This time last year, loungewear was the inevitable theme of the resort collections, from clingy ribbed-knit sets to actual sweatpants. Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard felt the impulse to add loungewear, too, introducing more casual items like cable-knit sweats and hoodies to their repertoire. But on a call to discuss their resort 2022 lineup, the Veronicas were happy to report that their customer never really wanted sweats and leggings—at least, not from VB. Even at the pandemic’s peak, their woman was more likely to buy a jacket than a jogger.
“Classic with a twist” is how the designers typically describe their clothes, but they used a different word for resort: emotional. “What’s going to make her want this jacket instead of a blazer from someone else?” Miele Beard said. Their answer was to add new details to their signature styles: A brown checked blazer came with crochet epaulettes, while a blue tweed jacket had elasticized cuffs for extra volume. The opening checked trench reverses to a solid, and a patched leather moto in shades of rust will stand out from hackneyed black versions. Similarly, the cropped, gold-buttoned chocolate puffer could appeal to women looking for a softer, subtler option than the usual black Michelin-man coat.
For the Veronicas and many of their peers, resort 2022 is the first collection since the pandemic that they could imagine wearing to the office, to events, and simply out in the world again. Their vision of “re-emerging” isn’t as bold or colorful as those of other labels, but it reflects how Swanson Beard believes women want to feel right now: put-together, efficient, and strong. The ruffly dresses and bright florals of seasons past were mostly absent as a result, replaced by lean, ’70s-inspired midis. In one look, a floor-grazing paisley dress was styled with a boxy, hip-length navy blazer—a compelling idea for sharpening up your own floaty, bohemian frock.
