Normally, Ece Ege would be in the final stages of preparing her Dice Kayek couture collection. From a gallery turned showroom, the designer explained why she was showing her first Resort offering instead. Apparently, this was her way of resolving the positive interest following her Spring couture show—and the frustration among potential customers that the collection was so out of reach. Here, she revisited many of those dramatic volumes in a realer way. Her distinctive balloon sleeve made a successful leap, whether applied to a gingham trapeze blouson or a white shirt that seemed as well constructed as its couture counterpart. Whereas much of that wardrobe seemed destined for a film about a royal family in a parallel universe, these boxy blazers, mixed-material blouses, and carrot-cut jeans were undoubtedly refined, yet also reasonably relaxed.
Throughout the visit, Ege pointed out how nearly every garment addressed the complexes women have about their bodies; a shirt was long enough to cover the bum, or a skirt hit immediately below the knees—all while avoiding the opposing forces that leave a mumsy impression. Dresses often featured fabrics pairings—silk and organza taffetas, two types of lace, silk organdy and cotton—to enhance surface interest without embellishment; in stores, this thoughtful workmanship will be well-received. Some will also gravitate towards the pieces glitzed up with hearts, birds and starbursts in crystals and sequins, or else the sweatshirt dotted with pearls. Several T-shirts featured “Love” in embroidery, which seemed a bit trite compared to the dark mood of Ege’s couture. The ravens in that collection were more imposing than the doves in this one. But this outing wasn’t weighed down in any way—and that’s worth a lot.
