"I wanted to evoke the feeling of quiet sophistication and slight vulnerability that comes with wearing a uniform," said Andrea Lieberman of her latest A.L.C. Pre-Fall lineup. This season, the designer's everyday staples came in a somber palette of black and inky blues with precise pops of highlighter yellow. Versatile pieces like crisp cotton shirtdresses, pleated knee-length skirts, and relaxed culottes gave off a modest schoolgirl vibe, while pencil skirts with mid-thigh splits and a tailored jumpsuit featuring a twisted, open back kept the overall look from seeming too prudish. Lieberman's practical outerwear continued to impress here, and a new standout style was a snug blazer/biker jacket hybrid that was equal parts prep school and rock 'n' roll. She also showed gauzy shifts and maxi gowns decorated with artisanal embroidery, which seemed like a bit of a departure from her clean aesthetic. The model who tried them on did a twirl and said she could imagine herself wearing them as cover-ups on a beach vacation. For Lieberman, those items were a way to "come off of summer but still have that fresh, romantic sense of travel."
