With more than 100 women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives last month, Prabal Gurung is feeling newly hopeful. His Pre-Fall collection reflects that sense of optimism with exuberant colors and wild prints. Not that his recent collections have been short of either quality. Gurung has of late found his groove. Color and pattern feature strongly, as does a certain healthy form of body consciousness, alongside nods to his Nepalese roots.
With his first-ever store on Bleecker Street to fill—another reason for optimism—this collection extrapolated on recent hits, like the dip-dyed cashmere he has made in Nepal and the color-blocked clingy knit dresses and separates that the gorgeous Ashley Graham has been spotted in. He also revisited the embroidered cotton dresses that have recently sold so well. A sleeveless navy style with side cut-outs delivers the Gurung signatures at a savings.
Newness for Pre-Fall came in the form of polished dark-rinse denim with rainbow stitching—terrific super-high-waisted flares and an easy shirtdress—and in a series of bias-cut plaid pieces spliced, rather unexpectedly, with black lace. He layered a narrow V-neck sheath in that plaid over matching trousers, which has quickly shaped up to be the silhouette of the season.
With the awards shows approaching in January, Gurung might have emphasized high evening looks more than he did. The few that he showed could be contenders for women who appreciate goddess-y proportions and fluid ease.
