Fall marks the second season since Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen brought their Elizabeth and James design team in-house, and they’re wasting no time refreshing their signatures. Where the clothes skewed a bit formal in the past (mostly centered around dresses and suiting), Fall is all about ultra-casual pieces you can kick around in. The goal was to capture what a real girl’s wardrobe might look like if you peeked inside. That meant fewer dressy items and lots of cozy knits, vintage-inspired T-shirts, and jeans, which were brought over from their Textile Elizabeth and James line. The best ones mimicked old Levi’s with an extralong button fly, faded blue wash, and a straight leg.
Balancing out those basics were a few special pieces like a jaguar-printed calf-hair jacket, a sculpted bustier (which they layered over a sweater), and a reversible embroidered souvenir bomber. That mix reflected how women shop now: Most of our wardrobes consist of comfy, no-brainer items, but we might invest in a great jacket or skirt to elevate them. What the new Elizabeth and James is likely to become known for, though, is the perfectly slouchy, high-shine satin pants. You could wear them with a blazer, a grandpa cardigan, or a matching satin blouse and go just about anywhere.
