"Hard and soft…" "Heavy and free…" "Masculine and feminine…"
Beaufille's cofounders Chloe and Parris Gordon interrupt each other habitually. Happily, as design partners, the Toronto sisters chime harmoniously. Parris studied jewelry design and smithing. That explains why this young brand—launched in 2013—boasts such an evolved arsenal of hardware and accessories. Especially strong were the bandanna-silhouette choker, the hand-tooled chain links on outerwear, and the buckles on a black cowhide backpack patterned with belts that Chloe reports gets ordered off Parris' back.
Chloe takes care of the clothes. These cover a narrow spectrum confidently. The soft/free/feminine pole of Beaufille is expressed through loose knits, some ribbed, in cashmere and wool. There was a flounce to the skirts, and she favors a V-neck of what-would-your-mother-say depth. High turtlenecks were the counterpoint. Thumbholes added snuggle. A silk and viscose shirt had semi-sheer relief lines, gentle scalloping at the hem, and invisible zippers at the side for moments of revelation.
Against this yield comes the heft of hard/heavy/masculine: outerwear and long wrap skirts with patch pockets, Parris' gleaming buckles, and belts with a militarily touched solidity. The materials look brawnier than they feel. A melton-esque skirt and lavishly lapeled sleeveless topcoat were actually made of two light layers of wool with sponge between them. The green distressed leather was faux. And the beast of a trench was neoprene licked with urethane, unlined but with bound seams to give a formidable-looking outer layer. That green apart, the collection was mostly neutrals. As a near-monochrome articulation of metallic-flashed sisterly accord, it's a handsome proposition.
