Many of the pieces in this latest Isabel Marant collection have instant appeal—as in, you will gravitate toward them without overthinking why, and you will want to wear them right away. If you are looking for some excellent seasonless sweaters, blouses that are just a tad come-hither, dresses with varying degrees of ruffles and ruching, and denim that oozes attitude, you will find permutations here to refresh your wardrobe. However, when the most significant update from such a beloved label is a colorful range of wide-wale corduroy, the Isabel Marant faithful fan might come away wondering whether the status quo has become the new normal. “We’re in a perpetual story without end,” said the designer from her Paris showroom overlooking the Place des Victoires. This is one way of saying that, indeed, the brand knows precisely what it does right. The flip side is that fashion is at its best when working against predictability.
All that said, a gigot-sleeve LBD and a black one-shoulder top punctuated with pearls stood out as holiday options to dress up or down based on instinct rather than trends. “These looks are all easy to put on and they bring you pleasure,” said Marant. As the company continues to expand its global retail footprint—a new boutique on Rue Saint-Honoré bows next week—more women will be able to drop in for a quick fashion fix.
