After the chaos of 2020 and 2021, we don’t really need new clothes. But to want is human. At 6397, Stella Ishii and her team are thinking intentionally and deliberately about what they want in their 2022 wardrobes. The answers include a gently tailored plaid double-breasted jacket to be worn with boxy shorts, a massive menswear-inspired army coat with an elegant draped back, and a pale rose-colored silk slip dress with a slight bulb shape. Wait—a slip dress from the tomboyish 6397 crew? Maybe 2022 will end up being a year of change after all.
Change is happening slowly and surely at 6397. The brand has pared down its collection to under 30 looks—what used to span four or five racks in the SoHo showroom now takes up just three. Ishii highlighted custom-dyed silks and cottons; a new range of V-neck, ruched-shoulder blouses; and a custom print of splattered dots. Familiar items that were already great, like oversized jeans, have gotten an upgrade: There’s a new high-rise style with wide legs inspired by Ishii’s favorite pair from Japan. In its third season with a new design director, 6397 is hitting its stride in terms of both silhouette and structure.