Back in June, when Vogue Runway was covering the resort collections, there was a general feeling that they’d be the first clothes we buy for our “post-pandemic” wardrobes. In reality, those collections are arriving in stores and online as many cities brace for second (or third) waves. Los Angeles is entering another lockdown; Paris spent much of November in reconfinement; and New York is revoking indoor dining, likely one of many restrictions to come.
All to say, the clothes we wear to “re-emerge” will probably come from the pre-fall collections we’re seeing that ship next May and June. By then, the hope is that many of us will be vaccinated, or at least vulnerable populations will be. No matter what, Apiece Apart’s Starr Hout and Laura Cramer just want to be on the beach. They found their inspiration in Hotel Saint Cristobal at the far point of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. They reasoned that even if they can’t actually travel there, they can channel its vibe and warm palette—a mix of desert clays and shades of the Pacific—in their summer wardrobe.
Beyond pre-fall’s palette of aquamarine and rust, there was an ease about the silhouettes—loose, often with an elastic waist. More surprising were the touches of sport: A wide-leg cropped trouser was cinched at the waist with a drawstring, and the duo’s version of a “shorts suit” came in a lemon windbreaker and matching high-rise shorts. They also introduced their first line of swimwear in clean, no-frills cuts and muted tones of rust and sage. A maillot was shown as a bodysuit under joggers and a cobalt knit, while bikinis were styled as “tops” or layered under logo’d crewnecks. Cramer added that a few woven, elastic-waist trousers were cut in the same silhouette as Apiece Apart’s sweatpants; they’ll be clever in-between options for women who want “real pants” next summer, without sacrificing comfort.
