We’re not going to name any names here, but Nili Lotan just learned she’s the top-selling designer in one of New York’s most beloved stores. If you’re familiar with her collections, you might understand why: Lotan’s clothes have a built-in nonchalance and a touch of ’70s edge, so even her simplest blouses and army pants make you feel a little bit cooler. They’re easy, truly wearable clothes with attitude—in fact, they have more attitude than a lot of the trendier, more complicated stuff out there. But it’s still a surprise to hear that number one statistic, considering how many New Yorkers likely haven’t heard Lotan’s name before. It goes to show just how powerful a designer’s own community can be; her cult following is so dedicated, it can support her brand without the flash of marketing campaigns or Instagram ads.
Lotan isn’t resting on her laurels, though. Instead, as her business expands—both in her own stores (she now has three) and in retailers around the world—she’s also expanding her repertoire. Until now, her collections could be pretty evenly divided: On one side, there were her day pieces, like army pants, cashmere knits, button-downs, and cargo jackets, and on the other, her evening slip dresses and glossy faux furs. Pre-Fall marked the first time she really explored the middle ground in between, introducing what can best be described as “elegant casual” dressing: khaki trousers and double-breasted blazers, suede minis, fluid trenchcoats, textured-silk blouses, and a handful of new high-rise, tapered trousers. The ’70s references came through in the little vests (worn with three-piece suits or over leopard blouses), not to mention the platform boots she styled it all with. (Lotan doesn’t make shoes, but we have a feeling she’s been thinking about it.)
Fans of her camouflage hoodies and raw-edge silk dresses needn’t worry. Those categories were well represented in this collection; in fact, Lotan recently launched a core collection of hoodies, army pants, and cargo jackets that will be available year-round. They’re the same pieces she launched her collection with in 2003, and they remain consistent best-sellers. “This is a whole business in and of itself,” she revealed. “It’s what my customers wear on the weekends and to run errands around the city.” She also debuted a collection of head-to-toe cashmere sets, with joggers, pullovers, turtlenecks, and shell tops. Plenty of women will wear them on a long-haul flight, but Lotan doesn’t picture those items leaving your house; she sees them as the ultimate leisurewear.
