Everything that Maryam Nassirzadeh does is impeccably curated. Since 2008, her namesake boutique and showroom on the Lower East Side have become pillars for in-the-know fashion fans and indie designers. As someone who spends a lot of time around fantastic clothes, MNZ knew exactly what she wanted to do when she launched an in-house line last year. Much like her personal style, the clothes are easy yet artful and timelessly modern. Spring's clingy little cardigans and button-front sundresses, for example, are the kinds of quintessential pieces you'll pass down to the next generation. Those carefully considered basics mixed in seamlessly with some of the lineup's more directional looks, including utilitarian jumpsuits, leather "artist smocks," and structured wide-leg trousers, which popped in unexpected hues like safety orange or Yves Klein blue.
Elsewhere, the designer channeled a bookish intellectual vibe with a tailored houndstooth skirtsuit that was anything but conservative when layered over a skimpy bikini top. Completing the effect was Nassirzadeh's footwear range—which reportedly accounts for about half of her business. The stacked-heel mules are perfect, practical, and priced to sell. To accompany the new collection, Nassirzadeh created an evocative video (inspired by Eric Rohmer's 1970 film, Claire's Knee) featuring three of her favorite muses on a country holiday. "I love the idea of women coming from an urban background and entering more of a resort setting. They have different personalities and different styles that complement each other," she said.
