Wes Gordon was handing out little cartons of eggs at his pre-fall mini show. They were fresh from his farm in Connecticut, where he and his husband spend nearly every weekend. “I was thinking about where I feel happy and relaxed, and it’s on the farm when we’re having picnics with friends, the dogs are running around in the grass…. It’s just idyllic,” he said. “But why do we save those emotions for Saturday and Sunday? I approached this collection thinking about how to carry that feeling with you Monday through Friday too.”
His answer was to bring a bit of the country back to Manhattan. “It’s very Green Acres,” he joked as the first look came out: a baby blue plaid suit with dropped shoulders, rounded sleeves, and a wide belt. Rather than make the same double-breasted jacket as virtually everyone else, Gordon is experimenting with bringing the draping and volume of his eveningwear into tailoring. “Our client isn’t just looking for things to put on every day—she wants something to have a love affair with,” he explained. Hence his dedication to “happy,” saturated colors and painterly prints, like the canary wisteria on a light-as-air chiffon gown. Some women do want to fall in love with a black blazer, though, and they’ll find a very un-corporate one here: In lieu of a button, Gordon draped a soft, oversized bow right onto the hip.
He likes that kind of single, striking flourish, and bows were the thing for pre-fall. A standout black column was finished with a giant ivory bow in the back; a saffron cocktail dress had an asymmetrical bow knotted at the side; and a Tiffany blue gown seemed to explode into a massive bow, with the ribbons falling back into a train. Gordon’s confidence makes all of that fabric and drama feel offhand, but he’s betting on seriously short dresses as well. An up-to-there black mini with a single sleeve (topped with a bow, naturally) is sure to make the rounds at summer weddings next year.
