LaDoubleJ is probably the only fashion company whose founder, beyond being the creative commander, is also its in-house guru. The contagious feel-good energy that California native JJ Martin exudes seems actually to be propelled by her committed practice of meditation and yoga—a path of self-discovery she embraced long ago with devoted fervor. Apparently, it has borne fruit. Her company is growing at an increasingly fast pace, as is the community of women surrounding the label with a supportive “feminine energy.” The goddesses are definitely protecting LaDoubleJ.
The label’s pre-fall collection was abloom with luxurious new fabrics, additional categories, and more variety among its prints. The four-year-old label’s mood-boosting archival patterns have been joined by motifs designed in its own studio. A collaboration with a Scandi textile designer resulted in Josef Frank–reminiscent imagery with a naturalistic flair—think humongous kaleidoscopic butterflies happily fluttering on circle skirts or tiered sundresses. The season’s new Francobollo print was also designed by LaDoubleJ’s print design team; it reproduced small stamps in a pretty mosaic effect, evoking the colorful floor tiles in a Southern Italian summer house. “Having our high-vibration prints made in house, it’s a milestone for us,” said Martin.
Silhouettes were refreshed and updated with shorter propositions for women not as tall as Martin—who more often than not is the towering presence at social gatherings. Tiered dresses were knee-length and flouncy, while delightful knitwear and color-blocked separates gave the eye a pause from the abundance of printed visual stimulation.
The upgraded fabric options included a luxurious silk cady and sensuous silk satin, adding a certain fluidity to LaDoubleJ’s usually crisper materials; a fuzzy wool texture in stripes of black and brown was used for an egg-shaped coat lined in a cheerful print. It was a sort of first foray into outerwear for La DoubleJ, which is so far known for creating “heart-lifting, head-turning dresses,” as chief spiritual officer Martin cleverly points out.
