slightly cropped biker jacket boasting utilitarian patch pockets, as well as a standout shearling originally inspired by the one worn by Anouk Aimée's character in the 1966 film A Man and a Woman. At a showroom preview, Crippen explained, "Ever since I first saw that movie twenty years ago, I've been searching for one just like it. Finally, I was like, 'Let's just do it, let's just make it ourselves.'"
