Slim Aarons is trending. Elizabeth Kennedy was one of several designers who cited the photographer’s work this season, specifically his ’60s-era beach and poolside photos. Between his idyllic locations (Palm Springs, St.-Tropez, Antigua); the ultra-saturated colors; and the glamorous, laid-back mood, his photos are the ultimate Resort fantasy. But it isn’t purely coincidental that so many designers happen to be feeling his work right now; those carefree ’60s vibes are gradually creeping into our wardrobes, and fashion has a newfound obsession with bold, unexpected colors. There’s a growing appreciation for the West Coast lifestyle, too.
For Kennedy, it all started with Aarons’s colors. Her specialty is eveningwear, but not the stuffy, super-formal kind we associate with the term. Her dresses have dramatic, sculptural details and festive embellishments, and she’s been experimenting with black-tie separates, too. She whipped them up in pale “desert pink” and supercharged chartreuse, and had slight nods to ’60s style, too: bows, shifts, halter necklines. Two standout dresses had what she called “chandelier fringe”: braided silk cords threaded between the open panels of an ivory column or blush shift.
Also a bit ’60s were the caftans. Kennedy says they’re popular with her clients in the Middle East, but New York women love them, as well. Her new blush caftan would be ideal for a trip to one of Aarons’s far-flung destinations, but it also qualifies as an elegant, relaxed alternative for the holiday party circuit.
