When Nili Lotan launched her eponymous label with a spare eight-piece offering, among the styles was a utility jacket inspired by her ex-husband's Israeli Air Force jumpsuit. Lotan's take on the garment remains among her top sellers a decade later, showing her commitment to (and keen eye for) the coolly timeless. 2014 marks her brand's 10th anniversary, and for its third Pre-Fall season, Lotan turned her eye to 50 (or at least, several) shades of gray—inspired by the slate steel roofs and pale stucco of Paris' Saint-Germain neighborhood. Liquid silk tops came in a shade Lotan dubbed "fog," boiled wool, raw-edged coats in a deeper charcoal. The knit offering grew again here from last season, having performed particularly well for Lotan. It's little wonder why. Her fabrications are sumptuous, and unusual enough to stand out in a well-saturated market: nubby cashmeres, space-dyed yarns, a double cable-knit. Also stellar? A cocoon-like hoodie in olive wool. Lotan styled another version in gray jersey atop one of her hyper-sensual slipdresses—equal parts easy and elegant.
