"I love the fabric, it's so substantial," Josie Natori said of the neoprene, knit jacquard, and bonded jersey that dominated her latest Resort collection. "You can't go from Fall and then all of the sudden to…limp."
Nearly every look had a strong shape to it, from the black neoprene V-neck dress with wide sleeves that hit at the wrist to the chartreuse cotton frock with raw edges that gave an otherwise polished piece a bit of texture. More relaxed separates, such as a silk-cashmere shawl cardigan and matching cowl-neck sweater, were cinched together with a metal belt for structure.
Embellishment is a big seller for Natori. But instead of doing the typical beading, she added appliquéd swirls of tulle ribbons to dresses, tops, and collarless jackets. It was particularly eye-catching on a black-and-white V-neck dress and matching coat. A tasteful but refreshing approach.
Natori is better than most at designing for her particular audience: professional women who simply want to look attractive. Clad in a skirt from the collection and a sweater from a past season, the designer was also a wonderful advertisement for her work.
