“Sky” is the title of Karen Walker’s latest collection, a sumptuous picture of a “postmodern Venetian getaway” that came from a surprisingly quotidian place. “I didn’t see much blue in what we’d been doing recently, and it’s always in my wardrobe,” the designer shared over FaceTime from New Zealand, wearing a blue sweater and scarf. “So I felt Resort, Cruise, let’s go blue, which took us to sky and cherubs and clouds and things mercurial, ephemeral.”
Her beautiful spectrum of blues came from objets d’art like a Wedgwood china dish, a cerulean Lladró ceramic figurine, or a blue Murano glass vase. To accompany her central cherub print, Walker leaned into her rococo references, best illustrated by the standout silk midi dress with a smocked bodice, puffed sleeves, and a delicate flounce at the hem. To offset them, however, she wisely included several clean, fitted rib knits and plenty of soft tencel-blended chambray separates to ground the collection.
Yet it was hard not to get swept up by her skyward fantasy: the swirl of a pale blue organza skirt, the gorgeous ring of cobalt tie-dye on a white peasant blouse and skirt. “They’re streaky lines, cutting through like clouds,” she said. The effect was heavenly.