Nicole and Michael Colovos are fashion industry veterans, having worked as creative directors at Helmut Lang and before that, running their own denim label, Habitual. The eponymous collection they launched earlier this year bears little resemblance to their jeans company of old; Colovos is a more sophisticated, elegant brand. But the “habitual” idea applies. “We want to make clothes that become part of people’s lives,” Michael said at a presentation of their new Resort collection. There’s not a lot of flash to their new proposition. Rather, the Colovoses are making considered clothes designed to be effortless and anonymous in equal measure. There are T-shirts in the lineup, but there are no logo T-shirts, in other words. Sweatshirts and jeans play important roles, too, but they boast thoughtful details, the former coming with darts for a nipped-waist silhouette, and the latter featuring engineered side seams that create a leaner profile. Beyond those staple items, the standouts include a tailored leather jacket with a blouson back and motorcycle sleeves, a wide-leg jumpsuit, and easy shirtdresses with interesting contrast stitching on the back.
The new label is connecting with retailers; Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Ikram have picked it up. That’s a nice-looking list at a moment when all you hear is how challenging it is out there on the sales floors. Kudos to the designers, also, for producing nearly everything here in New York City.
