A few seasons ago, ruffles and off-the-shoulder silhouettes were brand-new trends. Now they’re no-brainers—can you think of a designer who hasn’t tried them? They’ve always been some of Jill Stuart’s signatures. For Resort, she updated her frilly blouses and cold-shoulder dresses with airy, packable fabrics fit for a weekend in the country. There was crispy poplin, ribbed knits, and surprisingly light seersucker—all of which would resist wrinkles after being stuffed in a carry-on. Stuart focused much of her attention on finding the lightest, prettiest materials she could get her hands on; the cloque on a wallpaper-floral dress was particularly nice, and she developed a weightless linen chambray for buoyant, flouncy ruffled tops.
It might have all appeared a bit too frothy if not for the super–wide-leg pants. They hung straight from the hips, and Stuart tried them in every fabrication, from lingerie-inspired lilac satin to chambray. Most of the pants came with a big sash to knot at the waist—all the better to show off a crop top or bustier—but they looked cooler under longer tops and dresses.
