Lemlem has become the go-to brand for resortwear with a far-flung touch, but Liya Kebede isn’t resting on her laurels. As her business grows, she’s interested in exploring new territory, like heavier knits and winter clothing. So for those who associate Lemlem with neon-striped caftans and cover-ups, Fall ’17 will look super-plush and cozy by comparison. Kebede and her team introduced new handknit sweaters from Madagascar as well as wool long-sleeved dresses in wintry shades of black and charcoal. All of those pieces were still unmistakably Lemlem, though—they came with the brand’s familiar stripes or embroidery in unexpected color combinations, like orange and raspberry or black and cobalt.
Kebede also emphasized the seasonless-ness and layerability of the less “wintry” items—slip dresses, ponchos, and shirting—by styling turtlenecks underneath. But the biggest news here was Lemlem’s first foray into eveningwear: two dresses in a lovely ivory-and-black hand-embroidered silk from India, which had a taffeta-like feel and gleam. They answered the question of what a Lemlem woman might wear to a cocktail party, and were a nice surprise mixed in with the brand’s ultra-casual fare.
