Roses and peonies are nice, but for Pre-Fall, Erin Fetherston turned her eye to a more common roadside plant. The humble daisy provided inspiration for her collection, both literally and figuratively.
Of the former: The season’s prints (which Fetherston described, accurately, as Birtwellian, referring to iconic print designer Celia Birtwell’s work) explored the beauty of the flowering weed in a multitude of ways. Overblown, moody daisies reminiscent of the ’90s adorned floaty frocks and maxi dresses; teeny daisies found their way into stripes on shirtdresses; and dark, fall-appropriate, ditzy florals popped up on jumpsuits and chiffon dresses. This motif felt especially fresh when Fetherston mixed and matched: One of her favorite pieces was a cocktail dress, in which each circle flounce alternated a daisy pattern. “It was fun to play with tiers and ruffles in a way that felt modern and streamlined,” she said. Eyelets and crochet also paid tribute to the flower, albeit in a more subtle fashion. And while these frocks had nothing fall (pre- or otherwise) about them, Fetherston can be forgiven for holding onto summer just a little longer, since the collection delivers in July.
Figuratively speaking, the daisy also inspired the romantic, naive spirit of the collection: “A little bit he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not,” said Fetherston. The dresses, especially, had an early-’70s sweet nostalgia to them; the gingham chiffon number was the kind of thing you’d like to imagine wearing while lunching in a sunbaked field of flowers (if such a date should ever present itself). Yet, as Fetherston astutely pointed out, when worn with boots, tights, and a chunky knit, it would be perfectly acceptable for autumn in the city.